It was time. After weeks of studying topo maps, watching the weather and checking the avalanche forecast; after one reconnaissance mission and numerous prayers to the snow gods, it was time. Time to ski Clover Mountain.
Planning a larger backcountry ski day is a peculiar mix of science and luck. For a good day everything, the weather, the snow, personal schedules, and maybe the stars need to align. I had been talking to my friend Chloe about skiing Clover for some time. She was definitely interested and said she had some friends interested as well. She had some time off work the first week of April, her friends were available and the conditions looked favorable.
The Sawatch had been getting a significant amount of snow on and off for the past couple of weeks. We planned our ski for the second of three forecasted sunny days. We scheduled a relatively leisurely start for the day, meaning we didn’t have to leave in the dark. The main attraction on Clover is its massive, gently-sloping southeast face. The idea is to start late enough to give the sun some time to bake and soften the snow on that face. In the spring, if you start too early in the morning, you end up skiing on ice. Unpleasant and probably dangerous. The sun was well up by the time we rolled from Salida.
We arrived at the Middle Fork around 8:30, found a spot to park on a frozen snow bank and proceeded to unload.
Start of the skin up Middle Fork road. The crew was made up of myself, Chloe (center) and my new friends Spencer and Kimbo.
K9 escort provided by Cam, the wonder dog.
The skin up the road was uneventful with the exception of a fairly long walk on dirt in one sunny section, an indication that spring is on its way.
Stop at the Boss Lake trailhead.
Heading up the steep climb through the woods to Boss Lake.
A first for me, skiing across a lake.
Snack break on the lake.
Starting the climb from Boss Lake to the east ridge.
Surveying Clover’s summit from the east ridge.
Mt. Aetna across the drainage to the east.
Clover’s east ridge is the route to the summit. The climb is fairly steep and it seemed to get steeper as we went. But it offers several flattish sections to rest and take in the views.
Almost to the top.
Clover’s summit was guarded by a fairly large cornice. Fortunately, Spencer found a vulnerable spot in the wall of snow and lead us up and over it. Cam provided the assist.
Cam leading Chloe and Kimbo to the summit.
Summit!
And of course, the views were spectacular. Looking north along the Continental Divide to Vulcan Mountain.
The familiar lines of Aetna and Taylor to the east.
The southern Sawatch including Ouray and Antora still in full winter mode.
We were on the summit by noon. Despite the warming sunshine, the air was surprisingly cold. The wind was blowing, making it less than ideal for hanging out while the snow softened. We could tell we weren’t going to get the spring corn snow we had hoped for. But things seemed soft enough; we all agreed we’d rather give it a go than sit there in the wind. We geared up for the ski.
Besides skiing on a lake, Clover marked another first for me: my first ski from the summit of a named peak. Looking down Clover’s huge SE face, I got the same feeling of smallness I experienced looking down Shavano’s angel. We are but ants in the mountains. But this was a better situation, because I was about to share the experience with other ants.
Spencer led the way over the cornice and down the face. And you know what, it wasn’t terrible. I describe it as “funky” in the video. Hard spots mixed with semi-soft spots with some interesting sastrugi fields thrown in to keep you on your toes. Inside a resort I would be griping about the lousy grooming but in this setting, it was magnificent.
Many thanks to Chloe, Spencer and Kimbo for sharing this amazing day with me. My head’s still buzzing about it. Special thanks to Spencer for bringing his knowledge of Clover Mountain and skills as an AIARE instructor to lead us. Couldn’t have asked for a better crew.