Rodney Ley, author of Cameron Pass: Backcountry Skiing (Beacon Guidebooks), will discuss Cameron Pass skiing including ideas for spring ski trips, long loop tours, and steep couloir drops. With over 50 years of backcountry skiing on Cameron Pass, Rodney will share how his founding of the first backcountry ski yurt system in Colorado in 1985 started a revolution of backcountry skiing on Cameron Pass. As the first avalanche observer for Cameron Pass, Rodney‘s experience bridges recreational, professional, and guiding experiences.

Discover how to make the most out of your visit to Cameron Pass by skiing at well-known locations such as Diamond Peaks or the lesser-known reaches of Seven Utes Mountain. Since Cameron Pass offers spring skiing well into June every year, Rodney will share ideas on long tours or steep descents this spring. With easy state highway access and peaks rising to nearly 13,000 feet, the Cameron Pass backcountry delivers for every type of skier.

Rodney has put his breadth of knowledge and 50 years of experience on Cameron Pass into his meticulously curated guidebook. Just 65 miles west of Fort Collins, the quiet and undeveloped “Cam Pass” also receives a generous amount of snow each winter and stellar skiing often extends late into the spring. With relatively easy highway access, this area has become a favorite spot for day tours and overnight yurt trips from both sides of the range. The Cameron Pass zone boasts big lines, mellow day tours and everything in between. You’ll find high-quality aerial photos marked with ascent and descent indicators, individual run descriptions, slope angles, aspect, Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale ratings, parking and trailhead information and more in this lightweight book that can fit in your pack. Designed to go along with you on your tours and accompany the Backcountry Skiing Cameron Pass Ski Map and Ski App. This is more than just a guidebook. It’s a decision-making tool.

This 5.5” x 8.5” spiral-bound book covers the following zones: Kelly Ridge, Ruby Jewel Cirque, Clark Peak, Sawmill Creek, Montgomery Pass North, Montgomery Bowls, North Diamond Peak, South Diamond Peak, Zimmerman Lake, Hot Dog Bowls, Enchanted Forest, Iron Mountain West, American Lakes South, Snow Lake Ridge, Paradise Bowl, Nokhu Crags North, Lake Agnes Bowl, Braddock Peak East, Braddock Peak West, Seven Utes Mountain East, Seven Utes Mountain West.

Rodney Ley began skiing in 1964 on wooden skis with cable bindings and lace-up leather boots. Most of his friends think he should be a better skier by now! Rodney first skied on Cameron Pass in 1972 and it remains his favorite spot to ski. In 1985, Rodney founded the Never Summer Nordic Yurt System in the Colorado State Forest, one of the first backcountry yurt systems in the U.S. He served as the Cameron Pass avalanche observer for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center from 1986 to 1991. In 1990, Rodney began a 30-year career as director of the Outdoor Program at Colorado State University. His proudest moments are summiting 22 peaks above 15,000’ with CSU students on three continents.