Trip DetailsMountains: Mt. Elbert (14,433’)
Route: Started at S. Elbert 2WD TH (9600’ approx), and took the E. Ridge to summit. Ski descent SE slopes.
Stats:
Elevation Gain - 4900’
Roundtrip Mileage - 12 miles
Crew - Heather, Jon, PrakashReportUp an icy packed road we slogged… through aspen groves to the 4WD TH.
Packed road to S. Elbert 4WD TH |
Across a bridge the trail grew steep…
Bridge past the S. Elbert 4WD TH |
The trail was packed but the trees ran thick…
Up through thicker trees and steeper ground |
We broke through trees and saw our goal…
Our ascent and descent route |
But first we ate… salty ramen and chocolate mints…
Lunch break on the Elbert E. Ridge |
Then we slogged…
The slog began here... |
through a cold desert… to a false summit…
A false summit was seen |
We slogged again…
The ground ran dry... skis were shouldered... |
Amidst views no less than immaculate…
The Twin Lakes |
We slogged some more…
The slog seemed not to end on Colorado's tallest mountain |
Mountain air makes for good moods and fresh faces…
Fresh faces in the thin air |
But the slog was relentless…
"The end is in sight you say?" |
The summit was close I was told…
The summit lies beyond this hump |
The prophecy was true… rock skinning led to the summit block…
Rock skinning to the summit |
La Plata appeared to invite…
La Plata calls to us from across the valley |
Sasquatch in front, Sawatch in the back…
Sasquatch in front... Sawatch in the back... |
The crew congregated…
The crew congregates atop Elbert |
The ski began off the summit…
Skiing off the summit |
And continued down SE slopes adjacent to rock bands…
Skiing down a SE gully 1 |
Skiing down a SE gully 2 |
Skiing down a SE gully 3, Photo (c) Jon Coe |
Skiing down a SE gully 4, Photo (c) Jon Coe |
At the bottom of the gully |
Heather was re-joined as she made tele turns through the trees…
Tele through the trees |
… turns that ended once we hit the luge that is the road…
Skiing down a luge |
…the road that led us to the TH by sunset. A glorious day was had in the high country with good friends. Images
|
Sawatch Range > Mount Elbert > Elbert E. Ridge Winter Ascent / Ski Descent
