The line we skied on El Diente last weekend was an instant classic in my book, which got me thinking about classic routes on the 14ers in general. The truth of 14er skiing is that many of the lines pale in comparison to routes which can be found on thirteeners and twelve-ers. But many of the 14ers offer up classic lines that rival anything else found in the Sierras, the Cascades, or the Tetons. A wise Colorado skier might consider doing only the best that the 14ers have to offer, and then move on to the multitude of great lines on the lower peaks. Classic lines may mean different things to different people, but here’s one man’s list. (An * means I have not yet skied the line) Most of the descents can be found in my 14er ski page.
Long’s Peak: North Face*
Long’s Peak: Keplinger
Torrey’s: Dead Dog
Democrat: North Face
Holy Cross: Cross Couloir
Huron: East Face
Tabeguache: North Face
Missouri: North Face
La Plata: North Face
Crestone Peak: South Couloir
Crestone Needle: South Couloir
Kit Carson: Cole Couloir*
North Maroon: North Face
Maroon: Southwest Couloir
Pyramid: Landry Line
Castle: East Face
Castle: South Face
Sneffels: Snake Couloir
Handies: Northeast Face
El Diente: Luttrell Line
Wilson Peak: Northeast Face
Mount Wilson: Boxcar Couloir
That’s my list. I’d love to hear what else belongs or what doesn’t. Happy skiing!
So it looks like that’s mainly the more difficult classics, which tend to be the best overall lines, as with rock climbing. However, there are some great classic easier 14er routes which shouldn’t be overlooked by people who might not be up to the task of hitting the harder routes. Some of the easier ones that shouldn’t be missed.
Quandary – cristo couloir and east face
Handies – american basin
Princeton – east slopes
Columbia – three elk creek
Humboldt – s.east flank
Thanks, Irlts! You’re right, I should have added some easier ones, but that’s my personal bias coming through. Good calls on Quandary and Handies. Princeton was far and away my least favorite 14er descent, personally, but I know some folks love it. It’s certainly aesthetic. The only reason I wouldn’t consider the SE flank of Humboldt to be a classic is that it’s rare for it to be in condition. that side of Columbia looks fun, but I haven’t been up that side…
Well you’re right in that the hard ones are the best for a variety of reasons, that’s why as with rock climbing, the better you get the better it gets. However, you need to keep in mind that a lot of 14er skiers are content to just go after the easier ones, but maybe they just hang out on 14ers.com
As for some of the choices, we caught Princeton in awesome corn conditions, that combined with the big vertical and the position over the valley, especially with that view of it coming up 285 makes it a must do line for the easier ones.
The reason I put Humboldt on the list is because of the position among the crestones and the sangres that you achieve, while keeping the chance of death relatively low. I also did that one just this year so it’s fresh in my mind, we’ll see how it holds up as the years pass.