James Peak

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

From where the Saint Mary's Glacier Approach ends, continue on across the flat shoulder of James Peak to the base of the east ridge. This shoulder is a lot further than it looks and will sometimes be wind-scoured, so you may not be able to skin all the way across it. The ridge curves from being east-facing to south-facing as you climb up three bowls on your way to the summit.

From the summit, you get spectacular views of the rest of the Front Range, as well as Winter Park and Berthoud Pass.

It's quite common to ski back down the SE face of James, basically the same way you came up. Lou Dawson has given this descent a difficulty rating of D2 ( loudawson.com/rating-ski-de…).