77 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring
Approach Route to Upper West Wether Station
Berthoud Pass
The standard approach for anything on the west side.
Ski Touring Easy
- Distance
- 2 km
- Ascent
- 303 m
- Descent
- 12 m
- Duration
- 1-2 hrs
- Low Point
- 3.4 km
- High Point
- 3.7 km
- Gradient
- 19˚
From the parking lot at the top of the pass, cross US HWY 40 and follow the Continental Divide Trail. Just before the trail goes into a stand of trees (about 40 vertical feet up) there is a cut off to the right for people boot-packing. Those who are skinning should continue to follow the CDT through the stand of trees for roughly 100 yards until the trees open up. At that point, the skin track cuts sharply to the right.
Description
The boot-pack climbs along the climber's right of the trees while the skin track climbs along the climber's left of the trees. The two merge again after roughly 350 yards at around 11700 feet. Depending on your desired desired descent route you can either turn right (North) to arrive at the top of lines like The Plunge and Lift Gulley, or you can continue to climb in the same direction and reach the "upper west weather station" at 11900 feet.
Difficulty
Easy
Wide gentle slopes at around 20 degrees or less.
Low Exposure (E1)
Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.
Remoteness
Close to help in case of emergency.
Best time to visit
Equipment required
- Skins
Guidebooks in this area