Thread: TR Jones Pass 11.18.07

After enjoying mtnbikerskierchick's TR from last weekend we decided to head up there ourselves today. Also wanted to try touring with the dukes.

Unfortunately we imitated her trip too closely and got stuck on what I think was the same damn patch of ice. We started sliding back towards the edge very quickly. After some brief work with the shovels, we backed down and found a spot to pull over.




Hiking / skinning up.


Surprisingly decent snow for the first few turns.


Hiking out. Got in about 1000 vertical.


Our lines from the top of the pass, barely visible just right of center.


Had hoped my first TR would be a little deeper, but we made the best with what we have right now and had a good time doing it.

Good work man - those turns don't look bad at all

Nice pics. Where was the ice that you couldn't get by? I was up there today and yesterday. We parked right after crossing the creek.

nice work! Glad to hear you didn't get too stuck or slide off the road...

Sounds like chains are a necessity down there right now. I know they're kind of a pain in the ass to put on, but it'd get you further up the road

way to get out there! That ice looked sketchy. We narrowly avoided a similar incident. I think I'm gonna go get some 4 wheel chains.

Good work!

Nice - yeah, I've had my fair share of digging myself/others out on that road. Good to get some early turns (well, earlyish anyway) at Jones.

Thanks for the photos and update.
Havent been to Jones yet this season.
It is not as thin as I thought it would be.
Not surprised about the ice tho.
Well, looks like the snow is hitting this week ...

way to get some. Nice photos.

Nice pics. Where was the ice that you couldn't get by? I was up there today and yesterday. We parked right after crossing the creek.

My best guess after looking at my topo at home is that the ice was around 11,100, about 1/4 to 1/2 mile past that rougher dirt road that branches off and follows West Fork Clear Creek.

Were in you a 4Runner? We saw one parked near that gate a little ways after the parking lot and I wondered if that was a good spot to start hiking from, especially once it snows a little more, just cut a line straight up through those trees. The only other vehicles we saw (besides the not abandoned pickup) was a truck with some sleds.

I'd like to get up there with someone who knows their way around. This was my first time skiing Jones.

Any signs of instability in the snow pack?

Any signs of instability in the snow pack?

Below the thin crust it’s a little faceted but there wasn’t much to it. Where we skied I think the snow pack was only 6 to 10 inches, with a little bit of fresh stuff on top; just enough to keep you off the rocks. The very top of the pass was a different story. It was wind loaded with a tempting cornice. We back tracked a little and didn’t come in from the top. Lower down we were skiing on only about 5 inches, if that.