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West Bench Access

 4.0 (2)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. Western Colorado
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0.8 Miles 1.3 Kilometers


Ascent

906' 276 m

Ascent

0' 0 m

Descent

21%

Avg Slope (12°)

47%

Max Slope (25°)

9,706' 2,958 m

High

8,800' 2,682 m

Low

Shared By CaseyE Eales

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

Avalanche risk for Dec 13, 2018: Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Full forecast for CAIC: Grand Mesa Zone — Brought to you by CO Avalanche Information Center

Avy tweets from @CAICgrandmesa

“Start at the main area, cross the bridge, skin next to the creek and up the rolling glades.”

— CaseyE Eales
Driving DirectionsGPX File
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Description

This approach is the best of the area. When the temperatures are right, it leads to the best skiing at Old PH.

This skin track leads to 3 well-known area classics, the quality of which are much better than the east side, though the NE aspect means the snow softens here faster.

Be sure to find the bridge, if you cannot, the fastest other way around is to skin right next to the road from the parking area until the creek goes underneath the road, so be sure not to miss it.

As you ascend the skin track and you see the gently rolling glades, it will make your mouth water to lay down first tracks.

Contacts

Land Manager: USFS - Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison Nat. Forests

Nov 27, 2018: U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service Join Forces on Big Willow Salvage Timber Sale

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  4.0 from 2 votes

#1

in Western Colorado

#119

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  4.0 from 2 votes
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#1

in Western Colorado

#29

in Colorado

#119

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167 Since Apr 19, 2015
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Photos

The bottom of the glades which is the run names Prewis
The bottom of the glades which is the run names…
 3
The Bridge
The Bridge
 3
Oh man, I can't wait to put down first tracks
Oh man, I can't wait to put down first tracks
 3
Here is the top of Prewis, there is an old Cat trail at the back of this flat clear area that leads to the Lift Run
Here is the top of Prewis, there is an old Cat…
 3
View down the Run, There is a flat spot about half way down, if you get suckered off to the left you'll end up in a boulder field. Don't go is snow is sub par.
View down the Run, There is a flat spot about h…
 3
The old cat trail that leads to the Lift Run
The old cat trail that leads to the Lift Run
 3

1 Comment

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Casey Hillary Eales
Casey Hillary Eales  
After uploading this area I became aware of the site: summitpost.org/grand-mesa-m… This has helped me with the names, since I already posted the area on Powproj. I will try to incorporate this information as best as I can so the information is complete. But I will not copy and paste the information, please refer to both sites if you want more information on the area. Apr 21, 2015

Nearby Ski Lines

Looking out over the flattops from Old Powderhorn
0.5 mi 0.8 km
The Funnel
 1
Palisade, CO
Looking out over the flattops from Old Powderhorn
0.5 mi 0.9 km
Grand Mesa Highway Cutoff
 1
Palisade, CO
The bottom of the glades which is the run names Prewis
0.3 mi 0.5 km
Pruess
 1
Palisade, CO
The Bridge
0.5 mi 0.8 km
Lift Line
 1
Palisade, CO

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