To Alpine Tunnel by snowshoes, skis, or boots

The Denver Post

 Recently, someone on the Narrow Gauge Discussion Forum related how, in the 1970's, he and a few
others made attempts to reach the west portal of Alpine Tunnel in winter using snowshoes and at other times cross country skis.  On one of the trips, the group left Pitkin in the morning, put on skis at Quartz, and, 10 hours later, returned to Pitkin after sunset.  

from The Denver Post

This reminded me of a Denver Post article first published in 2009 and updated in 2016 titled "Make Tracks to Rail Landmark."  The author, Dave Cooper, describes two different hiking routes to reach the east portal.  One is to walk the railroad grade from Hancock while the other includes hiking Williams Pass via Mount Poor, named in honor of M.C. Poor, author of DSP&P, to the portal.  

Cooper comments that snow can still be a challenge in late May, sometimes affecting the road to Hancock and necessitating good hiking boots once you head on your hike.  He also relates that in May he needed snowshoes to traverse Mount Poor. 

I have never been to the tunnel in the winter, though, I did see snow on the way to the east portal in June once.  It would be stunning to see the area in the winter to get a feel for what it must have been like to attempt to operate the line in those conditions.  As I have read in Daniel Edward's South Park Line history books, it is clear that the railroad usually stopped running the line for months, sometimes not opening again until well into the summer due to the snow.

from Historic Alpine Tunnel by Dow Helmers