Bald Mountain 13,703’

Bald Mountain’s West Side above Boreas Pass Road viewed from Red Mountain. Photo: Rob Writz

In their excellent book "Climbing and Skiing Colorado's Mountains", Ben Conners and Brian Miller aptly pointed out that Bald Mountain's north side resembles the shape of the Lonely Mountain from the book The Hobbit. From many vantages, Bald Mountain does often appears to be lonely by itself with no neighbors. This massive mountain is one of the chain of giant thirteen thousand foot mountains that run from Hoosier Pass to the spine of the Front Range.

“Baldy” is one of the most popular ski mountaineering objectives on the Front Range. It is highly accessible from Breckenridge and Boreas Pass, but its massive bulk requires an early start and a half to a full day of adventure. This is truly a skier's mountain with numerous lines on all sides of the mountain. We describe the spring skiing gullies on the mountain's west side and the classic Baldy Chutes on the northeast slopes, and there are numerous other bowls and ridges gifting nearly 360 degrees of high alpine skiing terrain. South Baldy, the point on the southern ridge, has numerous bowls and chutes to explore including its Northeast Bowl and Bald Mountain's Southeast Chutes. The mountain's North Ridge leads to the Northeast Flank and a series of three bowls. Winter backcountry skiers enjoy low angle tree skiing above Iowa Mill and surrounding Sisters Cabin.

+ ROUTES

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d - West Side

Baldy's west side is accessed from various points on Boreas Pass Road. The routes below are described from north to south as most mountaineers are coming from the Breckenridge (north) side. Boreas Pass Winter Trailhead is the entry point, and this gate stays closed until early summer. Plan on time skiing, walking, or biking on this road until it is open to vehicles. The ski routes on the mountain's west side are very similar to each other in aspect, angle, and length. The wind scours this side of the mountain through the winter, but these gullies hold deep snow for spring and summer skiing. The southwest and west-facing aspects, combined with long climbs and descents, make this a great location for summer turns.

1a - Bakers Tank Gully

Rating: II D5
Average Angle, Steepest Angle: 19, 35
ATES: 3, Complex
Season: Spring, Summer
Aspect: Southwest
Vertical: 2,135'
Approach Elevations: 10,864' - 13,000'
Approach Distance from Boreas Pass Winter TH: 3.4 miles
Top of the Route Waypoint: 39.45249, -105.97571

Bakers Tank Gully is the first of the gullies encountered when heading south on the road, and it offers an expedient line to Baldy's North RidgeAccess this route at the distinctively big and red Bakers Tank water tower on Boreas Pass Road. This water tank served the Denver South Park and Pacific Narrow Gauge Railroad from Como to Leadville in the 1880s. Follow the creekbed east from the road to the gully. Once you break through treeline there may be different snowfields that can be climbed to keep out of the direct gully. If the summit of Bald Mountain is your goal, climb to the North Ridge and follow the line south to the summit. This path to the summit is described below in Baldy Chutes. For spring skiing descents, there may be multiple line options north and south of the gully depending on your timing and the status of the snow. This route is lower on the mountain than the others on the West Side, and may be ready for corn skiing earlier in the day.

1b - Southwest Couloir

Rating: II D8
Average Angle, Steepest Angle: 29, 48
ATES: 3, Complex
Season: Spring
Aspect: Southwest
Vertical: 2,627'
Approach Elevations: 11,030 - 13,655'
Approach Distance from Boreas Pass Winter TH: 4.24 miles
Top of the Route Waypoint: 39.44455, -105.97078

The Southwest Couloir can be a good spring snow climb that ends just below the summit of Bald Mountain. This is a great option for direct access to the peak, and the most couloir-like of the routes on the west side. There are two lines on this route that form a "Y" shape in the upper third. The climber's left is the direct line to the summit. The right side of the "Y" and gains the Baldy's ridge between the summit and South Baldy. The right side is not as attractive as the snow often ends well below the ridge. The upper third of the left line more consistent, steep, and can exceed 40 degrees at the top. The line climbs and descends an interesting chute that has a ridge to the north that forms a cornice on climber's left side, and then opens to the steep snowfield at the top. You will want to climb this chute before you ski it! The best top-to-bottom skiing on the left line is late spring and before Boreas Pass road gate is opened. Continue about 0.84 miles from Bakers Tank to where the creek draining this chute crosses the road. 14ers.com has a great description of this route with detailed photos for reference.

