Blueberry Hill and Fox Lake Off-Trail skiing on 2-Dec-2025

It wasn't nearly as sunny as forecast, but we had a fine day.
The ski to Blueberry Hill was skier tracked and generally in nice shape. On the return Mike led us through Blueberry Meadows, up to Fox Lake, and back via West Elk Pass.
As usual it was cold and windy at the Elk Pass trailhead, windier than we ever had for the rest of the day. We set out around 9:45, three on NNBC bindings/skis, one on old 3Pin skis, one on light AT gear. The trail up Elk Pass was well covered and generally skier track set.

After a brief regroup at Blueberry junction we headed up Blueberry Hill. Note that most of us found that they seemed to have lengthened the trail to the end by at least 10 minutes. We were at the viewpoint shortly after noon.

One group was a little ahead of us, another group that had started with us came shortly behind. Mike is familiar with the various off trail routes south of the normal Blueberry/Elk Pass/Tyrwhitt trails. He took us through the "Middle Blueberry Meadows".

We ended up on the summer trail less than 1/2 km from Fox Lake and decided to slug it up to that destination, mainly on a trail that had been snowshoe tracked.

We returned pretty quickly down the snowshoe track to West Elk Pass (near the normal location of the SnowFa later in the year). Once on the Elk Pass trail there was little enthusiasm for returning via Elk Pass, Hydroline and Patterson. We did however take Fox Creek back. It seemed to be pretty good to start but did get a little sketchy near the Boulton Creek junction.
Back at the parking lot around 3:15.

Roughly 20 km, 350 m ascent, 5 1/2 hours.

Many thanks to participants: Bill, Mike, Clifton, and Greg for joining me, Carl (C/S).