Mt. Elbert: East Ridge

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This is the main winter hiking trail to the summit of Mt. Elbert. In most cases, except for immediately after a snowstorm, there should/will be a well-established trench or skintrack, and there is ample signage along the way (as this route intersects with the Colorado Trail, there are a few trail junctions) guiding you up the mountain.

The GPX here abandons the trail above treeline in order to maximize time spent on good skiable snow and to take a more direct line.

In the right conditions, one should be able to ski from the summit back to the TH. Note that there are 2 very distinctive shallow/flat portions of the ascent/descent that will require either an efficient line, some poling/skating, or both. This would likely be a more challenging descent for a splitboarder.

Option on the descent to ski slightly north while on the upper main snowfield, in order to link up this ascent with a descent of the "Box Creek Chutes," in which case, once below the couloirs, you would need to ski south back to the East Ridge Trail for the remainder of your descent (potentially adding additional transitions to your day).