skiing 14ers

[chasingh2o]

So after a great year in the backcountry on cameron pass Ive decided that I would really like to ski a 14er this spring. I know that alot of you have skiied 14ers before and I was looking for some input on which ones would be the most accesible without a locals knowledge. I'm not looking for the easiest hike, but more along the lines of easy route selection and hopefully no mountaineering. Any and all input is appreciated.

[TimberTroll]

Originally Posted by chasingh2o

So after a great year in the backcountry on cameron pass Ive decided that I would really like to ski a 14er this spring. I know that alot of you have skiied 14ers before and I was looking for some input on which ones would be the most accesible without a locals knowledge. I'm not looking for the easiest hike, but more along the lines of easy route selection and hopefully no mountaineering. Any and all input is appreciated.

Mt Evans via Guanella Pass is pretty good. I did a trip in May back in '98 or so and skied all the way back to my car. Well, I should say that we carried our skies over the west ridge both to and from the summit, but no rope needed. Definitely easy nav.

14ers.com - Mt. Evans | Route Descriptions

[Andy H.]

The gentle route down Bierstadt is also good if you're looking for an easy ascent/descent, though if its late in the season, the return trip postholing through those willow bogs at the bottom will seem a lot longer than it looks in the photo above.

Quandry Peak near Hoosier Pass - you can either ski the couloir on the south face off the summit for some excitement of take the easier route back down the upper and lower bowls to the east.

-AH

[stillkicken]

Ditto for Quandary, easy access and terrain from scary steep and exposed to stuff an solid intermediate could make it down. In the same neighborhood, Lincoln and Bross are both easy access with mellow descents.

[chasingh2o]

thanks for the input, both evans and quandry look like a great time. I like the thought of some bigger, steeper lines (quandry) thats why Im thinking a little later in the season when the snow pack is bomber. I hope these storms keep rolling in though and I end up going in late may. Also, what about the collegiate peaks anybody have any thoughts on them?

[TimberTroll]

Originally Posted by chasingh2o

thanks for the input, both evans and quandry look like a great time. I like the thought of some bigger, steeper lines (quandry) thats why Im thinking a little later in the season when the snow pack is bomber. I hope these storms keep rolling in though and I end up going in late may. Also, what about the collegiate peaks anybody have any thoughts on them?

I don't recommend Harvard. I dropped into Cottonwood from the summit. It made for lame turns and a shitty walk out. Much prettier than Evans, though.

[ZGjethro]

Good skiing off of Elbert or massive with no mountaineering skills needed. Missouri, Belford, Oxford are all easy skis and can be done in a day. Quandry has been noted.

[stillkicken]

The North side of Democrat is a classic long steep line. It's N aspect so corn season comes a little later but it's a classic. You can boot/crampon up (ice axe mandatory) from Montgomery gulch in a 3-4 hours in good conditions. You can go in from Kite lake, but I like to climb what I ski when the ante starts gettiing upped.

[lmyers]

Last winter I got good turns off Shavano's sub peak (and it's loaded right now), Antero from Baldwin Gulch, Princeton from the Frontier Ranch, Yale from both Denny Creek and Avalanche, and Columbia from Three Elk. If the Clear Creek road is open to the Missouri Gulch trailhead there is awesome skiing off Belford and Missouri. There are some good lines on La Plata's north face as well. Most of these routes are not too technical - I would bring an axe and crampons - but no rope work. I'm planning on getting back out there as soon as things stabalize a little - hit me up.

[chasingh2o]

lmyers I think I'm gonna have to hit you up on that offer. Looks like some more storms are rolling in this weekend, and hopefully for a while to come but as soon as the snow pack settles in a little bit I'll try to head up towards bv.