Download Agreement, Release, and Acknowledgement of Risk:
You (the person requesting this file download) fully understand mountain climbing ("Activity") involves risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis, and death ("Risks") and you fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages you incur as a result of your participation in this Activity.
You acknowledge that information in the file you have chosen to download may not be accurate and may contain errors. You agree to assume all risks when using this information and agree to release and discharge 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and the author(s) of such information (collectively, the "Released Parties").
You hereby discharge the Released Parties from all damages, actions, claims and liabilities of any nature, specifically including, but not limited to, damages, actions, claims and liabilities arising from or related to the negligence of the Released Parties. You further agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. and each of the other Released Parties from and against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by 14ers.com, 14ers Inc. or any of the other Released Parties as a result of you using information provided on the 14ers.com or 14ers Inc. websites.
You have read this agreement, fully understand its terms and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.
By clicking "OK" you agree to these terms. If you DO NOT agree, click "Cancel"...
Mt. Elbert Ski Descent (Box Creek Cirque) - South Mt. Elbert TH
Box Creek Cirque Summit Ski of Mt. Elbert
Date: Sunday, May 11, 2008 Group: BillMiddlebrook and I (skiers), and Shawn (pedestrian) Route: East Ridge ascent (5mi.) and Box Creek Chutes ski descent (5.75mi.) from South Mt. Elbert TH Stats: 10.75 miles; 4,500' climbed; 4,100' skied; 9 hrs 20 min RT
Our routes on Mt. Elbert from U.S. 24 (red=climb; blue=ski):
Topo of the route (yellow=drive; red=climb; blue=ski):
sdkeil picked me up Saturday evening and we met Bill at the 2WD parking area at the South Mt. Elbert TH. Prior to our arrival, Bill drove up the road to check it out; the first mile is clear of snow. The last mile has patchy snow in the lower half, and continuous snow in the upper half. He figured it was best we just walk up to the TH, rather than take the sleds. After a little shut-eye, we hopped in Bill's truck and drove to 10,085ft. We started walking the road at 6:15am. After a few bends and a lack of desire to carry them, we put skis on, and sdkeil stayed on foot. Our primary goal was to ski the Box Creek Chutes (a new ski route for both of us), but if the snow looked too hardpacked, we were sticking to the East Ridge.
Time for the skis to go on:
Crossing the bridge at the TH, Bill lazy to take the skis off! (So was I)
Thirty-five minutes later, we arrived at the trailhead and continued on up through the aspens, able to see skin tracks from earlier that morning.
The first solid view of Elbert from a clearing near 11,400ft.:
Bill skins up to treeline:
From treeline to the saddle at 12,400ft., the snow was pretty thin with some areas of hard sastrugi. At the saddle, we took a food break.
Heading up to the 12,400ft. saddle. East Ridge route is seen. The summit looking windy:
About 600ft. higher, most of the East Ridge was wind-blown so the skis came off up to about 13,500ft. At 13,400ft., we were able to see a group of 3 skiers entering the Box Creek Cirque, each skiing their own chute in nice powder. We scoped out a line, right in the middle of the cirque.
Near 13,000ft., we took the skis off for a majority of the East Ridge:
Our first good look at the Box Creek Cirque, with recent tracks (taken from ~13,500ft.):
Climbing up the ridge, with Mt. Sherman and surrounding Thirteeners (center) behind me:
sdkeil climbs the ridge, still to put snowshoes on during the climb:
Gusty winds were out of the west, but shifted to coming out of the northeast. It was warm and sunny, and without a breeze, it would have been more tiring than it already was. How could a climb up a gentle slope with gradual gain be so exhausting? It was slow going for all of us. As we neared the summit (or what we kept thinking it was), we would see large snow drifts or rock patches that appeared to look far away and like a summit, but we realized they were only 30 feet from us as we got closer.
