A Green (Wilson) Christmas

It was far from a “White Christmas” around Aspen this year, but we did manage to find a little bit of powder up in the Pearl Pass area.

(Christy here) For the second year in a row, we escaped the hustle-and-bustle of the holidays in Aspen to meet friends at the Green-Wilson hut for Christmas. Starting from Ashcroft on Christmas Eve afternoon, we skinned the five-plus miles to the hut under starry skies. Around 6:30pm we saw the lights of our cozy mountain cabin and were instantly greeted with holiday drinks and creative hors d’oeuvres.

On the dusk approach, with all the hut necessities and holiday effects (including mini-tree, seen here).

With Dan and Sara Bayer, Tim, Khristie Robinson, Dirk, Joey G., Janson Simpson, Erik Boomer, Ted and myself in attendance, all beds were spoken for, as was the case with the neighboring Tagert Hut which was full with Aspenites as well.

Within minutes, Christmas decorations were hanging off the rafters and Christmas music played as we ate dinner, hosted the neighboring hut guests, and then fell asleep listening to the crackling of the wood stove.

We arose on Christmas morning to a classic, Colorado blue sky and after breakfast, we casually got ready for a ski tour up towards Pearl Pass. Knowing the skiing wasn’t going to be too exciting due to the lack of snow that’s fallen this season so far, we enjoyed a causal pace over the shallow snowpack, and found a perfect spot for lunch in the sun.

Dirk Bockelmann, Christy Mahon at the Green WIlson Hut

Merry Christmas, let’s go skiing!

Christy skins, with a bare looking East Face of Castle Peak in the background.

Dirk, Erik Boomer and Tim Mutrie head up towards Pearl Peak.

Dirk Bockelmann, Erik Boomer and Tim Mutrie head up towards Pearl Peak. There’s plenty of snow for skinning and easy tours, but the old, sugary snow isn’t very supportive for aggressive skiing or even moderately steep lines.

Unfortunately, there was only enough snow to cover the rocks, making last year’s Christmas Day skiing look like a big present. Besides the southern mountains of the San Juans, most of the state is badly in need of snow, and with none in the near-term forecast, we’re going to have to come up with some creative adventures for after the New Year.