Hidden Knoll: Moonlight Bowl Ascent

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Heading southwest from the Current Creek Approach, this ascent starts to climb gradually through open trees. Around the half-way mark, it will emerge from the trees with a terrific view of Hidden Knoll and Mt. Russell behind it. Now is a good time to scope out the lines and make a decision on what to ski.

From the base, head to the looker's right of the knoll on a faint ridgeline that bends up to the top. This final push is steeper but manageable with one to two switchbacks. The top of the knoll is flat, making it hard to see which couloir you're on top of. That said, if you head to the edge, it's easier to tell which is which and having scoped the line from the bottom, you won't have the added uncertainty of getting cliffed out or dropping into the wrong line.

The far end of this ascent stops at a wide-open, east-facing bowl, which makes for a fun final line to bend into the drainage back to the Current Creek Trailhead.