The dry area in the foreground of this photo is the only short section we had to remove skis during the descent. sdkeil nearing the summit:
I finally made the summit at 12:25pm (6hrs. 10 min. total including several breaks), Bill and Shawn 10-15min. earlier. The views seemed endless on such a clear day. We waxed the skis, took a few photos, and began the descent at 12:55pm. The plan was for sdkeil to take the same route down, and Bill and I would give the chutes a go and meet him back at the 12,400ft. saddle.
La Plata Peak from Mt. Elbert:
A zoomed-in photo of the Elks:
sdkeil and I on the summit of Mt. Elbert:
Shawn started back down the ridge (still not having to use his snowshoes) hoping to grab a few glissades in, but the snow was too soft to do so. We started down too, only taking our skis off briefly on a rocky patch just below the summit.
Bill skis off the summit:
And I followed, on the low-angle upper East Slope:
Shortly after, we arrived at the top of the cirque. We dropped down slightly farther to get a better look at our line. Bill made a few ski cuts - a lot of sloughy powder in the upper 1/3 of the chutes with a firm base underneath. The tracks a few hours earlier already had wind-deposited snow covering most of them.
Bill dropped in first making a couple of ski cuts and traversing over to the next chute on skiers left:
I went next and met him at a safety zone in the second chute:
The snow was quite variable - sloughy powder up top to areas of crust to creamier snow at the bottom. Once we got our rhythm going, we had to stop when the snow condition changed. Our legs were pretty tired, so taking a conservative line down stopping every 5 or so turns was best.
More skiing. Bill lays down his turns:
My turn again. Hey, I like this!
We then skied it out into the basin on creamy snow...
Bill:
I finish my turns out (from a distance):
sdkeil took a few photos of us skiing down the chutes. Can you can find us?
The line we took down the Box Creek Cirque:
Down below the cirque, a small rocky area required us to take off skis. We had to contour around the base of the East Ridge staying fairly high to meet sdkeil at the 12,400ft. saddle. Skiing this contour was mostly continuous. We thought we would be waiting for him - on the contrary. He beat us down by a little while...
...and maybe took a nap. sdkeil waiting for us:
We continued skiing down, northwest of Bartlett Gulch (west of the main trail) and met Shawn again near treeline. Despite us being on skis, we didn't have to wait long for him, or vice versa. Really soft snow and post-holing finally forced him to use his snowshoes.
Let's take another break. Shawn finally uses his snowshoes for the first time:
Skiing through the trees wasn't bad, just more soft corn to manage (bummer!). It wasn't a place you would want to be without any form of flotation though. We were able to ski back down most of the road, milking it for all it was worth by skiing every inch we could.
Crossing the creek on a narrow patch of soft snow (a little tougher when you're tired), or walking right through it:
We arrived back to the truck at 3:30pm, happy to be there and take our boots off. Albeit longer than expected and tiring, we were pleased with the great day we had on Colorado's rooftop. Great ski, Bill. And, it was so nice to climb with you again, Shawn. Just like old times. Nice day guys (minus all the climbing)!
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
So you provided the ski tracks that we followed up yesterday! Thanks (It‘s always nice having a set trail in the snow on a route you have never climbed before.
Agreed, it was a great day with great weather. It almost makes up for the misery of Quandary the day before. Thanks guys for letting me tag along, however I think we need a better term then pedestrian. It makes it sound like you guys picked me up along side the road while driving to the TH haha! It was fun watching you guys ski the Box chutes from up on the ridge.
Glad to see you getting on a little steeper route, nice work!Sunday was a great day for skiing, I was on ”Mountain Boy Peak” just to your west enjoying the ”creamy snow”
My friend Bernie and I came down from Jackson, and met Mikey to ski the highest in the Rockies. Turned out great, my first 14er. I will definitely be back. The area south of Twin Lakes looks sick! I made the tight tracks through the chute. It was all pow, a little north facing helped. That pic of La Plata is great.
Mountain Boy is the nickname for UN 13198, its on the south side of CO 82 just before the winter closure gate near Independence Pass. It is so named because it is just south of Mountain Boy Park. I will put a TR up when I get pics of me skiing sent from my partners
mw1000: Those turns were nice and tight down a good-lookin chute.
