Bierstat-Blue Sky Loop

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Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Plan on about 8 hours. Sunhit is pretty late on the Bierstat descent as it is blocked from early sun by Blue Sky. Blue Sky East face gets early sunhit and can be a little boney up high. The final descent gets late sunhit but warms up fast as it is a reflector oven. Crampons are likely required in most conditions.

Ascend Bierstat by the standard route. Descend to the vicinity of Chasm Lake which is steep off the summit. Ascend to the Sawtooth Ridge about 1/3 of the way across the traverse and take it to the summit of Blue Sky. Descend via the moderate East slopes (over the end of the summit parking lot) and then looping to the North near the road below. Note- an alternate descent would be Blue Sky North face just West of the summit marker if that slope is filled in. Skate up the northern valley, select a couloir to climb up to the Blue Sky-Spaulding ridge (some may have significant cornices so plan ahead). Ski the obvious moderate drainage that begins in the ridge saddle and descends to the West. Ski out through the willows to the Bierstat approach trail and back to the car.