Mt. Evans Trip Report 03/23/2008

Peak(s):	Mt. Evans - 13,591 feet
Date Posted:	03/23/2008
Date Climbed:	03/23/2008
Author:	Chicago Transplant

The Other Mount Evans
Mount Evans B - 13,577‘ (204th highest) North Ridge via Mosquito Pass Road at Leadville Winter Closure, appx 11,000‘ 9 Miles RT, Appx 2600‘ gain Easter to me has always been a family holiday. We were never too religious, but always got together for a big meal, exchanged easter candy, that sort of thing. Now that I live up here obviously I don‘t get to see my family for Easter, so tend to spend my holiday either skiing or climbing peaks, my "second home" so to speak. This was a peak year, and I decided that Mount Evans would be the lucky peak to share my company. I was pleasantlt surprised that the Mosquito Pass road was plowed about 3 1/2 miles from US 24 in Leadville. This would be a nice reasonable day mileage wise. I strapped on the skis and started to skin up the road a little before 9am. The early going was good, as this is a popular winter playground for snowmobilers and there is a groomed track much of the way into the upper basin. The upper slopes towards Mosquito Pass were now becoming visible and looked like they would provide a reasonable ski descent later. I wasn‘t sure if the skins were going to be just a convenience on the road or actually beneficial up high until now, so I was glad to see this. I took a short break around 12,500‘ where the slopes to Mosquito Pass start to steepen. Here the road switch backs to the pass, but I opted to follow the power lines towards some radio towers on the ridge above and to the south of the pass. This would shorten the mileage for one, and give me an idea of snow conditions for my descent. I made good time to the radio towers and decided to keep the skis on as it looked like continuous snow may be an option to the summit The ridge was flat and windy, but the snow was workable for skinning. There were some narrow and thin patches, and I figured skiing back down would just cut up my bases, but it worked for the ascent. Soon I was passing another group of radio towers and looking up at the final slopes to the summit. With all the mines and radio towers and power lines, you can tell this area has seen a lot of human activity over the years, but today I was the only one up here. The final slopes went quickly and soon flattened out. The summit was visible and despite the wind, it was a beautiful day and I knew the views were going to be well worth the effort. I enjoyed a snack and took some summit photos, below are a few views of the surrounding peaks from the summit. Dyer, with its class 4 west ridge in full glory: Elbert and Massive across the valley: Of course I took the obligatory summit photo as well. Those of you who have read my trip reports over the years have probably noticed there usually aren‘t any pictures of me, well here is a "Happy Easter" to 14ers.com of me on the summit with a little friend, a Peeps bunny It was then time to prepare for my ski descent. The slopes are pretty mellow on this one, barely exceeding 20 degrees if you stay on route, so avy danger was not a concern. I was able to ski off the summit and managed a few good turns before the flat ridge between the two groups of radio towers. Here I even took them off and walked a bit as part of it was up hill. I left them off as I traversed that earlier thin spot to save the bases and then was able to ski almost all the way from the lower radio tower to the car. The section along the power lines was nice, but the best snow came a little lower down on a nice 20 degree roll over that the road bypasses: All total it was a great day for a peak climb, beautiful sunshine, and even the breeze wasn‘t too bad. You can tell things are getting warmer, two months ago the wind chill would have been much worse! Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

The Other Mount Evans

Mount Evans B - 13,577‘ (204th highest)
North Ridge via Mosquito Pass Road at
Leadville Winter Closure, appx 11,000‘
9 Miles RT, Appx 2600‘ gain

Easter to me has always been a family holiday. We were never too religious, but always got together for a big meal, exchanged easter candy, that sort of thing. Now that I live up here obviously I don‘t get to see my family for Easter, so tend to spend my holiday either skiing or climbing peaks, my "second home" so to speak. This was a peak year, and I decided that Mount Evans would be the lucky peak to share my company.

I was pleasantlt surprised that the Mosquito Pass road was plowed about 3 1/2 miles from US 24 in Leadville. This would be a nice reasonable day mileage wise. I strapped on the skis and started to skin up the road a little before 9am. The early going was good, as this is a popular winter playground for snowmobilers and there is a groomed track much of the way into the upper basin.

The upper slopes towards Mosquito Pass were now becoming visible and looked like they would provide a reasonable ski descent later. I wasn‘t sure if the skins were going to be just a convenience on the road or actually beneficial up high until now, so I was glad to see this.

