Many CCRC trails stay snow free all winter ... here are a few views from one that does NOT!

Monarch Crest Trail Ski - April 5, 2008
Monarch Pass to Marshall Pass on the "trail", then down snowy Marshall pass road to bottom.

7:30 AM start - it wasn't crowded.  North Fooses creek and Peck Peak in sight.	Once on the crest, the route gets easier and harder. Lots of wind, great views, large cornices, funky snow.
Impressive sculptures along every ridge.	Fortunately and humorously, the trail still held a little snow from a recent storm - a thin white line in a windswept land.
Great views of Chipeta and Ouray from the now well-buried trail.	Nasty snow meant sidestepping and other variations on survival skiing. No smooth telemark turns here.
A favorite part of the trail on the western side of the crest. Note fuzzy appearance of grass and snow in high wind.	The last long climb past Cochetope pass, and the nicest snow along the Crest Trail.
Removing skins in the shelter of an odd cornice in the middle of the ridge. Finally, downhill and better snow.	Despite much searching, the trail was not evident in the trees - so we just contoured across the sidehill.
A big smile at the top of Marshall Pass. The slow part is over, now to cover the remaining miles.	Easy downhill skiing on the Marshall Pass Road. One snowmobile had tracked the recent snow.
Nice views of the Sangre de Cristos.	The second and last of two short walks in snow free zones. The car awaits :-).