Powder Ghost Towns. Peter Bronski

      Columbine: the main run that leads all the way up to Trail Ridge Road at the head of the valley;

      Upper Main Slope: the above-treeline terrain beyond Trail Ridge Road.

      Keep in mind that there are other runs that create a network on the mountain. Most of the additional runs are tight, and some are partially overgrown. They are visible on the aerial photo, and I leave it to you to explore them at your leisure.

      Looking up the Spruce and Lower T-Bar runs at Hidden Valley

      THE APRÈS SKI

      The nearest town, Estes Park, is littered with restaurant options. Visit www.estesparkcvb.com/dining.cfm.

      When you’re ready for dessert, the caramel apples at Laura’s are divine (129 East Elkhorn Avenue, 866-586-4004, www.laurasfudgeofestes.com).

      Trip 6

      ROCK CREEK

      THE ESSENTIALS

      Nearest Town Allenspark

      Distance 4 miles

      Vertical 2100’

      Season January to March

      Elevation Range 8700’ to 10,810’

      Difficulty Rating Moderate

      Skiing Rating

      SNOTEL Station Wild Basin (1042)

      Forest Zone Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder Ranger District

      CAIC Zone Front Range Mountains

      USGS Quad Allens Park

      Weather COZ035

      THE HISTORY

      Allenspark and Rock Creek have a long history of skiing that dates back to 1896, when 10 men laid out the town site. One of them, “Big Jim” Scobee, was the first to have skis. He made them himself using wood flooring boards that were 4 inches wide. Other men in town teased him that his skis were “large enough for Paul Bunyan.”

      The first ski hill in town dates to 1918. Lars Haugen, who carried the mail from Allenspark to Ward, and Hans Hansen, who worked for Carl Howelsen in Steamboat Springs, built the run, which was called the Haugen Slide. Reportedly, the run was still visible in 1999, though I didn’t find evidence of it in 2008.