Independence Bowl at Keystone question - Snowboarding Forum

AcroPhile · 03-03-2011, 07:51 PM

I was thinking about hiking up to the Independence Bowl in Keystone tomorrow for some SC and I have a question about making it back down the mountain from the bowl. Is there anyway of getting back to Dercum mountain without having to hike all the way back up? From the trail map it looks like the bottom of the Independence bowl area is right over the tubing hill and top of Spring Dipper but there is a small corner or out of bounds area you need to cross. Does any one know if this area is roped off or if travel through the area is possible?
Here's a trail map so you can see what I am talking about: http://www.keystoneresort.com/~/medi...ap2011map.ashx

BurtonAvenger · 03-03-2011, 08:10 PM

From what I remember it should just plop you right back out in the outback.

AcroPhile · 03-03-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

From what I remember it should just plop you right back out in the outback.

I think you are thinking of the North and South bowls. They have the $5 cat rides to take you up there then you can hike a bit from there and it all gets you down to the lifts eventually. The Independence bowl is on top of the 'front' mountain and it is only accessible via hike or a $250 cat tour. I think Keystone added it to their resort a year or two ago. It sounds like there should be plenty of good snow there but once you ski down there is no lift to get back up. Instead of hiking the 700 vertical feet back up, I wonder if there is a way to continue skiing down to rejoin the trails.

BurtonAvenger · 03-03-2011, 10:08 PM

No I wasn't thinking of those I know which one you're thinking of and I thought you go down then traverse out. Either way I don't know why you would do that bowl it doesn't get that good of snowfall.

AcroPhile · 03-03-2011, 10:43 PM

Its a bit of a PITA to get there so I figured limited people = better snow. Plus it's one of the few places in Keystone that I haven't been. There are a few videos of people riding Independence on youtube and it looks pretty sweet.

earl_je · 03-03-2011, 10:45 PM

The bowls aren't that good since Sunday, at least the ones I've been to (Copper, Key, Breck). Went last Friday and Saturday and it was still fine. Must have got rained out Saturday evening coz by Sunday there was a good layer of crusty snow/ice mix.

AcroPhile · 03-03-2011, 10:48 PM

Is it snowing hard over in Dillon right now? According to weather underground it's snowing at 2 inches per hour at times at Key and its supposed to continue all through the day tomorrow.

BurtonAvenger · 03-03-2011, 11:26 PM

I can see the stars at my house in Breck.

03-03-2011, 07:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
AcroPhile Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 629	Independence Bowl at Keystone question I was thinking about hiking up to the Independence Bowl in Keystone tomorrow for some SC and I have a question about making it back down the mountain from the bowl. Is there anyway of getting back to Dercum mountain without having to hike all the way back up? From the trail map it looks like the bottom of the Independence bowl area is right over the tubing hill and top of Spring Dipper but there is a small corner or out of bounds area you need to cross. Does any one know if this area is roped off or if travel through the area is possible? Here's a trail map so you can see what I am talking about: http://www.keystoneresort.com/~/medi...ap2011map.ashx

03-03-2011, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,050	From what I remember it should just plop you right back out in the outback. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

03-03-2011, 10:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,050	No I wasn't thinking of those I know which one you're thinking of and I thought you go down then traverse out. Either way I don't know why you would do that bowl it doesn't get that good of snowfall. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

03-03-2011, 11:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,050	I can see the stars at my house in Breck. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

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03-03-2011, 10:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
AcroPhile Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 629	Its a bit of a PITA to get there so I figured limited people = better snow. Plus it's one of the few places in Keystone that I haven't been. There are a few videos of people riding Independence on youtube and it looks pretty sweet.

03-03-2011, 10:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
earl_je Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Keystone, CO Posts: 824	The bowls aren't that good since Sunday, at least the ones I've been to (Copper, Key, Breck). Went last Friday and Saturday and it was still fine. Must have got rained out Saturday evening coz by Sunday there was a good layer of crusty snow/ice mix.

03-03-2011, 10:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
AcroPhile Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 629	Is it snowing hard over in Dillon right now? According to weather underground it's snowing at 2 inches per hour at times at Key and its supposed to continue all through the day tomorrow.