Mike: Now I know where you‘re talking about. Looking forward to the TR!
Bill: Old? I felt old, overweight, and out of shape climbing that peak. I‘m only 24 years old, so that should make you feel ancient?! We were all dragging on Sunday. You were so cranky I thought you were going to fall in crossing the creek!
Bill and USA, after I hit the ridge with the scree and put skis back on, I could only take 15 steps or so and stop cause I thought I was going to throw up. But once I started skiing, I was smiles too!
Hey guys good work on the two descents. We are coming up from albuquerque, NM this weekend. Are are looking at a few ski descents. Grays/Torreys...depending on how far up the Stevens Gulch we can drive. I guessing not very far. What do you think about a day push here. What would the RT mileage be?
Other options..which you just did as well include Box chutes on elbert.
Princeton looks good after the recent 1‘ in the Sawatch.
If you had to guess which option would provide the best skiing?
Grays and Torreys may give you most open skiing back down and you might be able to drive the first 1/4 mile or so, but don‘t expect more than that.
The last time I viewed Princeton, it had continous snow, but it requires some climbing to get back to the road after a descent. With the recent snow, I‘m not sure how far you can get up the road.
Elbert is good, but the lower 1,000‘ is through the trees and could be a bit frustrating if the snow isn‘t firm - it was perfect the other day when we skied it.
All good options if the weather and snow conditions cooperate.
You must have been the guys with the van that parked 1/2 mile up. We had the black suburban and I passed you the night before after hauling trees out of the road. We were on the ridge, near 13,400', when we watched you nab the pow early on. By the time USAKeller and I got into the chutes, it was crusting over from the sun/wind but still quite nice. Let me know if you want some pics of your lines - from the ridge.
Stefanpg: Glad you had some tracks to follow! When you say new route - did you climb up the chutes or are you talking about the East Ridge?
sdkeil: LOL. That's hilarious! You didn't "tag along." You kept right up with us and waited. It worked out a lot better than I expected.
scotthsu: Thank you! It looks like you guys had a fantastic day in Wilson Peak. Hopefully one day I can ski like you guys!
Mike: It was time to get something a little steeper in. I think the max we skied was 37deg. (?) in that particular chute. I've never heard of Mountain Boy Peak - where is it near?
callapowder: Congrats on your first 14er (and ski)! We saw you guys climbing up and skiing down the chutes, and your tracks on skiers right. We knew you all had powder on your runs; we had quite variable conditions a few hours later.
A friend and I are planning an end of April trip to summit and descend Mt. Elbert. I have a few questions for those of you that have done this?
1. How steep are the various Box Creek chutes? I.e.--angle or difficulty can you quantify? Just curious as it relates to difficulty skiing as well as avalanche risk (I believe there is more risk with some of the steeper chutes)?
2. IS there any avalanche risk at all on the East Ridge trail? From what I've seen there is not.
3. Is end of April on Mt. Elbert generally high risk as relates to avalanches?
4. Any Mt. Elbert specific tips regarding safety? I plan on bringing an Avalung but I do not have an airbag. We'll have all standard safety equipment (Shovel, probe, beacon).
Thanks in advance!!
Caution: The information contained in this report may not be accurate and should not be the only resource used in preparation for your climb. Failure to have the necessary experience, physical conditioning, supplies or equipment can result in injury or death. 14ers.com and the author(s) of this report provide no warranties, either express or implied, that the information provided is accurate or reliable. By using the information provided, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless 14ers.com and the report author(s) with respect to any claims and demands against them, including any attorney fees and expenses. Please read the 14ers.com Safety and Disclaimer pages for more information.
Please respect private property: 14ers.com supports the rights of private landowners to determine how and by whom their land will be used. In Colorado, it is your responsibility to determine if land is private and to obtain the appropriate permission before entering the property.
We were all dragging on Sunday. You were so cranky I thought you were going to fall in crossing the creek!
