First Glade

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Over 1,500 feet of Snodgrass glade skiing, what else do you need?

The trailhead can be pretty packed up here, but don't be discouraged! Most people aren't up here to poach your pow, as it's a popular place to xc ski, snowshoe, and get the dog out for a walk. There's also many lines to take from Snodgrass Approach. Due to high volume, there is a bathroom up here, but make sure to grab snacks and water in town or on the ski area.

You start with a highly-trafficked local ski-mo skin up to a summit of dense trees. It can be difficult to find this line from up here, so fall slightly off the ridgeline to the right ~100 feet until the trees open up a bit. The first pitch of this run is steep with tight trees, so take some fun, but calculated turns. It's possible to ski the ridge from up here, but safer to stay in the trees.

After about 300 feet, cut left into a more open glade where there are some fast turns. Make sure to take a look at Gothic Mountain and the Maroon Bells Wilderness before you cream the run, though! Watch for a concave rollover at about 10,500 feet, where you should stick slightly to the right.

From there, it's a straight shot until a gully begins to form on the right. Find a mellow route over the gully and get ready for some more turns before hitting Gothic Road. The snow can be a little wind-crusted here, but generally makes for good carving. There's a reason this isn't a heavily trafficked run, and that's because you have a 30-minute skin back to the car. It's a mellow two-track, but get ready for a bit of a sweat!

This area also has killer mountain biking and hiking, so it's a multi-sport wonderland. The skin track up follows a snow cat road put in by the ski area 30 years ago, as they were eyeing Snodgrass for possible resort expansion. They're currently more focused on main mountain projects, so enjoy the day to earn your turns!