The Lost Lake drainage next to Eldora Mountain Resort is an almost mystical place with natural snow and gnarly chutes that define backcountry adventures. It is also accessible from the Corona lift, so there is no need for snowcats or helicopters to enjoy the freedom and wild beauty of riding in a backcountry wilderness area.

All backcountry riding is dangerous but there are some precautions that can be taken to mitigate the risk. The most important safety tip is to go with a buddy or a group. There is safety in numbers.

Timing is also critical to riding safely in the backcountry. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC/avalanche.state.co.us) provides daily updates on the avalanche potential in different geographical zones around the state. You always need to check the morning avalanche report before heading out, to find out if it is safe to travel in the backcountry and which slopes to avoid.

Generally spring is a good time to ride in Lost Lake. The snowpack has consolidated, and a lot of obstacles are submerged under the snow, opening up new terrain. The snow has a soft buttery quality in the afternoon, which makes riding fun in steep terrain.

The best powder is earlier in the winter, but no avalanche mitigation work is done on the chutes at that time, so there is a huge risk in chasing powder early in the season. Riders have died in the chutes.

Proper backcountry equipment includes an avalanche beacon, a snow shovel, and an avalanche probe. Elite backcountry athletes also have airbag backpacks and skins, which can be purchased at most outdoor stores. The best way to learn how to use avalanche beacons and rescue techniques is to take an avalanche safety class. It is also a good idea to have a GPS in your pocket – just in case.

Getting to Lost Lake is as simple as going out the back gate just west of the Lookout at the top of the Corona lift. The route follows a ridge that leads to the Arestua Hut on the northeast side of Quinn Mountain, which is just east of Rollins Pass. The route is called Pipeline because of the natural gas pipeline that goes over to Winter Park. It can be traversed in about 20 minutes by hiking, or using skins or split boards. Along the way, there are breathtaking views of the Continental Divide and the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

The first run is called The Ripples, and it can be accessed prior to getting to the Lost Lake drainage. The run is split by a large scree field. The east side follows the ski area boundary next to Moose Glades and ends up in the forest east of Lost Lake. The west side follows a creek that also ends up on the forest floor.

Both sides of the Ripples offer moderate risk terrain that usually has light traffic and good snow.

After climbing two ridges, the trail to the chutes follows the left side of the Ripples and then up to the ridge above Lost Lake. Follow the tracks to reach the ridge. The chutes are named: Right Chute, Left Chute, and Headwall. They all have a grade of more than 40 degrees, and are red diamond in difficulty.

Below the chutes, the runs merge and follow an old mining road over to the Lost Lake Bowl, which is about as good as you can get for high-altitude alpine terrain backcountry riding.

There are multiple different lines down through the Lost Lake Bowl, with the finish being a high-speed ride across the frozen lake to the east side. A short hike up from the lake leads to the exit trail called Homeboy, which contours around the hill and back to the Corona lift.

It is important to follow the tracks to the entrance of the exit trail or you could find yourself hitching a ride out of the town of Eldora. Homeboy is a really difficult section because it is little more than a game trail with sudden turns, where your tired legs lead to a constant risk of collisions with trees.

A round trip to Lost Lake for those who know the route can be done in about an hour to an hour and a half, so it is possible to make multiple trips over to Lost Lake in a day. The Corona lift closes at 3:30 p.m., which is a problem in late spring with daylight saving time, when the snow is just starting to soften, and the late afternoon sunshine encourages lingering in the backcountry.

Morning snow is hard and crunchy, so the danger level is significantly higher riding on hard morning snow. Early afternoon usually has the best surface conditions, between ice and slush.

While it is literally next door to the resort, riding Lost Lake is a totally unique experience – quite different from the meticulously groomed runs and crowds on the other side of the gate.

There have been proposals to monitor and mitigate the avalanche danger in the chutes and improve the trail between Lost Lake and Corona so that it is a safe passage for those seeking to experience the wild beauty of the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the winter, but no plans have been put forward at this point.

A pilgrimage to Lost Lake offers the tantalizing possibility of dropping off the ridge into the chutes with the sun at your back illuminating the slope below where the soft buttery snow allows for a graceful descent down the mountain with swooping turns that feel like a hawk circling on the thermals. It’s living the dream at Lost Lake.