The Pearl Couloir to the right, and the ski descent to the left.
Date: Mothers’ Day 2008
Team: Christy, Ted
Route: Southeast Face
A sunny Mothers’ Day Sunday in Aspen, and during the spring of a huge snow year. Ted and I set out for Cathedral Peak.
We hooked up with a gang of friends from town and headed up to Cathedral Lake. Our goal was the Pearl Couloir of Cathedral, an area classic and sweet objective by itself. At the top of the couloir however, Christy and I would continue on up and over to Cathedral’s true summit, and ski it’s Southeast Face.
For beta, the Pearl is straightforward, but to connect it’s top with the true summit, expect a few mixed climbing moves on standard loose Elk Range rock, and a pretty airy traverse. Ted said that having skied Cathedral peak now three times himself, he finds it better to climb the ski line itself direct from the lake– it’s no more committing, and you’ll get a good sense of the route and snow conditions for the descent. Since several seemingly good routes off the top cliff out, some recon of the route is usually a good idea.
Either way, we had a great climb, and a somewhat sloppy spring powder ski descent.
On approach to Cathedral Lake.
At the top of the Pearl.
Traversing from the top of the Pearl.
Easier ground to the summit. Castle stands tall in the distance.
Two traverses off summit through the steep section.
After heading skier’s right from the summit, some couloirs show the way down.
