#29 Crystal Peak - 13,852 ft. - Centennial Skiers

#29 Crystal Peak – 13,852 ft.

Date: April 26, 2008
Team: Christy, Ted
Route: East Face

[Christy and Ted skied Crystal Peak back in spring 2008.]

Spruce creek, crystal peak — Just past Francie’s Cabin, Crystal is the large snowy face out to the left.

We made the easy drive to Frisco, and then up to the Spruce Creek Trailhead, a popular starting point for those heading up to Francie’s Cabin. The route up to the hut is a well traveled road, and it wasn’t long before we were cresting treeline and catching our first glances of Crystal Peak. It’s broad, triangular East Face was looking full of snow, as east facing slopes typically do this time of year.

The route up Crystal is straightforward. We followed the contours of a creek to the base of the face, and then began switchbacking up. The route is entirely skin-able, it actually reminded us of Mount Hayden back in Aspen. Clouds moved in and out as we ascended which kept the temps from getting too high, which was a good thing as there was recent snow and the conditions looked sweet for the ski down. We didn’t want the snow to get trashed by the heat.

We stacked turns down the face, and back towards the hut, and then cruised the easy route back tot he truck. Crystal is a great Centennial 13er ski descent, and based on our day up here, a favorite of ours.

Some more photos:

Crystal Peak ski 13ers — Skinning the broad East Face.

crystal peak — The route from the valley below can be seen– it’s an easy day as far as this type of thing goes.

Crystal peak, 13ers — On the summit. Peak Ten and Breckenridge is behind.

christy mahon, crystal peak — Stacking turns

And once off the summit pitches, we headed down the valley.

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Date: April 30, 2013
Team: Dav, Pete Gaston, Max Taam
Route: Fletcher to Atlantic to Pacific to Crystal

In short, we skied the east side of Fletcher Mountain, then traversed up and over towards Atlantic Peak. From Atlantic we descended north towards Pacific Peak, climbing to its summit and skiing the steep NE Couloir. From there, a fourth skin put us atop Crystal Peak, where we skied the East Face down towards Francie’s Cabin and down to the road where we caught a ride back to the car at McCullough Gulch, the start of our day.

Four Centennial 13ers in one push– this was a great day in the mountains.

fletcher mountain, ski 13ers — Looking down from the summit at the upper East Face of Fletcher. The line descends through the small couloir at center.

Max Taam, mount fletcher — Max Taam lower on Fletcher’s East Face.

pete gaston, max taam, ski 13ers, fletcher mountain — Max and Pete Gaston using their rando gear for something other than racing

NE Couloir Pacific Peak, max taam, pacific peak — The NE Couloir on Pacific Peak. Max Taam skiing.

pete gaston, pacific peak — Pete Gaston lower down in the couloir on Pacific

Pacific peak NE couloir — Pacific peak and the NE Couloir

Chris Davenport, ski 13ers, fletcher mountain — A closing POV shot from a GoPro skiing through the tight spot on Fletcher.

#29 Crystal Peak – 13,852 ft.

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