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A big, steep, 14er descent.


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Map Key

0.4

Miles

0.7

KM

Ski Line

14,251' 4,344 m

High

12,885' 3,927 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

1,365' 416 m

Down

60%

Avg Slope (31°)

87%

Max Slope (41°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Overview

This is one of the prize lines in the Elks. You'll work your way over steep, exposed terrain to reach several options of chutes to work your way down the face.

Description

From the summit of Castle Peak, ski directly east, over a very steep roll. Then work your way skiers-right until you can see down a few chutes that clearly connect to the snowfield below.

Do not ski the center chute, directly fall-line from the summit unless you're certain it's filled in. This chute only fills in on especially high-snow years.

Work your way down whichever chute you've picked. There are plenty of safe-ish spots to leapfrog your partners and areas where you can skip from one chute to another. Once you're down, continue east to Pearl Pass Road. You'll ski by Green Wilson and Taggart huts, as you continue down the road and back to Ashcroft.

Lou Dawson gave this route a difficulty rating of D14 ( loudawson.com/rating-ski-de…).

Contacts

Shared By:

Jacob Winey

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 1 vote

#140

Overall
  5.0 from 1 vote
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Ski Line Rankings

#45

in Colorado

#140

Overall
15 Views Last Month
258 Since Apr 5, 2021
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Photos

Skiing the exposed snowfield above the chutes on the east face of Castle Peak.
Apr 5, 2021 near Aspen, CO
A view of Conundrum and Cathedral from the top of Castle Peak.
Apr 5, 2021 near Aspen, CO
looking at Conundrum Couloir from near the top of Castle's North Face Couloir
May 30, 2023 near Aspen, CO
looking down Castle Peak North Face Couloir, into Montezuma Basin
May 30, 2023 near Aspen, CO

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