Atlantic & Pacific

ski 13ers, atlantic peak, christy mahon — Skiing off the summit of Atlantic Peak.

We started off the spring 2013 Centennial Skiing season with a trip to Atlantic and Pacific peaks. These two high 13ers, just south of Breckenridge, are part of the Tenmile Range and are easily seen from I-70 as it nears Copper Mountain. Access for peaks in this range is very good, with multiple trailheads and somewhat short approaches. And since these two peaks are connected by a high ridge, they’re a good pair to do together.

We opted to come in from the east, starting from the popular Quandary Peak trailhead and following the snow-covered road and the trail up McCullough Gulch. This part of the state is often windy, and as far as ski routes go, the wind-scoured west side of these mountains is often thin on snow and the east aspects can fill in nicely. As we made our way up the valley, we could see multiple ski lines on the easterly side of Atlantic Peak

mccullough gulch — The approach up McCullough Gulch. Atlantic Peak and its couloirs can be seen out ahead.

We aimed for Pacific first though. It was straightforward skinning up to a high bench between the two peaks, and then up the South Ridge of Pacific to the summit. About six inches of new snow the night before made for some pretty fun skiing down the Southeast Face. We made a short skin up over a little ridge and then continued skiing down towards Atlantic. The weather was in-and-out at this point (there was a small storm forecasted to arrive), and we often found ourselves in mini squalls and high winds. The weather pounded us as we skinned up the North Ridge of Atlantic to a spot on its leeward side, and out of the elements.

ski 13ers, pacific peak — Christy skis the Southeast Face of Pacific. Atlantic is the big wind-scoured peak out to the right, and Quandary is the larger mountain to the left.

The ski down Atlantic was awesome. The route off the summit was mellow-angled and powdery, after which we dropped into an east facing couloir that we viewed earlier that morning. The spring weather that we’ve been witnessing recently has done a lot to solidify the snowpack on these sunny aspects. After exiting the couloir we made good time back out to the trailhead.

atlantic peak, ski, 13ers — Christy in the couloir on Atlantic.

Not only were these two descents a great way to start off the season for Christy and me, but would also be something we’d recommend to others in the future. The access is really good here, the approach is reasonable in effort, and the terrain is fairly moderate for what ski mountaineering can involve. Give Atlantic and Pacific peaks a visit.

Here are some more photos: