Who is Len Shoemaker?

On the ridge south of Colorado’s Pyramid Peak, a beautiful curving cirque leads to a 13,631 foot summit I’ve always known as Len Shoemaker Peak, after what’s marked on the map as “Len Shoemaker Ridge.” For years, while climbing and skiing the Maroon Bells, I’d looked over to Shoemaker and thought it would make an excellent alpine ramble, or perhaps a ski descent. Turns out my frequent ski partner Bob Perlmutter had been thinking the same thing since his early days on the Bells, so when he mentioned Shoemaker was on his list, I signed up.

Crew for the day was a name dropper’s feast: Neal Beidleman (in photo above, on Shoemaker), alpinist extraordinaire and no stranger to extreme ski descents such as his and Davenport’s first on Capitol Peak east face;Ted Mahon, who just completed skiing all 54 Colorado 14ers; Doug Rovira, who worked at Outward Bound when I did back in the 70s, and is now a doctor; Michael Kennedy, man of the mountains who needs no introduction; Bob Perlmutter, Aspen Skiing Company powder guide who’s ALWAYS got another backcountry ski route on his list. Len Shoemaker was along as well, in spirit (more about him below.) Neal is coming off an injury. It’s always special when a mountaineer gets out for their first big day after a forced layover, so the trip and this blog are dedicated to Neal’s quick healing!

After an early morning snowmobile ride up Maroon Creek, we did a quick skin about three miles up West Maroon Creek. Alpinglow lit the Maroon Bells like a giant fire burning over the horizon, casting warm light upon the welcoming arms of the Elk’s high peaks and aretes.

You swing left about 1 1/2 miles past Crater Lake, and enter the sinuous cirque that winds down next to Len Shoemaker Ridge, with the eponymous peak at the head of the Cirque. We expected the mountain would be a bit more loaded with snow, but it was plenty skiable. We climbed and descended the sunlit face as shown above.

Ted and myself demonstrating our fashionable boot color choice. I asked Ted how his Dynafit Green Machines were working out, he says he loves ’em.

If anything, this ski tour and climb are about views of Colorado’s amazing Elk Mountains. That’s South Maroon on the left, with North Maroon to the right. Ted and Neal doing duty as shadow models.

Yours truly above, near the summit. As seems to always happen in the Elks, once above 13,000 feet the mountain presented us with various difficulties. In this case, some moderate post holing and a bit of rock scrambling over some steps on the ridge. Bear in mind that when you say “scrambling” and “Elks” in the same sentence, you’re also talking 2,000 pound blocks of limestone perched above you, ready to roll with the slightest provocation.

Neal tops out. Thunder Pyramid in the background.

A little blog love for Ted.

Mahon exiting Len Shoemaker cirque.

Perl on the upper face.

MK enjoys.

If anything, this ski tour and climb are about views of Colorado’s amazing Elk Mountains. That’s South Maroon on the left, with North Maroon to the right. Ted and Neal doing duty as shadow models.

Myself, Ted, Doug, Michael.

So, who is Len Shoemaker? In the early day’s of Colorado, Shoemaker was a Forest Ranger for the White River NF during the 1930s. His job included quite a bit of rambling in the Elk Mountains, during which he became an expert on the history of the USFS along with this area of Colorado (Roaring Fork Valley). He ended up penning a number of history books, one of which is our local classic “Pioneers of the Roaring Fork Valley.” During my own historical studies, I’ve run across Shoemaker’s name numerous times, frequently associated with descriptions of primitive wilderness pack trips that I can only imagine were equally as adventurous and fun as any modern climb or ski descent. Most of the trails and roads we use to access central Colorado mountains were established early, frequently during the mining era around a century ago. But it was men such as Shoemaker who kept the access open, and established the stupendous transportation network that allows us to enjoy the backcountry as we do today. When you’re riding your snowmobile up Maroon Creek road, or skiing down the West Maroon trail after a climb, thank Len and his ilk.