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Hello all,

I am planning a trip on January 1st, 2013 to do some splitboarding on the four pass loop in Aspen, CO. It will be really technical, but I know with the right snow conditions, it could be an epic trip. So, who is down to go with me?! I am looking for people with some experience in backpacking and split boarding. I haven't had much AIARE training but I know the basics and if anyone wants to help me learn more I am all ears!

The trip will be 4 to 5 days in the back country and I will follow the loop as I did over the summer which is all tracked on my GPS. If any one has any questions or suggestions please do not hesitate to tell me because I am going to need all the help I can get on this trip.

So, yea, I am am looking for people to go with me and I hope I find some people!

That's a pretty heavy trip to undertake with a pickup group from the internet.

That would be a lot of fun in the right conditions. May just want to bring your hiking boots this year though.

It would be helpful if people knew your experience level in things like winter camping, splitting, traveling in avalanche terrain, etc. Not knowing the above things, this is a huge trip to take on in mid winter conditions. I would suggest you postpone until spring when conditions are generally safer and you can possibly ride some better terrain.

Thanks guys for replying to my post!

@websherpa, It is a heavy trip, but I am up for it!

@HikeforTurns, I have been on a couple snow trips in California, snowshoeing, Ice climbing with crampons. Everything I have done, I have done for the first time last season. I have talked to a lot of people about avalanche danger and that is about it. Everyone seems to be very helpful when I am out there by telling me what the dangers are and what conditions to look out for when Ice climbing and snowshoeing.

I have been boarding since I was 10 years old, and I am just getting into split boarding, although I know I could use my regular board and do the same thing. I have a Jones Mountain Twin and a Jones Solution split board. The Mountain Twin is a sick board, just got it this season, REI is the best!!

Other then that, I am in great shape and I can attack a mountain!

I can't post pone this trip, I work and I am a graduate student, I am only praying for the best conditions!

It sounds like you have a lot of ambition! Which is good. You should try and pair that with some education. There are lot of resources on the front range for AVY classes. Friends of berthoud pass, total climbing, climbinglife.com, silverton avalanche school, etc.. You should look into these first, before taking on a trip like that. There are also some classes that are paired with a guided backcountry hut trip. In addition to that, read every book you can get your hands on. Here are some good ones.

http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/Staying-Alive-in-Avalanche-Terrain-2nd-Ed-P512.aspx

http://www.avalanche-center.org/store/books-snowsense.php

You can also read reports of avalanche accidents and get an idea of what you are up against.

http://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/pub_archives.php

http://avalanche.org/tutorial/tutorial.html

Having a set schedule is pretty problematic when it comes to trips like these. I would suggest you try and use that time off for a multi-day avy course.

Listen to HFT, he knows his stuff, and I agree with what he said.

Here's some more avy links: A lot to learn here, but you should take an aiare class

Canadian Avalanche Centre:

http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/training/online-course

Avalanche Glossary & Forest Service Avalanche Awareness Website:

http://www.fsavalanche.org/

http://www.fsavalanche.org/encyclopedia/index.htm

Learn How To: various info:

http://www.fsavalanche.org/Default.aspx ... ntLinkId=3

I lived in in and around the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen)for the last five years, and have not heard of anyone skiing the Four Mountain Loop. Looking up on the Internet does not show anyone doing such a ski mountaineering trip.



Suggest you post your desire to splitboard the Four Pass Loop on WildSnow.com (Lou Dawson) and contact the local guides, like Aspen Expeditions (970) 925-7625); ask for Dick Jackson or Amos Whiting or Dirk Bockelmann. Ask them what they think of such a trip and your experience.

Checkout "Lou Dawson's Guide to Colorado Backcountry Skiing, Volume 1". which probably list much of the Maroons Bells as best to ski in spring or into summer. The Maroon Bells are located in area of known avalanche terrain with recurring avalanche cycles.

Keep in mind that a summer hiking trail is not necessarily a viable or safe route in the High Country Colorado in winter!

Thanks for the info guys, its helping a lot!

@Powder_Rider: Thanks for the number for Aspen Expeditions, Just what I needed. If I can get a guide to go with me that would be awesome, but I would imagine it wouldn't be cheap.

I'll keep everyone updated on my progress! Thanks for the help guys!

Also, if anyone is planning any trips in let me know, I would love to join in on some of these awesome experiences that split-boarding allows us to do!