Eldorado, 2020

Last updated on Feb 27, 2022

It’s that time of year again! Every year for the past few years, I done a solo ski tour of Eldorado Peak in the North Cascades. This doesn’t preclude doing it with friends – it’s just a climb that really tests your mettle (you gain a little over 7000 feet in roughly 5 miles), and sometimes I want to attempt this sufferfest in peace! Eldorado is one of the crown jewels of the Cascade Range, and one of North America’s 50 Classic Ski Descents. I’ve been lucky to have pretty good snow conditions for each of my attempts, although the same can’t always be said for the weather!

Looking south from the Eldorado boulder field at Johannesburg Mountain. Just to looker’s left of Johannesburg is a narrow couloir called CJ’s Couloir – one of my top-5 goals for the upcoming 2021 Spring skiing season.
Looking northwest at the Boston Glacier just as you cross the ridgeline onto Inspiration Glacier
View of the Eldorado summit from the Inspiration Glacier.
On top of the Eldorado summit, waiting for some climbers to descend off the spine.
Looking south from the top of Eldorado at Forbidden Peak and Moraine Lake (frozen over).
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