Date: May 7, 2013
Team: Ted, Dav, Mark Falender, Linden Mallory
Route: Pearl Couloir
The Pearl Couloir climbs the east side of the mountain. From the top of the couloir it’s maybe 200 vertical feet of climbing to the summit.
The Pearl Couloir on Cathedral Peak, 13,943 ft., should be on every Colorado ski mountaineer’s ticklist. Aesthetically speaking, it’s long, fairly steep, and with big rock walls and colorful spires. From a safety perspective, it’s wide enough for a group to ski comfortably and not be on top of one another, and there are ample nooks and corners to get out of the way of any hazards from above, both on the climb and descent.
When you consider the accessibility of other valleys in Aspen– Maroon, Snowmass, Capitol creeks or Independence Pass– the road access is very good, and the tour to the picturesque Cathedral Lake is worth a trip in itself. Were it not for the fact that the couloir doesn’t top out at the exact summit, this would likely be one of the most premiere summit ski descents in the Elks.
However you measure it, when you ski it you’ll agree– the Pearl Couloir is a classic.
Our route of ascent and descent is above. Disregard the third, straight line from the mountain to trailhead, an error with the iphone’s GPS and obviously not an actual route of travel.
Linden, Ted, and Mark nearing the top of the couloir.
Once above the top of the Pearl, some snow/rock scrambling was needed to reach the summit.
Dav, out on the Southeast Face for a little traverse.
Further along the ridge.
The view to the south. Castle Peak looms tall in the distance.
With skis on, the group heads back towards the top of the couloir.
After some careful moves along the ridge, we arrived at a semi-reasonable entrance to the couloir.
GoPro shot of Dav following me into the Pearl.
Linden and Mark come down from the ridge on their little rando race skis. The new snow on a semi-firm base was friendly to the little skis.
Linden in the couloir.
Mark a bit further down.
There was a good amount of new snow from recent storms, most of which sloughed off when skied.
Dav, through the homestretch.
