Shuff's Ski Show - Mt Evans Backcountry Summer Jam

02:17 min • 20/07/2020

Shuff and pals head up summer skiing in the Colorado backcountry

Athletes

Dan Shuffelton

Locations

Mount Evans Wilderness

Dan Shuffelton

Profile and significance

Dan Shuffelton is an American skier, resort reviewer and YouTube creator best known for his long-running series “Shuff’s Ski Show.” Based in Central Ohio and originally from Fort Loramie, he balances a career in commercial flooring and sales with a clear winter obsession: road-tripping to ski areas across the United States and breaking them down for everyday skiers. His channel introduces viewers to everything from small Midwestern hills to big-name Western destinations, packaging each visit into a short, approachable ski area review aimed at real-world families and weekend warriors rather than elite racers.

On his YouTube channel and associated playlists, Shuffelton has built out full “seasons” of Shuff’s Ski Show, each one covering a different collection of mountains. Episodes feature places like Perfect North Slopes in Indiana, Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain in North Carolina, Bogus Basin and Brundage Mountain in Idaho, Timberline Mountain in West Virginia, Kissing Bridge in New York, and bigger names such as Jackson Hole in Wyoming. Across these videos he positions himself not as a pro athlete but as an enthusiastic, well-informed skier who loves exploring new terrain and explaining what makes each resort worth a visit.

Competitive arc and key venues

Rather than a traditional race or freestyle career, Shuffelton’s “competitive arc” is essentially the evolution of Shuff’s Ski Show itself. Early uploads introduce the project and set a tone of lighthearted but honest resort reviews: he turns up with a camera, spends the day skiing as much of the hill as possible, and then records his verdict on the lifts, snow, terrain mix and overall value. Over time he has expanded the scope from regional hills to multi-state tours, treating each winter like a personal challenge to sample more mountains and present them clearly to his audience.

Many of his most-watched episodes revolve around smaller or regional resorts that do not always receive mainstream media attention. Perfect North Slopes, a busy Midwestern area in Indiana, appears in one such review as he explains why a relatively small vertical drop can still deliver fast laps, solid snowmaking and night skiing for skiers based near Cincinnati and Indianapolis. At Appalachian Ski Mountain, a compact North Carolina hill with terrain parks and extensive night operations, he walks viewers through the intermediate groomers and park-oriented offerings that make it attractive to southern skiers. He gives the same treatment to places like Sugar Mountain, Bogus Basin, Brundage Mountain, Tamarack Resort, Timberline Mountain, Kissing Bridge and Wolf Ridge (now Hatley Pointe), building a kind of informal video guidebook to mid-sized North American ski areas.

Shuffelton also uses the show to tackle bucket-list destinations. In his Jackson Hole ski area review, for example, he frames the video as something to “watch before you ski Jackson Hole,” skiing a wide sampling of lifts and runs to help viewers understand how the mountain is laid out and where different ability levels can find their sweet spots. By mixing world-famous resorts with lesser-known family hills, he gives viewers a realistic sense of how each type of mountain skis and what kind of trip it supports.

How they ski: what to watch for

On snow, Dan Shuffelton skis like the expert resort skier he is making videos for: confident, fast enough to keep things interesting, but focused on lines that a fit, intermediate-to-advanced viewer could reasonably aspire to. In his reviews he typically skis the main groomed runs off each lift, linking medium-radius turns that show off pitch and snow conditions without turning the footage into pure stunt skiing. When terrain allows, he mixes in side hits, small natural features and steeper shots, but the emphasis is always on reading the mountain the way a regular visitor would.

What stands out most is how he uses his skiing to support storytelling. He often narrates while skiing, pointing out trail junctions, lift connections and changes in pitch in real time. That means his turns have to stay controlled and predictable; if he were constantly on the edge of crashing, the narration would not work. For viewers, this has two benefits. First, you get a practical sense of how hard a given run actually is, because his speed and body language reflect genuine evaluation rather than performance. Second, you can study his line choice: he tends to ski clean fall-line routes that show how an efficient local might navigate the hill, which is a useful reference if you are planning your own first visit.

