St Elmo to Tincup Pass in Winter

[tomcat32]

I have only been on this road in summer with a mt bike from the CDT crossing to St Elmo a few years back. And, I am aware of snowmobile traffic. Is the pitch on this suitable to xc ski? Is there avy risk above treeline near the pass? For reference I have XC up to Billings Lake from Angel of Shavano CG and up Hayden pass if this helps.

[Jay521]

Al (piper14er) did a TR in April a few years back. That might give you some ideas or you could reach out to him?

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=11670

[Yikes]

I'd consider it relatively safe (assuming avy forecast isn't orange or greater). I've only done it with snowshoes and would expect some dry patches up near the pass. Slope is pretty mellow.

[BillMiddlebrook]

You could XC ski this route to Tincup Pass without avy danger unless a large storm has recently loaded the final pitch to the pass. The road up from St. Elmo is a bit narrow for a couple of miles but I think it would be doable on XC and yes, on a weekend you'll encounter heavy sled traffic.

[RJ_Greenhorn24]

Avy danger is very low in the bowl right now, but so are the snow totals. I'm sure there's plenty enough for xc but beware the multiple dirt patches and rocks in the road. The first 4 miles up was very patchy and slim on snow. The bowl was wind blown and the summit was bone dry. Rock City.

This would probably be the best time to xc Tincup since the lack of snow will mean less snowmobiles. I know I won't be bringing mine up again until the snow drastically improves

[Tornadoman]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread. Looks like a few 13ers up there that would make for reasonable winter/snow season outings in the right conditions!

[RJ_Greenhorn24]

Glad I stumbled upon this thread. Looks like a few 13ers up there that would make for reasonable winter/snow season outings in the right conditions!

Right now would be the perfect time to go for Emma Burr and surrounding 13ers, very mild conditions

[tomcat32]

Thanks for the input. I was looking to check out a few of the 13ers in the area if conditions allowed and use skis for the approach/descent from the road slog, particularly to speed up the descent back to the car.

[BillMiddlebrook]

I was up there last week and took this video from Tincup Pass:

https://www.facebook.com/bill.middlebro ... 718188030/

Fitzpatrick has "some" snow but "Tincup Peak" is dry

[tomcat32]

I was up there last week and took this video from Tincup Pass:

https://www.facebook.com/bill.middlebro ... 718188030/

Fitzpatrick has "some" snow but "Tincup Peak" is dry

Bill, In your video, is the area behind the sign looking toward UN 12XXX and Fitzpatrick or the Tincup Peak area? Is it worth bringing skis for the road right now or will it be easier to boot it up with some microspikes?

[BillMiddlebrook]

Well, the upper part of the final hill to Pass (on the St. Elmo side) was dry and so was the pass but it looked like snowmobilers were riding up to the basin below the pass, albeit on very little snow. I didn't come up from the St. Elmo side so I can't say if they were parking in St. Elmo and had continuous snow or not. Sorry, I can't help much more on that.

You're right, the video starts by panning from the west (UN 12XXX and Fitpatrick) and then 180 degrees to the east