Summit Elevation (m): 2577
Trip Date: December 14 2013
Elevation Gain (m): 1000
Round Trip Time (hr): 5.5
Total Trip Distance (km): 20
Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 1/2 – you fall, you sprain your ego
Difficulty Notes: An easy backcountry ski or hiking trip with great views.
Technical Rating: OT2; YDS (Hiking)
GPS Track: Gaia
Map: Google Maps
On Saturday, December 14 2013 Wietse and I continued a tradition of going to the Healy Pass area one week prior to a hut ski trip. A year previous we also skied the pass on a grey and unassuming day and this day wouldn’t be much different. The snow conditions were a bit thin down low, but once we worked our way to the lower pass meadows there was quite a bit of snow.
It was unconsolidated sugar and our poles pushed 1.5 meters to ground when we went off trail! We were passed by a solo skier just before the meadows and he broke trail exactly in the right direction for us. We wanted to bag an official summit just north of the pass and I broke trail from the top of the ridge to the base of the first (false) summit. From here we ditched the skies and walked up on foot.
It was windy and cool once we got near the summit so our stay was brief. One day I’d love to be up here on a sunny, clear, warm day for the views. Our descent was quick. It took 4 hours to reach the summit and less than 1.5 hours to get back to the car. The Healy Pass ski trip is fun and safe for a quick day trip. It’s a great thing to do when you’re not sure what else is safe or worthwhile.