Resilience, filming, and influence

Shuffelton’s influence comes from persistence as much as anything. Away from the slopes he is a sales professional and educator in the commercial flooring world, and his professional profiles describe him as a content creative and public speaker as well. That background shows in the way he approaches Shuff’s Ski Show: each video is structured, clearly narrated and edited to respect the viewer’s time, while still leaving room for personal anecdotes and jokes. He does not present himself as a sponsored star; instead, he leans into the identity of a committed recreational skier who loves sharing what he learns.

Over multiple “seasons” of Shuff’s Ski Show, he has put in the miles to back that identity up. Driving from his Ohio base to ski areas in Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, then flying or road-tripping to Idaho and Wyoming, he has quietly compiled firsthand experience at an unusually broad mix of resorts. That geographic range, combined with the willingness to keep producing videos year after year, has turned his channel into a reliable reference for skiers who are thinking about branching out beyond their home hill but are not sure what to expect.

Shuffelton also brings a filmmaker’s eye and a sense of humour shaped in part by earlier work in camera departments on small film projects. In Shuff’s Ski Show episodes, quick cuts, on-mountain selfie commentary and occasional sight gags keep things light, while still giving enough on-slope footage to satisfy viewers who really care about snow quality and terrain. The result is a tone that feels more like skiing with an experienced friend than being lectured by a travel brochure.

Geography that built the toolkit

The geography behind Shuffelton’s skiing and content is rooted in the American Midwest and Southeast, then expands out toward the Rockies and the Northwest. Growing up in Ohio and now living in Central Ohio, he naturally gravitates first to places within a day’s drive, such as Perfect North Slopes in Indiana, Timberline Mountain in West Virginia and smaller regional hills served by affordable passes and drive-to lodging. These mountains shape his appreciation for efficient lift layouts, reliable snowmaking and long hours of operation, because those are the factors that matter most on short, hard-earned ski trips.

From that base he has pushed into the southern Appalachians, reviewing resorts like Sugar Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain in North Carolina, Ober Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Wolf Ridge in Mars Hill. In these episodes he pays close attention to how each hill manages variable weather, crowds and terrain, since many viewers considering a Southeast ski trip are weighing those exact issues. Farther afield, Shuff’s Ski Show episodes from Bogus Basin, Brundage Mountain and Tamarack Resort in Idaho, as well as Jackson Hole in Wyoming, show him translating the same reviewer mindset to bigger vertical drops, deeper snowpacks and more complex trail networks. Together, those experiences give him a broad comparative sense of how different regions ski—and that knowledge comes through in how he frames each new mountain for his audience.

Equipment and partners: practical takeaways

Shuffelton does not push a particular ski brand or behave like a heavily sponsored athlete, which fits his role as an every-skier reviewer. In his videos he typically skis on an all-mountain setup suited to frontside groomers, chopped-up afternoon snow and the occasional short hike or side hit. For viewers who want to follow his example, the lesson is straightforward: if your winter is built around resort road trips, a versatile all-mountain ski, a comfortable, well-fitted boot and a solid helmet with good goggle integration will do more for your experience than chasing ultra-specialised race or powder gear.

On the media side, his most important “equipment” is the camera kit he uses to capture each resort. Compact action cameras, stabilised mounts and simple editing software allow him to film while skiing, record lodge segments and stitch everything into a coherent episode without a full production crew. For aspiring ski content creators, Shuff’s Ski Show demonstrates that you do not need a huge budget to start: what matters most is clear audio, watchable on-slope footage and enough planning ahead of time to cover the runs and viewpoints that future visitors actually care about.

Why fans and progressing skiers care

Fans and progressing skiers care about Dan Shuffelton because he occupies a relatable niche in the ski world. He is not chasing podiums or filming high-consequence freeride lines; instead, he is doing what many skiers dream of doing themselves—road-tripping from one resort to another, skiing hard all day, and then sharing honest impressions so others can plan their own adventures. His videos answer practical questions about lift layouts, terrain variety, family suitability and overall vibe, while his on-slope footage quietly showcases the kind of competent, controlled skiing that most advanced recreational skiers aim for.

For a viewer base thinking about where to spend limited vacation time and money, that mix is invaluable. Shuffelton’s work helps demystify both small hills and big-name destinations, showing that a good ski day is possible in many different places if you know what to expect. In that sense, his legacy is already taking shape: Shuff’s Ski Show is becoming a digital trail map of North American resorts seen through one skier’s eyes, and a reminder that passion, curiosity and a willingness to hit the road can build a meaningful contribution to ski culture even without a race bib or a pro contract.

