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Cathedral Peak – The Pearl Couloir

May 8, 2013 Elks, Trip Reports

Date: May 7, 2013
Team: Ted, Dav, Mark Falender, Linden Mallory
Route: Pearl Couloir

Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers
The Pearl Couloir climbs the east side of the mountain. From the top of the couloir it’s maybe 200 vertical feet of climbing to the summit.

The Pearl Couloir on Cathedral Peak, 13,943 ft., should be on every Colorado ski mountaineer’s ticklist. Aesthetically speaking, it’s long, fairly steep, and with big rock walls and colorful spires. From a safety perspective, it’s wide enough for a group to ski comfortably and not be on top of one another, and there are ample nooks and corners to get out of the way of any hazards from above, both on the climb and descent.

When you consider the accessibility of other valleys in Aspen– Maroon, Snowmass, Capitol creeks or Independence Pass– the road access is very good, and the tour to the picturesque Cathedral Lake is worth a trip in itself. Were it not for the fact that the couloir doesn’t top out at the exact summit, this would likely be one of the most premiere summit ski descents in the Elks.

However you measure it, when you ski it you’ll agree– the Pearl Couloir is a classic.

Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers
Linden, Ted, and Mark nearing the top of the couloir.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, Ted Mahon
Once above the top of the Pearl, some snow/rock scrambling was needed to reach the summit.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, chris davenport
Dav, out on the Southeast Face for a little traverse.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, Ted Mahon
Further along the ridge.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, Castle peak
View to the south. Castle peak looms tall in the distance.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers
With skis on, the group heads back towards the top of the couloir.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, kastle skis
After some careful moves along the ridge, we arrived at a semi-reasonable entrance to the couloir.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, ted mahon, kastle skis, chris davenport
GoPro shot of Dav following me into the Pearl.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, linden mallory
Linden and Mark come down from the ridge on their little rando race skis. The new snow on a semi-firm base was friendly to the little skis.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, linden mallory
Linden in the couloir.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers, mark fallender
Mark a bit further down.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers
There was a good amount of new snow from recent storms, most of which sloughed off when skied.
Cathedral Peak, Pearl Couloir, Centennial Skiers
Dav, lower down.
Tags: cathedral peak
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  • #2 Stewart Peak -13,983 ft.
  • #3 Columbia Point – 13,980 ft.
  • #4 Pigeon Peak – 13,972 ft.
  • #5 Mount Ouray – 13,971 ft.
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  • #7 Fletcher Mountain – 13,951 ft.
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  • #18 Emerald Mountain – 13,904 ft.
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  • #30 Mount Edwards – 13,850 ft.
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  • #45 Teakettle Mountain – 13,819 ft.
  • #46 PT 13,811 – 13,811 ft.
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