I found some old pics recently from a trip up Sand Mountain north of Steamboat Springs. The trip was a beautiful sojourn with a great group of friends who converged for some winter fun in Steamboat.
From the town of Hahn's Peak (north of Steamboat) we headed about 5 miles SW to Mill Creek, and started skiing just upstream from where it enters Steamboat Lake. After paralleling the creek for a couple of miles we headed up into the enchanted forest on the north flank of Sand. It's a nice and gradual climb through firs and spruce and we found a snug group of trees to huddle for a snack out of the fat, falling snowflakes. 
Before we reached the saddle between Mead and Sand we took a few moments to absorb the view east into the steep bowl below Sand's northeast face of cliffs. Although the open expanse of powder and steeps beckoned us, the snow was quite unstable and dropping in would not have been smart.
While some of the group rested in the trees just below the saddle the rest of us headed through the final trees and up the summit ridge. Every time I have skied Sand the visibility has been awful and this time was no different. The fog and snow was so thick near the top and the lack of contrast from trees exagerated the feeling of being on a cloud.
The east face of Sand is not a cornice you want to ski off unless you have a parachute. We had our moments on the top of Sand- always a special place for me- and headed back towards the saddle to make some turns and meet up with the others.
From the town of Hahn's Peak (north of Steamboat) we headed about 5 miles SW to Mill Creek, and started skiing just upstream from where it enters Steamboat Lake. After paralleling the creek for a couple of miles we headed up into the enchanted forest on the north flank of Sand. It's a nice and gradual climb through firs and spruce and we found a snug group of trees to huddle for a snack out of the fat, falling snowflakes. 
Before we reached the saddle between Mead and Sand we took a few moments to absorb the view east into the steep bowl below Sand's northeast face of cliffs. Although the open expanse of powder and steeps beckoned us, the snow was quite unstable and dropping in would not have been smart.
While some of the group rested in the trees just below the saddle the rest of us headed through the final trees and up the summit ridge. Every time I have skied Sand the visibility has been awful and this time was no different. The fog and snow was so thick near the top and the lack of contrast from trees exagerated the feeling of being on a cloud.
The east face of Sand is not a cornice you want to ski off unless you have a parachute. We had our moments on the top of Sand- always a special place for me- and headed back towards the saddle to make some turns and meet up with the others.
Wrapping up our hoots and hollers through the trees, we decided to head back a different way and follow a more direct drainage to meet up with Mill Creek. We quickly got held up in thick brush in a small and narrow drainage. Eventually, after the sustained bushwacking struggle, we met back up with our route and skied
out to the car. Exhausted and fulfilled we relaxed back at the house with a soak in the rented hot tub. One of these days I'll make it up Sand on a blue bird day and get the winter perspective of Hahn's Peak and the Zirkels I've never had. Gosh I love north Routt county.
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