Berthoud Pass Backcountry

Petar Kovacic and I in the elements. Photo by Petar
April of 2003 found Petar and I on a 3 day tour from Berthoud Pass. The snowpack had been stabalized by a massive snow in March and warm springtime temperatures. It snowed several inches every day we were out. We headed out with a couple of locals for the first day. Petar and I dug a snow cave and passed two more days. Petar's dog Saint was our loyal companion throughout.
The Posse, day one.
Turns!
Our snow cave.
Saint. An amazing dog. At age 17 (109 in dog years!) this dog still has more energy than we did. Despite the fresh snow, often more than a foot deep, he bounded ahead of us most of the time. He once bounded over a windswept knoll and released a 2 foot thick soft slab of snow that he rode down in style for 50 yards. He did not eat or drink much at all the first day and on the second day we noticed he had not peed or pooped for a long time. We finally got him to eat a meal of diluted hot cocoa with crumbled chedder crackers with peanut butter and instant oatmeal.
Taking note of a cornice above our intended descent. Photo by Petar
Dropping in! Photo by Petar
Petar cliffdropping.
Me cliffdropping. Saint wishing he could board! Photo by Petar