Route: Northeast Face

Team: Ted (solo)

Mount Evans needed to be redone. After suffering here in 2000, I needed to return to make a proper ski descent. It was Memorial Day weekend, which meant Independence Pass and the Mount Evans Road were now open for the summer, so the driving/climbing effort was cut down considerably. After a full day yesterday skiing the North Face of North Maroon Peak (followed by work that night), a quiet drive and easy ski seemed like a good idea.

Unlike in 2000, it was straightforward. I had always heard the chutes of the Summit Lake Bowl were worthwhile, but they didn’t look to start from the summit. The Northeast Ridge was more moderate and, therefore, more sensible for solo skiing. Plus, it went from high above the Mount Evans Road summit parking lot, adjacent to the benchmark.

I parked at the Summit Lake Trailhead (12,830 ft.) and skinned along the highway shoulder to the base of the Northeast Ridge. From there, it was uphill, switchbacking on late May corn, until I gained the ridge to the top. To the right was the Summit Lake Bowl, and down to the left was the Mount Evans Road parking lot. The summit block was the starting point, a bit to the east of the benchmark. Patchy snow led back down the ridge and along the highway to the truck.

I’ve said before that I don’t like solo days. This one was nice, especially when compared to my first attempt here. Warm spring weather helps.

La Plata Peak would be next, two days from now. It was shaping up to be a pretty good Memorial Day weekend, I’d say.

In 2006, I would return to ski Evans again by this route with Chris Davenport.