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STANDARD DESCENT ROUTE | WILLIAMS PEAK | GLENWOOD SPRINGS AREA | COLORADO | UNITED STATES

STANDARD DESCENT ROUTE
STANDARD DESCENT ROUTE
Date Created: 12/26/2008
Last Updated: 12/26/2008
Ranking:Okay
Skiable Vert:1500 ft
Climbing Vert:1500 ft
Top Elevation:10,000 ft
Trailhead Elevation:8,500 ft
Ascent Mileage:2
AVG Ascent Time:45 minutes to 1 hour
Ascent Type:Skin
Trees:Nicely Spaced
Slope Aspect:North
Steepest Section:25-35 Degrees
Slope Type:Ridge
Exit:Clean
First Descent:
Nearest Town:Glenwood Springs, Colorado
AVG Snowfall:250
Snowpack:Continental

Highlights

Fun, safe skiing and best for getting a workout or when you want to get out on your own.

Ascent

Drive up 4 Mile Road, above Sunlight Mountain Resort. Park on the side of the road just past the entrance to the Sunlight Snowmobile Tours parking lot. Skin up the road for 10-15 minutes. The road makes a big left turn and the trees open up. Here, look left and there is a skin track heading up into the aspens. Follow the skin track through the trees and on to the ridge of Williams Peak. Finish at the saddle before the final climb to the summit or continue to the summit of Williams for beautiful views of the Elk Mountain Range and the 4 Mile area.

Descent

If descending from the summit of Williams Peak, the standard descent returns to the saddle or bench below the final climb to the summit. Below the saddle, stay skiers left to enter a large open meadow a couple hundred feet below the ascent line on the ridge. Low angle and mellow turns in the meadow lead to a treed section, often navigated in a gully before staying skiers left again to enter another open meadow. Ski this meadow with low angle turns again, staying skiers right to go through trees once again. Once through the trees you enter another open meadow for more low angle turns. A final section of dense trees leads to the road and parking area.

Access/Permits

None.

Photos

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Vert Tracker

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1,609
views

Powdermonkey: January 22, 2012 Uphill: 1,300 ft. | Downhill: 1,300 ft.

Deep, deep snow. Lots of whoomping and settling and a few small, small natural slides....[view]
Image Image Image
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2,117
views

Anthonyfry: December 19, 2011 Uphill: 1,600 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

Williams Peak....[view]
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5,786
views

Selahclaire: November 28, 2010 Uphill: 1,400 ft. | Downhill: 1,400 ft.

It was all fun until Daddy tried to go off a jump and we both face-planted. My face was full of snow and I didn't like it. But, I rallied for the rest of the run and was happy after we warmed up....[view]
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5,765
views

Joyschneiter: November 28, 2010 Uphill: 1,400 ft. | Downhill: 1,400 ft.

A little rocky in places, though worth the trip....[view]
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5,779
views

Powdermonkey: November 28, 2010 Uphill: 1,300 ft. | Downhill: 1,300 ft.

Good early season stuff. New snow is a flying!...[view]
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5,725
views

Powdermonkey: January 30, 2010 Uphill: 1,500 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

...[view]
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5,748
views

Waheenie: January 28, 2010 Uphill: 1,500 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

Beautiful sunny day! Great to get some exercise, and the dog was excited to get out of the van... Unfortunately, we didn't choose the most optimal route down, but I still enjoyed every moment of the t...[view]
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5,753
views

Powderjunky: January 28, 2010 Uphill: 1,500 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

Actually found a functional use for snow genital art as I was drawing my masterpiece off trail I heard some whumping that I wouldn't have heard if I stayed on the skin track and away from the blank ca...[view]
Image
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5,744
views

Davedowning: January 27, 2010 Uphill: 2,400 ft. | Downhill: 2,400 ft.

...[view]
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5,725
views

Davedowning: January 25, 2010 Uphill: 2,400 ft. | Downhill: 2,400 ft.

...[view]
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5,751
views

Powdermonkey: January 17, 2010 Uphill: 1,500 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

...[view]
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5,741
views

Powdermonkey: January 16, 2010 Uphill: 1,500 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

...[view]

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