Approaching the top of Monarch Pass from Salida, a high ridge rises above the highway from across the drainage on the left side of the road. The ridge runs northeast to southwest and ties into the Continental Divide above the Monarch Crest parking lot where the tourist gondola runs in the summer.
For years the scourge of the Colorado mountains, the pine beetle, has ravaged the trees on this ridge. As a result, in recent years the Forest Service has had to remove a large number of them. Whether for some arboreal/biological reason, some limitation of the tree removal equipment, or something else not apparent to the casual observer, the trees were removed in vertical rows, leaving long, narrow clearings from top to bottom, all along the mountain face.
The result, while sad for the trees, is a goldmine for skiers. A whole mountainside of evenly-spaced clearings, perfect for skiing. In fact, this ridge is known locally by backcountry skiers as the Perfect Trees.
I had viewed this ridge many times while skiing Monarch but had yet to venture onto it. With the snowpack from the most recent storm mostly stabilized but still fresh, I decided to head up the pass to check it out. It was going to be a solo mission. My plan was to ski conservatively, with a primary goal of getting a feel for the terrain and locating the drop in and exit points for the ski down. And since cell phones don’t work in this area, in case of emergency, I brought along my latest high-tech gadget, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator. Safety first!
I got up to the top of Monarch Pass around 9:00 a.m. To fuel my climb, I was looking forward to coffee and a donut from the gift shop. Unfortunately, it’s currently closed for renovations.
The skin track for the Perfect Trees starts from the parking lot on the north side of the gift shop and climbs steeply up the ridge.
Due to the steepness, the track switches back and forth several times.
Approaching the top.
Highway 50 far below.
As I topped the ridge, I met up with a couple of people transitioning for their descent. They looked like they knew what they were doing so I took the opportunity to chat them up and get more information about the area. Their names were Susan and John, both Salida locals. And, as it frequently turns out in a small town, I had previously met Susan while skiing across the valley at Snow Stake.
We talked for a few minutes and then they asked if I’d like to join them. This is actually a big deal. Not that backcountry skiers are anti-social. But due to the inherent risks of the activity, you don’t really want to be skiing in the backcountry with someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. If someone gets hurt or caught in an avalanche the rest of the group is responsible for their rescue and/or evacuation. You kind of want to know the capabilities of the person who may have to rescue you. They didn’t know me; I didn’t know them.
I’d like to think that my skill, confidence and obvious backcountry badassedness prompted them to invite me. Oh yeah, we want to ski with that guy! But more than likely they just took pity on the fact I was skiing alone. Whatever the reason, I was thrilled at the opportunity. I thanked them and quickly said yes.
We transitioned at the top of the ridge and did a quick beacon check before heading down. John, a skier, led the way followed by Susan, a boarder. Both were noticeably skilled at riding their conveyance of choice. I dropped in third, happy to have some company and tracks to follow through unfamiliar terrain.
The runs at Perfect Trees are longer and steeper than those in other areas I’ve skied. The slope and the open spacing of the trees, combined with the deep powder meant that you could get a good, sustained rhythm going on the ski. And despite the fact it was a Friday, a day many people in Chaffee County have off, we had miles of untracked powder all to ourselves.
All smiles at the bottom of the first run.
Heading back up for another one.
The thing I discovered about the Perfect Trees is that regardless of the way you ski down, you always end up on the same skin track in a gully at the bottom. Simply follow this track back up to where you started the climb.
At the top, the skin track runs all along the top of the ridge. So for variety, you can drop in early or go a little farther until you see a clearing that suits your fancy. They’re all a little different in terms of slope and tree arrangement. A seemingly unlimited number of options.
A short video of John and Susan dropping in on our second run.
After three amazing runs together, Susan said she needed to get back to town. John wanted to do some more and headed back up for a few more laps. I was tempted to go with him but I could feel my legs starting to get that rubbery feeling from three hours of sustained climbing and deep powder skiing. I decided it would be wiser to call it a day. Plus, I wanted to see exactly how to get back to the parking lot. It wasn’t obvious from where we were standing at the end of our third run. I headed back with Susan.
My only complaint about the perfect trees is that unless you cut your last run super short, you can’t ski back to the car. You end your day skinning back up out of the gully where the ski runs end. But it’s a small complaint. The thing about backcountry skiing is, as incredibly fun as the skiing part is, it’s really all about spending time outside in the mountains in winter. Skinning back to the car is just a more mellow way to end the day while enjoying the outdoors.
A perfect day in the Perfect Trees.