Mount Evans Wilderness

Overview and significance

Mount Blue Sky, still widely known by its former name Mount Evans, is one of Colorado’s classic spring ski-mountaineering peaks. Rising to over 4,340 meters above sea level on the Front Range west of Denver, it is a true fourteener with a paved road that climbs almost to the summit. That combination of high alpine terrain and road access has made the mountain a focal point for late-season ski lines and big scenic descents above Summit Lake. In recent years the official name was changed to honor Cheyenne and Arapaho heritage, but in ski circles you will still hear both Mount Blue Sky and Mount Evans used interchangeably.

For freeskiers, this is not a resort but a backcountry arena. There are no lifts, no groomed pistes, and no patrolled terrain parks. Instead, skiers come here for steep north-face chutes, wide spring snowfields, and the rare feeling of clicking into bindings at over 4,200 meters within sight of the car. The opening of the summit road has traditionally signaled the start of high, fast-access laps, while even in years with road closures, the peak remains a magnet for motivated ski-mountaineers willing to climb on foot. Within the skipowd.tv universe, Mount Blue Sky sits firmly in the exploration and freeride category rather than resort discovery: a place where experience, conditions and judgment matter more than lift tickets.

Terrain, snow, and seasons

The skiable terrain on Mount Blue Sky is defined by its broad north face and the cirque above Summit Lake. From the summit ridge down to the lake, the mountain offers a series of bowls, gullies, and couloirs that drop through 500 to 800 vertical meters depending on the line you choose. The North Face routes are the best known, with steep chutes that pinch to narrow entrances near the cliffs before opening into more moderate apron slopes lower down. Nearby, the Summit Lake Bowl provides lower-angle, more forgiving skiing that still feels distinctly alpine, while additional routes like couloirs off neighboring Mount Spalding can be linked into bigger days.

Snowpack here is typical continental Colorado: relatively dry, wind-affected through winter, then settling into smoother spring snow as temperatures rise. Most skiers treat Mount Blue Sky as a late-season objective, focusing on the period after the midwinter avalanche season has eased and the snow has consolidated into predictable spring corn. Depending on the year, that can mean anything from April turns on more remote approaches to June laps above Summit Lake when coverage holds. The slopes catch sun quickly, so surface conditions can shift from firm and icy to soft and slushy within hours, making timing and aspect choice key parts of any ski plan.

Park infrastructure and events

There is no formal park infrastructure on Mount Blue Sky. Instead, the “park” is entirely natural: wind lips, small drops along the ridge, and the rollovers at the top of classic lines. Skiers build their own features with the terrain that exists, whether it is a cornice to drop off the rim of the North Face or a natural spine in the Summit Lake Bowl that rides like a backcountry slopestyle line. Because there are no rails, boxes, or shaped jumps, this is a venue for skiers with solid freeride and big-mountain fundamentals rather than riders looking for park-style repetition.

Events in the formal competition sense do not happen here, but the peak sits deep in Colorado fourteener culture. It is one of the better-known objectives for skiers aiming to descend all of the state’s 4,000-meter summits, and trip reports from the North Chutes, Top Gun-style couloirs and other routes circulate widely among Front Range ski-mountaineers. The nearby Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway is also home to the long-running Bob Cook Memorial uphill road cycling race in summer, which keeps the mountain in the spotlight year-round even if the main winter and spring action is entirely self-organized.

Access, logistics, and on-mountain flow

Access to Mount Blue Sky is usually via the scenic road that branches from the high highway above Idaho Springs and climbs past Echo Lake to Summit Lake and, in normal years, to just below the summit. Historically this has been the highest paved road in North America, and when it is open in late spring and summer, it provides unusually easy access to high alpine terrain. In recent seasons, however, major construction projects have led to full closures of the Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area road, so it is essential to check the latest information on the official timed-entry and road-status pages before planning a car-assisted ski mission. When the road is closed, skiers must approach on foot or skis from lower trailheads, turning short lap days into much bigger tours.

