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Buffalo Mountain’s north-facing popular backcountry ski route, the Silver Couloir, at center, seen on May 3, near Silverthorne.
Hugh Carey / hcarey@summitdaily.com -
Halfway down the Silver Couloir, skier Manasseh Franklin does dozens of turns on fresh snow on April 13, on Buffalo Mountain near Silverthorne.
Hugh Carey / hcarey@summitdaily.com -
Thomas Bull descends in the Silver Couloir on skis on April 13, on Buffalo Mountain near Silverthorne.
Hugh Carey / hcarey@summitdaily.com -
Taking advantage of being first on fresh snow, skier Doug Stenclik descends in the Silver Couloir on April 13, on Buffalo Mountain near Silverthorne.
Hugh Carey / hcarey@summitdaily.com -
Skier Manasseh Franklin finds low angle exit of the Silver Couloir on April 13, on Buffalo Mountain near Silverthorne.
Hugh Carey / hcarey@summitdaily.com
Dome-shaped Buffalo Mountain is easily spotted upon exiting the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70 entering Summit County. What lies on the north-facing, 12,777-foot mountain is the Silver Couloir, a popular backcountry line attracting skiers from the Front Range and around the world. The line has gotten so popular that it can find ski-resort-like crowds on a weekend in the spring. A 7-mile roundtrip hike rewarded with a 3,000-foot continuous drop on skis at an average mid-30-degree-angle range makes for a popular line not far from the road.
Like any day skiing in the backcountry, it is highly recommended to be familiar with the dangers of avalanches and experience in unpredictable terrain. Along with avalanche beacon training, search training with a probe and a shovel are important before venturing out of bounds.