The Backcountry Skiing Magazine, Community, and Interactive Ski Guide
Skiing the Backcountry Logo
SEARCH BY LOCATION:

SAWATCH RANGE | COLORADO | UNITED STATES

All Locations>>UNITED STATES>>COLORADO>>SAWATCH RANGE

Summary | 350 inches a year

MT. ELBERT
MT. ELBERT
A central Colorado mountain range which includes eight of the twenty highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains.

The Sawatch mountains in general are high, massive, and relatively gentle in contour. While some peaks are rugged enough to require technical climbing techniques, most can be climbed by a simple, if arduous, hike. Notable summits include Mount Elbert, Mount Massive, La Plata Peak, Mount of the Holy Cross, and the Collegiate Peaks (Mounts Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale). (wikipedia)

Snowpack
Typical Colorado Snowpack

Mountains

MT. ELBERT (1) Elevation: 14,443 ft

Elbert is the second highest mountain in the contiguous United States, after Mount Whitney in California, and is 62 feet (19 m) shorter than Whitney's 14,505 feet (4,421 m).

There are three main routes up the mountain, all of which gain over 4,000 feet of elevation. The standard route ascends the peak from the east, starting from the Colorado Trail. The most difficult is the Black Cloud Trail, which takes ten to fourteen hours, depending on the pace. Nearby fourteeners include Mount Massive to the north and La Plata Peak to the south.



Photos

March 14, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 14, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 14, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 14, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 14, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
March 2, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 28, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
February 4, 2006
Submitted By SnowPhoto
April 20, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 20, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 20, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 20, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 12, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 12, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 12, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
April 12, 2010
Submitted By lowPro79
March 11, 2010
Submitted By lukelubchenco
view all vert add your vert

Vert Tracker

READ MORE
4,800
views

Lowpro79: April 20, 2010 Uphill: 4,167 ft. | Downhill: 4,167 ft.

Climb the North West Ridge to gain the summit, then ski the exciting and steep North Face with many 40 - 50 degree couloirs...[view]
READ MORE
4,705
views

Lowpro79: April 12, 2010 Uphill: 5,000 ft. | Downhill: 5,000 ft.

a long hike, but well worth it. Killer views of Huron Peak, the 3 Apostles and Ice Mountain......Springtime is here, but pay attention to wet slides as you climb up and descend the next valley...[view]
Image Image Image Image
READ MORE
6,344
views

Lukelubchenco: March 11, 2010 Uphill: 1,000 ft. | Downhill: 1,500 ft.

Super sweet conditions! Epic powder and even more epic pictures and video. Gladed and super stable conditions led to a super safe and fun day in 2 feet of blower powder! Hiked over the ridge a bit mor...[view]
Image
READ MORE
6,662
views

Lukelubchenco: March 10, 2010 Uphill: 2,000 ft. | Downhill: 2,000 ft.

Fantastic snow! the mountains here have been getting pounded and it's absolutely stunning. With the danger of close to 2 feet of snow hitting Monarch Pass we opted to ski a nicely treed section very e...[view]
READ MORE
3,447
views

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

More fun on Bald Knob and the area surrounding the McNamara hut....[view]
READ MORE
3,427
views

Gripnrip: January 26, 2010 Uphill: 2,500 ft. | Downhill: 2,500 ft.

Toured Bald Knob and surrounding area. Sketchy, shallow snowpack....[view]
READ MORE
3,427
views

Gripnrip: January 25, 2010 Uphill: 1,800 ft. | Downhill: 1,800 ft.

Skied in to the McNamara hut for a 4 day trip....[view]

Need A Guide?

Alpine Ambitions
Alpine Ambitions leads educational, adventurous, ski experiences in some of the most quintessential ski locations on the planet. No matter where you are on the spectrum of skiers - from accomplished, expert skier ready to ski from the summits of big peaks, and in off-the-beaten-path locations to a novice skier with the desire to ski all-conditions and all-terrain, Alpine Ambitions creates the right environment for you....Hire this guide
Alpine World Ascents
Alpine World Ascents is a professional ski and mountain guide outfit based out of Boulder, CO, offering instruction and guiding year round locally and around the world: Rock, Ice, Alpine, Ski, Avalanche Safety. AMGA and IFMGA certified guides only....Hire this guide

Comments



External References

Already have a blog about this area? Link to it here.
Be the first to enter an external reference for this area!

You need to login or sign up to add an external reference.

Guide Books

Sign up to use or skiing guide.
Backcountry skiing is dangerous. Use our online backcountry skiing guide at your own risk.