​​In The Shadow of Longs Peak

East Portal

The East Portal Area is a favorite of mine.  It seems like even when there is hardly a flake of snow to be found elsewhere on the front range, there is always snow at the East Portal.  I don’t think I have ever had a bad experience skiing here.  These photos are from an outing on 01 October 2005

To get there from Nederland, drive south on the peak-to-peak highway  to Rollinsville then turn right (west) for about 10 miles on a good gravel road.  There are several railroad crossing and these tracks are actively used by the many trains that run thru here daily.  And beyond the work of homeland security:  at each crossing is posted a sign with a phone number to call if there is a stalled / abandoned car on the track.

This is also a most scenic drive along South Boulder Creek with lots of places to have a picnic though not today as the snow covered peaks in the distance beckon us on. 

There are 3 places to note as you drive along.  The first is the Jenny Lind Gulch Trailhead, now closed due to parking issues; the second is the Apex Road just past the town of Tolland and the entry point for the Mammoth Gulch Area.  Lastly is the turnoff for the Rollinsville Pass Road.  The last two provide nice kick ‘n’ glide skiing but both tend to be windblown for long stretches.  

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