– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Winter Ascent & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, Colorado

by Lou Dawson January 18, 2001
written by Lou Dawson January 18, 2001

Photos by Louis Dawson and Boone Caudill

My 49th birthday rolled around this past January of 2001. In truth, I was feeling it — coming off knee surgery and battling desk chair syndrome. My rehab seemed to be going okay, so what better way to celebrate my cake day than a ski descent?

Mount Sopris, Colorado as viewed from the east.

Mount Sopris, Colorado as viewed from the east.

The goal, 12,953-foot Mount Sopris, the icon of the Roaring Fork Valley, bulwark of the lofty Elk Mountains towering above Aspen and Carbondale, Colorado. A peak covered in great detail in my new guidebook.


When you live in the “downvalley” part of the Roaring Fork, Sopris is always in your face, begging to be climbed, skied, or just gazed at while you daydream…

I made about 15 calls, ending up with a great crew: Carl Pelletier, school teacher and strong telemarker. Lynn Sanson, school teacher and solid mountaineer with lots of background. Boone Caudill, strong Aspen native who’s skied since he could walk. Jason Troth and his betrothed Val, both awesome riders who use splitboards to great effect — and own quality snowmobiles. Jason broke his femur a while back doing a snowboard descent. I had the same injury in my avalanche ride of many years ago, so it’s fun to hang out with a fellow survivor of that risky injury.

The route we’re going for is the Northeast Ridge, the only skiable route that’s nearly 100% avalanche safe because of ridge terrain. Problem is, getting to the base of the ridge is a mega slog up a snowmobile track that kills knees and zaps enthusiasm– hence our choice of mechanized approach.


Colorado has been dry this winter. Dozens of sunny days have been perfect for climbing, though the backcountry skiing around here has been less than ideal.

But you never know about Mount Sopris. It gets hammered by wind that packs the snow, and sometimes it’s more skiable than it looks. Funny thing was, after weeks of sunshine, the day we climb a storm moves in. The weather radio says it’ll clear up in the afternoon, so we go anyway. After all, we’re starved for the alpine, and a little wind always adds spice to Sopris.

The trip was incredible. We climbed through a storm, with alternating whiteout, howling wind, and sunshine. We launched from the exact summit, and aside from just a short section of downclimbing, we skied everything from powder to boilerplate, to make an honest glisse descent of the peak — on a day when none of us thought we’d get in many turns.


Above timberline the wind began to bite. About 10 degrees F with a 50 MPH breeze. We loved every minute of it… Check out our photo album.

Mount Sopris, Colorado as viewed from the east.
Mount Sopris, Colorado as viewed from the east.
Winter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, ColoradoWinter Ascent  & Snowboard Ski Descent Of Mount Sopris, Colorado
Lou Dawson

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.

www.loudawson.com
0
Email
previous post
Free Heel Skiing – Book Review
next post
First Sweat — Introducing Youngsters to Backcountry Skiing

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

A Small Hut for Big Skiing...

April 23, 2024

Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure...

December 9, 2022

TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

November 15, 2022