I took a short break around 12,500‘ where the slopes to Mosquito Pass start to steepen. Here the road switch backs to the pass, but I opted to follow the power lines towards some radio towers on the ridge above and to the south of the pass. This would shorten the mileage for one, and give me an idea of snow conditions for my descent. I made good time to the radio towers and decided to keep the skis on as it looked like continuous snow may be an option to the summit

The ridge was flat and windy, but the snow was workable for skinning. There were some narrow and thin patches, and I figured skiing back down would just cut up my bases, but it worked for the ascent. Soon I was passing another group of radio towers and looking up at the final slopes to the summit. With all the mines and radio towers and power lines, you can tell this area has seen a lot of human activity over the years, but today I was the only one up here.

The final slopes went quickly and soon flattened out. The summit was visible and despite the wind, it was a beautiful day and I knew the views were going to be well worth the effort.

I enjoyed a snack and took some summit photos, below are a few views of the surrounding peaks from the summit.

Dyer, with its class 4 west ridge in full glory:

Elbert and Massive across the valley:

Of course I took the obligatory summit photo as well. Those of you who have read my trip reports over the years have probably noticed there usually aren‘t any pictures of me, well here is a "Happy Easter" to 14ers.com of me on the summit with a little friend, a Peeps bunny

It was then time to prepare for my ski descent. The slopes are pretty mellow on this one, barely exceeding 20 degrees if you stay on route, so avy danger was not a concern. I was able to ski off the summit and managed a few good turns before the flat ridge between the two groups of radio towers. Here I even took them off and walked a bit as part of it was up hill. I left them off as I traversed that earlier thin spot to save the bases and then was able to ski almost all the way from the lower radio tower to the car. The section along the power lines was nice, but the best snow came a little lower down on a nice 20 degree roll over that the road bypasses:

All total it was a great day for a peak climb, beautiful sunshine, and even the breeze wasn‘t too bad. You can tell things are getting warmer, two months ago the wind chill would have been much worse!

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

shanahan96	of course 3/23/2008 10:39pm they aren‘t any pictures of you. all the photos you take are shots of us 300‘ vertical below you! nice job finishing the evans peaks. jamie
BillMiddlebrook	Nice job 3/24/2008 2:11am Looks like you had a great day! How far up did the sled tracks go? Not that I would follow them that high if was going to climb in that area. Oh, wait... YES I WOULD.
cftbq	Congrats 3/24/2008 2:55am Nice narrative and pics. I‘ve often wondered about that ”other Evans.” You caught dynamite sunshine while those of us down on the east side of the Front Range endured a gloomy, wet, cloudy day!
Chicago Transplant	Thanks! 3/24/2008 2:15pm Jamie- Hope you had a good weekend, we‘ll have to reschedule our ”quad hop” I never post pics of me because they are usually self portraits and nobody needs to see my mug that close up Bill- The sled tracks went up to the saddle between Evans and Prospect, then they took a left and were playing in the basin below Prospect. There was some interesting ski lines around too, but no ski tracks, untapped resource? Patrick- Thanks! I did see some clouds off near Pikes, but everything up here was beautiful. Its interesting how the weather can vary so much across the state!
SarahT	Happy Easter! 3/24/2008 6:54pm Great way to spend the holiday Mike. I was also enjoying the bluebird day and some Easter candy on top of a 13er. Doesn‘t get much better than that!
Chicago Transplant	Absolutely! 3/24/2008 7:40pm Couldn‘t agree more Sarah! It was a great day to be up on a mountain I almost thought about going over to Pennsylvania too but it wasn‘t skiable and I didn‘t feel like slogging in ski boots for nothing
lordhelmut	nice hat Mke 3/26/2008 4:13am we must shop at the same store, its almost getting to that time to do some Gore snow climbs, Kiefer just informed me he‘s moving back to Vail, we should figure something out in the future for a god spring climb, Peak C comes to mind and then the Partner Traverse when summer hits, as well as many others.
Chicago Transplant	Gore 3/26/2008 2:52pm You‘re on Brian! There are some good snow climbs in Holy Cross Wilderness too that I am looking at if you don‘t mind 12ers
lordhelmut	don‘t 3/26/2008 3:37pm mind 12‘s a bit, just let me know what you‘ve got planned.

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