Route: Northeast Face

Team: Ted (solo)

Mount Evans needed to be redone. After suffering here in 2000, I wasn’t too psyched to return, but being Memorial Day weekend, 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 (North Maroon ski followed by work that night), a quiet drive and easy ski was just right.

Unlike 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, down to the left was the Mount Evans Road parking lot. The summit block, a bit to the east of the benchmark was the starting point. Patchy snow lead back down the ridge and along the highway to the truck. Not much to comment about the ski.

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

La Plata Peak would be next, two days from now. Pretty good Memorial Day weekend I’d say.

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