Orion (1c) and Chicken Strip (1d)

ATES: 3, Complex
Season: Spring, Summer
Aspect: Southwest
Vertical: 2,400'
Approach Elevations: 11,180' - 13,600'
Approach Distance from Boreas Pass Winter TH: 5.05 miles
Top of the Route Waypoint: 39.43798, -105.96682

Orion and Chicken Strip are large gullies on either side of "South Baldy". This point is not an official peak, but it is a prominent point on Baldy's ridge above French Pass and Boreas Pass. These southwest facing gullies are best accessed in the summer once Boreas Pass road opens. Look for a pull out about five miles from the Boreas Pass winter trailhead that provides access to both routes. The waypoint for the pull out and gullies is approximately 39.42751, -105.98307. A loop option is to drive to Boreas Pass, park, climb South Baldy to the gullies, ski down, and then walk up the road to the Pass. Orion and Chicken Strip very similar and are great for summer skiing. This should be synonymous with being able to hike up grassy slopes, and then skiing down! These chutes and snow fields average angle is in the mid-20s with steeper angles in the upper 30s and lower 40s near the top. Orion (1c, II D6), has the potential to link to snow fields on the north side of South Baldy. Chicken Strip (1d, II D6) could link snow to the south side of South Baldy, depending on conditions and your timing.

2 - Baldy Chutes

Rating: II D6
Average Angle, Steepest Angle: 24, 40
ATES: 3, Complex
Season: Spring
Aspect: Northeast
Vertical:
Approach Elevations: 10,300' - 13,703'
Approach Distance from French Gulch Road Winter Trailhead: 4.3 to 5.58 miles
Top of the Route Waypoint: 39.44483, -105.97047

Baldy Chutes, or Northeast Chutes, are the classic lines descending from the mountain's summit into northeast slopes of the mountain above French Creek. These slopes hold reliable snow each spring, and the descent lines sustain the slope angles to tree line. There are numerous lines to choose from extending from the summit to the North Ridge. The most popular drops directly from the summit. As with many Colorado ski descents, the turns are initially hidden by a convex slope that gives way to a shallow chute. To avoid the convex entrance, ski down the ridge and select the next shallow chute. These two chutes converge further down the mountain. Assuming that there is full snow coverage, one can ski to treeline and the French Creek valley. Trend skiers right to limit time in the trees and quickly access the valley floor.

There are several ways to access Baldy Chutes from the French Gulch Road winter trailhead. The first, and most direct, is to hike or ski up French Gulch Road, past the junction with Little French Gulch, to the French Creek Valley. Stay right and directly south at the junction near the summer homes. This road trends directly south into the valley and after the last house it drops quickly into the creek valley. Follow open meadows to just under 11,400' and then climb southwest above treeline, and then west to the chutes. Climb the chutes directly.

An alternative tour is the North Ridge. This is longer on miles, but lets you keep your skis and skins on for most of the ascent. From French Gulch Road Winter Trailhead, head east and quickly turn onto Sally Barber Mine Road. Climb this road to the mine, and then ascend the summer mountain bike trail "Nightmare on Baldy", crossing "True Romance", to "Hannah's Way". These trail signs are usually visible at the start of each trail and have blazes on the trees. This is also the approach to Sisters Cabin. At Hannah's Way and the final stretch to Sister's Cabin, climb southeast through open trees to treeline, then continue on Bald Mountain North Ridge crest to the summit. Depending on conditions, there is the potential to ascend on climbing skins most of the way to the Summit. There is one steep crag at 13, 300' that will require a boot pack. To exit from this approach, ski Baldy Chutes and follow French Creek meadows to 10,725 and French Creek Road. Walk or ski this road back to the trailhead.

+ TRAILHEAD

Boreas Pass Winter Closure (10,350')

Start at the south end of Breckenridge at the intersection of Boreas Road and Highway 9. Follow Boreas Pass Road east and climb approximately 3.6 miles to the gate closure. [39.46274, -106.02100]

French Gulch Road Winter Trailhead (10,300') Start at the north end of Breckenridge at the Conoco gas station at the intersection of Highway 9 and Huron Road. Follow Huron Road east 0.4 miles to Rieling Road and turn left. Follow Reiling Road to French Gulch Road, and then continue to the gated trailhead. Parking is located on the right before the gate. [39.48635, -105.98077]

+ MAPS & PICTURES

Below we have included a link to Front Range Skimo's master map. The routes on the map are approximations, and are not intended for use as a GPX track. To the right are a curated list of photos of the mountain.