Hayden Peak: East Side Trees Approach

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

We should always assume there is some type of danger associated with backcountry skiing. But, overall, there was no avalanche debris, or downed trees from past slides evident on this initial trip. But if you are directionally challenged might be a good place to get lost.

Drive 7.6 miles from the traffic circle at 82 in Aspen on Castle Creek Road. Parking is marked by a sign on the side of the road. Assume that crossing Castle Creek can be challenging on some days.

Now this is the first time we had skinned/skied this area, so we followed an existing skin track to the top of the left line. But the skin track went mostly up the right line, and quite a ways off to the right before gaining the top of the rocks. There were a few ski tracks, not a huge amount, so we assume it is being skied by a few locals only.