Over the Snow
July 27 – 2005
By Lou Dawson
The winter of 2004/2005’s big snow avalanches created a snow block in the Schofield Pass canyon that might never melt this summer. People were saying the pass was impassable and impossible for any motorized traffic other than quads or motorcycles. Cool, nothing like something impossible for a day’s 4×4 adventure. My only regret is that we didn’t bring our backcountry skis and make a few turns!
Don't try this unless you're sure the snow is solid. We're actually farther from the edge than it looks.
Photo to right was taken on the way back down after we drove our rigs up and over the snow. Heading down was as tricky as going up. You had to keep your tires inches away from this huge pit (otherwise known as a “bergschrund”). If you got to far away from the pit, you’d start to slide sideways towards the river.
There are no winch anchors, though you could possibly create an anchor with a buried log or Pull Pal winch anchor device. We had to get our chain saw out and cut a few logs out of the way, and we rolled a few large rocks off the snow (and kept as many small ones as possible, for traction).
Crystal Canyon (Schofield Pass, Colorado) with snow plug from last winter’s huge avalanches. Punchbowl area is just above here. 4×4 route over snow marked with red dots. The marked route is nearly the exact line of the summer road you take after the snow melts — if you stick to it you’re always above solid ground. It’s tempting to drive farther to climber’s right, but doing so places you above the hollowed out area where you could fall through the snow to certain death in the ice caverns. We’re we the first automobiles over this year? Who knows for sure, but it felt like it! Click photo to enlarge.
After we got up the thing, we had to drive it the other way just for the complete experience. This is the snow/road interface at the lower end. It was a bit tough getting up on the snow here and could be called one of the two hardest obstacles (the other being the steeper snow a few hundred feet up the route). Just behind Ryan’s rig is the section where you keep one tire inches away from a 20 foot deep crack that would eat your whole Jeep. Branches and rocks on the snow surface give traction, but it’s not as grippy as it looks. The snow is slick as grease just under the surface junk. It might drive better early in the morning after a clear/cool night when the snow crusts over.
Our Route at the snow plug, Punchbowl out of photo to upper right.
Ryan on the way up. We deployed a strap when his rear started to drift out, but never really needed it. Being fully locked and keeping that left front tire on dirt at the edge of the snow is what made the difference on this steep section. Nonetheless, it was a wild ride when you didn’t know if you’d make it or NOT! The nearest winch anchor is about 300 feet up the hill from here. Bring your winch extensions, a Pull Pal, etc. Click photo to enlarge.
Coming back down. Thanks to CODE 4×4 for all the help with building our Jeeps. They work.
Both of us on the way down, yellow Rumble Bee is just off the snow. River to your right looking at photo.
When we were up there this time the road was also blocked by snow at the stream crossing above the Punchbowl shelf road cut. This was tricky to drive up as well, with a dangerous pit to the left. Driving down it was easy, but required care.
The next day, a change of pace. We left the trucks parked and hiked to Geneva Lake in the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness. Amazing the amount of stuff you can do around here!
Our crew at the top of the difficult section.
