Berthoud Pass Backcountry
Front Range, CO
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
High Wind Warning through noon Friday with gusts to 47 mph creating massive wind loading. The snowpack shows Considerable danger across all elevations but with no identified problems — this is unusual and suggests either recent settlement or incomplete assessment.
31°/21°F · Mostly Sunny · 1 alert(s)
Considerable (3/5)
48" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
11h 47m daylight · Sunrise 7:20 AM · Sunset 7:07 PM
Full Briefing
The High Wind Warning is the story for the next 48 hours. Sustained winds of 37-47 mph from the west and northwest are creating significant wind loading on east and southeast aspects. This level of wind transport can build dangerous wind slabs even without new snowfall, especially given the Considerable avalanche danger rating across all elevations. The absence of identified avalanche problems in the bulletin is noteworthy — either the snowpack has settled well after recent storms, or conditions are transitioning rapidly and haven't been fully assessed yet. Given the wind loading in progress, treat any wind-loaded features as suspect regardless of the clean bulletin. SNOTEL data shows mixed signals with some stations trending down (Annie Springs dropping from recent storms) while others remain stable, suggesting variable settlement patterns across the region. Saturday brings the next concern with heavy snow forecast Saturday night and temperatures dropping to 8°F, which will create a new storm slab problem on top of any wind-loaded surfaces from this current cycle. The weekend timing actually works in your favor — get your objectives done Thursday and Friday while the new snow holds off, then reassess conditions after Saturday's storm. Plan routes that avoid wind-loaded terrain above treeline and minimize exposure to cross-loaded gullies and bowls. Start early to take advantage of the 7:20 AM sunrise, and be prepared for brutal wind chill on exposed ridgelines — the combination of sub-freezing temps and 40+ mph winds will create dangerous cold exposure risk.
Waypoints
Berthoud Pass Summit Lot
Park at the summit of Berthoud Pass. Plowed lot on the west side.
11,319 ft
Continental Divide Ridge
Ridgeline along the Continental Divide. Choose your descent line from here.
12,500 ft
Current Creek Drainage
Mid-slope in the Current Creek drainage. Gladed terrain with excellent tree skiing.
11,483 ft
Highway Return
Reach US-40 below the pass. Short hitchhike or car shuttle back to summit.
11,319 ft
Route Details
Distance
3.5 mi
Elevation Gain
2,100 ft
Elevation Loss
2,100 ft
Max Elevation
12,500 ft
Estimated Days
0.5
Trailhead
Berthoud Pass Summit
Best Season
Season runs November through May. Best stability mid-winter.
About This Route
Berthoud Pass on US-40 west of Denver is Colorado's most accessible backcountry skiing destination. At 11,315 feet, the pass sits at treeline, offering both gladed tree skiing and open alpine terrain. The east side features steep chutes and exposed alpine bowls, while the west side has more moderate tree skiing. Current Creek, First Creek, and Second Creek are all popular drainages. The standard circuit skins up from the pass, tours along the Continental Divide, and descends back to the highway. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center covers this zone extensively. Snow quality can be variable due to Colorado's shallow snowpack, but when conditions align, Berthoud delivers world-class skiing just 60 miles from Denver.
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