Grizzly Gulch to Twin Lakes Pass

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

To get to Twin Lakes Pass, park at the Grizzly Gulch trailhead. Rather than going up the gully from the parking lot (which is an unnecessary terrain trap), pass the gate at the far end of the parking lot, skin past the parked snowcats, and continue about 1,000 feet up the road until you see a groomed-by-a-snowcat trail on your left.

Follow the track up and to your left for about 15 minutes as it shortcuts across the groomed trail a couple of times and works its way into Grizzly Gulch. After about 30 minutes, Grizzly Gulch widens and you'll have a good view of the entire gulch (see photos).

When the Gulch widens, you have two options. You can continue up the snowcat road which is generally safe, but it does expose you to the steeper slopes that come down from Patsey Marley on your right, or you can stay closer to the power poles and pick a moderate-angle line to Twin Lakes Pass (the power lines go up Grizzly Gulch, over Twin Lakes Pass, and pass just above the top of Brighton's Milly chairlift—knowing where these power lines are located helps me stitch the two canyons together). It takes about an hour to get to Twin Lakes Pass from the Grizzly parking lot.