Mayflower Gulch Snowshoe

Distance: 4 miles RT to the Boston Mine, 6 miles RT to Gold Hill
Elevation: 10,996-11,520ft (Boston Mine) – 11,980 ft (Gold Hill).
Elevation Gain: 580 ft to the Boston Mine, 1,040 ft total to Gold Hill
Dogs: Off leash

Mayflower Gulch near Copper Mountain in Summit County is an easy snowshoe with some of the most spectacular views available. On this day, the entire trip, from our drive up to ascent to Gold Hill to the south of the Gulch was phenomenal. The sky was radiantly blue, the fresh snow looked like whipped marshmallow cream, and the temperatures were nearly idyllic.

The trailhead is only a few miles up Hwy 91 going towards Leadville from the entrance to Copper Mountain resort. Most people follow the actual road that parallels the creek while occasionally you’ll see others braving the drainage itself and its magnificent vista. I have done both. On this day, after a foot of fresh snow, we stuck to the road, which had already been partially tracked.

While in the trees, this trail has frequent views to the north of the various peaks that line the gulch. This gives the photographer many opportunities for framing shots and gives low landers equal excuses for some well-timed oxygen gathering. While this trail does not have much elevation gain, it does start at nearly 11,000 ft, which is a shock to anyone not used to it.

At the end of two miles, the trail exits the trees into the ruins of the old Boston mine, which consists of several old cabins and mine tailings. It is great to stop and dig a snow bench here and admire the view for a bit. The jagged spires of Mayflower are unique. On the left side of the bowl, if the sun is just right, you can see the substantial wire that descends from about 13,400 ft down to a mining ruin, hidden from this vantage behind a slope. Skiers often continue up the drainage for a view of this ruin and to ski down the slope that hides it. In summer, you can hike all the way up to the ruin and even scale the cliff face to the spot of an old generator.

During our lunch break we noticed two backcountry skiers cruising along the cornice to the south. They were jumping up and down on it, causing VW sized chucks to cascade downwards. The cornice at Mayflower is always well defined and extends for about a mile east to west. The western most extent hangs over a concave slope. We were waiting for our two skiers to transit this portion and start a major avalanche. They were smart, however and avoided that area. We decided to follow their tracks and gain the ridge and the spectacular views of Leadville to the south. In the early summer this area abounds with wildflowers and that ridge is a marvelous place to admire the rolling verdant meadows that seem to go on forever into the distance.

Even with the tracks made by the skiers, ascending the 500 or so feet of slope was slushy and slow. The final ten foot push over the cornice was particularly steep and even my MSRs had me sliding ignominiously downwards just as the skiers caught up to me on their second assent. With my camera bobbing in the air and no poles, I would have been better off digging steps with my shovel but fortunately the skiers sliced a shelf for me as they trudged by.

By this time we reached the ridge, we had lost our glorious blue skies to an approaching storm. It was windy and cold so we did not stay long. Spend a day up there in summer, and you won’t regret it. Snowshoe in winter on a sunny day and you will think you have died and gone to heaven.