Once you are on the mountain, the flow of a ski day is very different from a resort. There are no lifts or marked runs, so you choose your ascent route carefully, skinning or booting up your intended line or a safer neighboring ridge before transitioning to ski mode. On busy spring weekends, multiple parties may share classic routes on the North Face or in the Summit Lake Bowl, so communication and spacing are important. There is also no base lodge or services higher on the mountain; all food, water, emergency gear and extra layers must be carried. After your run, you either traverse back to Summit Lake and the road or continue lower on snow patches until it runs out, then hike back up or along the pavement to your vehicle.

Local culture, safety, and etiquette

Mount Blue Sky sits within Arapaho National Forest and a designated wilderness area, and that shapes the local culture. This is public land managed for conservation as well as recreation, and overnight camping, group sizes and dog rules are all governed by wilderness regulations. The skiing community that frequents the mountain tends to be a mix of Front Range locals, experienced peak-baggers, and visiting backcountry riders who already have time on other Colorado fourteeners. That shared understanding helps keep the mood respectful, even when multiple parties are eyeing the same couloir.

Because the terrain is unpatrolled and avalanche control is not performed, safety is entirely in the hands of the people who go there. Routes on the north face are serious mountain lines that require avalanche education, experience in evaluating snow stability, and appropriate equipment such as transceiver, shovel, probe, and often crampons and ice axe for the climb. Skiers are expected to manage group exposure carefully, avoid traveling underneath other parties in the same couloir, and give right of way to climbers ascending narrow chutes. Rockfall and icefall can be hazards near the cliffs, especially as temperatures warm. In addition, this is a high-altitude environment; altitude sickness, fast-moving storms, and lightning are all real risks. The etiquette is simple: minimize impact, respect closures, pack out everything you pack in, and be honest about whether conditions and your experience level actually match.

Best time to go and how to plan

The most common season for ski-mountaineering on Mount Blue Sky is late spring, when winter’s persistent weak layers have generally healed and the snowpack transitions to a melt–freeze cycle. Historically, many skiers have targeted the window from late April through June, watching for clear nights that refreeze the surface followed by sunny mornings that turn steep faces into smooth, edgeable corn. A typical day starts early, with ascents timed so that exposed lines are skied before the snow becomes too soft and unstable on sun-exposed slopes. Because the road opening can vary and recent construction has led to full seasonal closures, planning now requires checking official recreation and road-management websites before assuming you can drive to Summit Lake or higher.

In addition to understanding snow and avalanche conditions, planning a day here means preparing for very rapid weather changes. Forecasts for the high peaks can differ significantly from those for Denver or Idaho Springs, and storms can bring whiteouts, strong winds and lightning to the summit ridge with little warning. Carry multiple layers, including windproof and waterproof shells, warm gloves and headwear, and consider that the thin air at over 4,000 meters will make every step feel harder than it would at lower elevations. Many riders also build Mount Blue Sky into a broader Front Range road trip, pairing it with spring lines on other nearby peaks, but each objective should be treated on its own terms rather than as just another run in a resort day.

Why freeskiers care

Freeskiers care about Mount Blue Sky because it represents one of the purest forms of high alpine skiing accessible from a major city in North America. From Denver, you can look west at the skyline and know that within a few hours you could be standing at over 4,200 meters, peering into a north-facing chute that ends at a frozen lake. The lines are big enough to feel like real mountain descents but compact enough that strong parties can climb and ski more than one in a day when conditions align. There is no park crew, no grooming team and no patrol—only the mountain, the snow, and the skills you bring with you.

In the context of skipowd.tv, Mount Blue Sky is a prime symbol of the exploration side of skiing. Clips from here show skiers roped up on steep bootpacks, jump-turning through tight rock walls, or arcing long turns on high alpine corn with the plains of Colorado stretching beyond. It is a destination that helps define what “earning your turns” really means and highlights the importance of knowledge, planning and respect for local history and landscapes. For any freerider interested in stepping beyond lift lines into true ski-mountaineering, Mount Blue Sky, still often called Mount Evans, belongs on the list of peaks to understand, even if not everyone needs to ski it.

Shuff's Ski Show - Mt Evans Backcountry Summer Jam

Athletes

Locations

Dan Shuffelton

Mount Evans Wilderness

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