Mt. Sopris - East Face

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Ideal for the spring during stable conditions. Expect a fairly easy slog through the forest to begin with before reaching Thomas Lakes. Then, depending on snowpack, cross directly over the lakes, in the late spring you'll have to circumvent. In this route, you'll head directly up the gut of the mountain, as opposed to ascending the ridge. Then the uphill portion begins and is definitely more strenuous. Once on the ridge, you'll have to throw on some layers because the wind will probably be howling. It's another 15 minutes to the summit.

We came back down the way we climbed due to unfavorable conditions farther out towards the west summit.