A classic Berthoud Pass route.

Statistics

0 - 1

hrs

4

m

120

m

37

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

Lift Gully is so named because the lift used to run directly up it.

Lift Gully and The Plunge are very similar in pitch and length, but Lift Gully has some more features to play on as well as some heightened avalanche risk.

Without taking avalanche danger into consideration, this route can provide anything from a moderate, slightly steep run to a run with big air. The top of this route is a large convexity that funnels into a gully.

Since it is east facing this convexity gets regularly wind loaded.

Although this area gets skied regularly, the avalanche danger here is not to be taken lightly.

Know what the wind/weather has been doing and what the avalanche risks are before dropping in. The old lift tower used to sit on a rock outcropping called Tower Gap, midway down Lift Gully on the skier's right.

Tower Gap now provides a fun 10-15 feet cliff that can be smoothly skied into and out of.

If you feel like jumping off of something significantly larger, the Shelf Rock on the skier's right side of Lift Gully is a great test piece.

Depending on the speed and angle one jumps, anywhere from 20-45 feet of air can be expected.

The landing is below Gaffney's, and you need to make sure that you have it lined up correctly in order to avoid hitting trees.

If hit with speed and at the right angle, Shelf Rock acts as a beautiful natural kicker.