Elbert E. Ridge Winter Ascent / Ski Descent
Colorado, United States, North America

Elbert E. Ridge Winter Ascent / Ski Descent

Page Type Page Type: Trip Report
Date Date Climbed/Hiked: Jan 29, 2011
Activities Activities: Hiking, Mountaineering, Skiing
Seasons Season: Winter

Trip Details

Mountains: 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, Prakash

Report

Up an icy packed road we slogged… through aspen groves to the 4WD TH.

002Packed road to S. Elbert 4WD TH


Across a bridge the trail grew steep…

008Bridge past the S. Elbert 4WD TH


The trail was packed but the trees ran thick…

009Up through thicker trees and steeper ground


We broke through trees and saw our goal…

013Our ascent and descent route


But first we ate… salty ramen and chocolate mints…

015Lunch break on the Elbert E. Ridge


Then we slogged…

016The slog began here...


through a cold desert… to a false summit…

021A false summit was seen


We slogged again…

022The ground ran dry... skis were shouldered...


Amidst views no less than immaculate…

025The Twin Lakes


We slogged some more…

026The slog seemed not to end on Colorado's tallest mountain


Mountain air makes for good moods and fresh faces…

030Fresh faces in the thin air


But the slog was relentless…

036"The end is in sight you say?"


The summit was close I was told…

041The summit lies beyond this hump


The prophecy was true… rock skinning led to the summit block…

045Rock skinning to the summit


La Plata appeared to invite…

047La Plata calls to us from across the valley


Sasquatch in front, Sawatch in the back…

048Sasquatch in front... Sawatch in the back...


The crew congregated…

052The crew congregates atop Elbert


The ski began off the summit…

054Skiing off the summit


And continued down SE slopes adjacent to rock bands…

055Skiing down a SE gully 1


057Skiing down a SE gully 2


060Skiing down a SE gully 3, Photo (c) Jon Coe


P1290047Skiing down a SE gully 4, Photo (c) Jon Coe


063At the bottom of the gully


Heather was re-joined as she made tele turns through the trees…

071Tele through the trees


… turns that ended once we hit the luge that is the road…

075Skiing 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

View Elbert E. Ridge Winter Ascent / Ski Descent Image Gallery - 1 Images

Comments

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Viewing: 1-6 of 6
benners

benners - Feb 3, 2011 11:08 am - Voted 10/10

Nicely Done!

Fun route in winter, no? I like the concise photo TR too. Hope you're having a great winter, Prakash.

maverick

maverick - Feb 3, 2011 1:18 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Nicely Done!

Thanks, it was a good time for sure. Yeah the photo TRs are definitely quicker to write :). You seem to be killing it this Winter.

heather14

heather14 - Feb 4, 2011 10:28 am - Hasn't voted

Great Day!

Nice pictorial of the day. That pic really shows my lack of tele technique ;-)

maverick

maverick - Feb 5, 2011 11:52 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Great Day!

You didn't spend enough time on those skis for anyone to evaluate your technique ;).

Ted Eliason

Ted Eliason - Feb 4, 2011 5:57 pm - Hasn't voted

Good to see you guys up there

Unbelievable day, huh?

maverick

maverick - Feb 5, 2011 11:50 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Good to see you guys up there

Yeah man... nice to meet you up there.

Viewing: 1-6 of 6

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