East Face of the Bald Spot (Beav)

[Goatski]

In light of recent avalanche stability my buddy and I headed back to the East face of Beaver Creek's Bald Spot. I never see any lines back here and its probably for good reason - it being a mile-long cornice/avalanche path that sees alot of wind loading. There are two relatively safe lines down it and I thought I'd post some beta if anyone wanted to check it out before the high pressure moves off.

I'd recommend walking up the snowmobile path that goes by the radio tower to get to the top bowl of Stone Creek for a warmup pow shot & to get a feel for conditions, and then put the skins on at the bottom of said bowl to climb to the top of the bald spot.

The South end of the E face cornice has a NE aspect (also a section without an overhanging cornice) and is the safest open area thanks to wind blowing up it and the huge cornice chunks that fall off on either side and help trigger instabilities. The pit revealed 10" recycled windpowder on top of 4' of compacted 1 finger base. There was still some sugar below but I liked the strength of the 4' compacted layer (CT 30+ judo fist, Q2). Here's the tracks:


Second lap I found a mini-cooler:

**You can see the cornice chunks in this shot - car sized

Here's the other 'safeish' line through the trees, in the middle of the E face:

**an avy could still be triggered from the apron below the trees

I think it's awesome that all this big terrain is a quick hike from the top of CO's poshest ski hill. Jackson/Targhee style cliff bands?:


Take a peek to the East next time you're up there. It's pretty big stuff. (Real) Grouse Mountain has potential too if the wind hasn't stripped it yet.

[Kya]

Thanks for the beta and the pics.

[PowTrees]

Wow!! Great lines, close enough to my backyard to bring me out of lurking...

Confused about where you'd end up after going down the east side of the bald spot, did you go down to Minturn, Stone Creek, Whiskey Creek, or skin/ski back into the Beav??

Kind of you to share the nice pics

[FiveLarge]

nice. thanks for sharing. so are those shots dropping down toward Olsen Lake? (Interesting how there are two lakes named waterdog in that area as well). Is the last shot with the cliff bands also in the w grouse drainage? Yeah, that e face of real grouse looks very interesting.

[Blurred]

FKNA!!!!!!!

So stoked to see someone else in Eagle County teeing that shit up.

Way to take advantage of the recent stability. Looked over the edge at that stuff for several years, but like you said, it's usually avalanche city.

Very cool man.

[TurboFat]

FKNA!!!!!!!

So stoked to see someone else in Eagle County teeing that shit up.

Way to take advantage of the recent stability. Looked over the edge at that stuff for several years, but like you said, it's usually avalanche city.

Very cool man.

Man that looks like a fun playground.....and on a side note Blurred....last week joe budden....repping jersey.....this week Big Head Todd....repping northeast college students from the mid 90s?? Seems very unsteezy for a man as steezy as you.

[Roo]

So stoked to see someone else in Eagle County teeing that shit up.

I didn't think anybody else could ski that stuff.

[Blurred]

Man that looks like a fun playground.....and on a side note Blurred....last week joe budden....repping jersey.....this week Big Head Todd....repping northeast college students from the mid 90s?? Seems very unsteezy for a man as steezy as you.

BHTATM rep "northeast college students"?

They're from Colorado bro........where I live.

Wasn't aware I can't like rock and rap.........I only recently found out I can't listen to rap unless I'm black anyway.....oh well....

[Blurred]

I didn't think anybody else could ski that stuff.

It's not about that......it's more like conditions are never safe enough, and that most people don't go to areas such as this one. Mainly because most people skiing in the county are skiing other well known spots and not getting off the beaten path. Just stoked to see someone skiing less frequented areas in Eagle County most others don't think of. Thanks for the douchebaggery though.
Enjoy the office today.

[Roo]

lol. Just fuckin' wit ya.

[TurboFat]

lol. Just fuckin' wit ya.

so was i pops.....and i know they are from co but being from the northeast and always hearing my older siblings crunchy friends from UVM and UNH blasting that $hit back in the day I associate it with them...not CO.......I love hip hop and rock as well....but not Kid Rock....especially that song you put in your in recent POV post....ooofff....mah-rone that song is annoying.

[Goatski]

Wow!! Great lines, close enough to my backyard to bring me out of lurking...

Confused about where you'd end up after going down the east side of the bald spot, did you go down to Minturn, Stone Creek, Whiskey Creek, or skin/ski back into the Beav??

Kind of you to share the nice pics

We skinned back up to the top of the Bald Spot to do another lap as well as return to the Beav. Our skin track went South to regain the ridge and we found a nearby treed ridge to zigzag up and minimize exposure. We were doing 45 min. laps. At the end of the day we skiied Darkside, the NW aspect back into the resort - which was tame after our day farther out!

nice. thanks for sharing. so are those shots dropping down toward Olsen Lake? (Interesting how there are two lakes named waterdog in that area as well). Is the last shot with the cliff bands also in the w grouse drainage? Yeah, that e face of real grouse looks very interesting.

We were skiing down to Little (upper) Waterdog Lake. The 'safeish' treed shot drops right down to Olsen Lake. The cliffband shot is from Little Waterdog and is in W. Grouse drainage, could get there by traversing above Stone Creek Bowl and you'd be in the general area.

Glad to see some piqued interest in the area! Once my knee heals (dislocated fibula - 1 week out - thank god thats all that happened...) I would really like to get out with some mags. Until then, peace!

[fish]

wow, I need to get back there. i had no idea

[BDKeg]

wow great shots...I've been out the back gate and skiied some of the trees and glades, but never had the balls to ski the bald spot. I believe last time I went (it was weeks ago) there was a rather large avy that had ripped out lookers right on the bald spot. Way to rip that shit up!

[PowTrees]

Thanks for sharing the info Goatski! I've definitely gotten some desire to be more adventurous with the years spent at Vail/Beav (though nothing like that yet...)

Only made turns on the Bald Spot a few times at most, poorly prepared for "dangerous" Avalanche terrain like that (I'm just a season pass type with a lust for sidecountry powder, wouldn't trust my avalanche judgement...), but happily immersed in powder following some local friends.

I'd claim total inexperience in using a beacon, shovel, probe, though I do own all three and would gladly join some expeditions in the sidecountry. Plus I do live in at the bottom of Stone Creek on the golf course (beers and transportation at the bottom I've always wondered at the possibilities of travelling down the lower part of the Stone Creek drainage some other way than the standard commuter route (down the E aspect)

Could you have gone from your route on the East side of the Bald Spot down the W Aspect of the Stone Creek drainage without too much effort?

I'm guessing the "Darkside" is what many people call the football fields?? (which totally suck, flat Vail type terrain avoid them

[DaHeel]

It's not about that......it's more like conditions are never safe enough.

This area looks very much like EV with relation to wind load, pitch, aspect and terrain. It seems like with careful choices this would be as accessible as EV. I realize skier compaction plays a big role in EV but the area looks like a gold mine. Anyone else have any beta on the current profile with consideration to this last storm.

[Tippster]

I've only been there in the summer - it was a pretty easy hike up to the Bald Spot from our place in Eagle Vail. Thanks for that!

[MakersTeleMark]

I've skied in this area, but have always avoided that cornice for obvious reasons. I also do a ton of hunting up there as well. It feels weird to have all this posted on the internet. I can see folks hucking that after reading this thread, and that's a pretty scary thought.

[montanaskier]

dude that cornice looks sick BRAH! Bet i could send that huge....Simon Dumont like....BRAH.

[183GotamasA/T]

dude that cornice looks sick BRAH! Bet i could send that huge....Simon Dumont like....BRAH.

I bet you couldn't brah, you're broken brah!

[papa bear]

thanks for cashing the last quiet local sc area goat ski... stick to e-vail with your bro-ho's. keep your camera and nose out of BC. you got some big balls cunt-nugget: you've been noticed.

[huck4bucks]

thanks for cashing the area goat ski... stick to e-vail with your bro-ho's. keep your camera and nose out of BC. if i see anyone back there with pics and mag in tow, BCP will present some different options for your crew.

you've been warned.

Weak sauce.

[RockBoy]

thanks for cashing the last quiet local sc area goat ski... stick to e-vail with your bro-ho's. keep your camera and nose out of BC. you got some big balls cunt-nugget: you've been noticed.

I don't know which is weaker, bagging on someone who wants to share the wealth, or posting as an alias.

I'll assume this was a sacarstic comment based on the playful use of the emoticon at the end of the post.

[SLSki]

It's not a secret area. On a related note some of my not so BC savvy friends caused a slide up there last year. Way to get after it...that high pressure period opened up some fun stuff.

[Goatski]

Hah! I am not intimidated by your first post JONG. There are very few days when this area is game and I wouldn't mind seeing more people out there when its good. It's a f^@<ing mile long zone! If you think this area is a secret then you haven't been in town too long...and you probably don't know how accessible topo maps & satellite pics are for every backcountry rider in The States (http://www.terraserver-usa.com) You can see the entire ridge from everywhere on Vail Mtn. as well - you don't think people with the gear/skills haven't noticed it? If you are so greedy with 'your' areas in our mountains why are you looking at TGR TR's? Just looking? And then sniping, without any reciprocation?

Let's see a TR of yours papa bear...unless you are to busy freaking out about Goldilocks in your porridge, chair, & bed...

But don't worry - I wont tell anyone about your Y chutes. Or their backsides.