Jacque Peak: Wilson’s Rage, and North Face
On May 20, 2010, Jonathan Kriegel and I started at Copper Ski Area base and skinned up to the summit of Jacque (13127 feet). We then skied the southeast face, which was quite easy, but good and fat with new snow. We had hoped to ski “Wilson’s Rage”, the prominent NE gully and wind scoop, but the entrance was a little tricky, so we went for the face instead.
On March 10, 2010, Jonathan and I climbed to the top of Jacque Ridge (12431 feet) and had a fine powder ski down. This is also called Frere Jacque. At the trail junction in Guller Creek (Janet’s Cabin trail and high trail back to Copper, formerly known as Elk Walk) we just headed straight into the woods and eventually—long time—came out in the basin below the north face of Jacque. Then easy climb to the ridge. Our descent was first back down into the basin, and then a wraparound to the west to descend superb steep glades back to the Janet’s Cabin trail. A bit over five hours total. We did not use Copper’s lifts. Doing so would save some time and they do offer a free ride on K and L lifts.
On May 16, 2013, Kihm Beyer, Katie Larson, and I did a nice double. Climbed Jacque via Copper far west runs. Skied the southeast face for about 700 feet. Then climbed it again and skied a line on the north face which was very fat with snow. Here is Katie on the SE Face. Great views of the Ten Mile Range.
On June 13, 2015, Randy Randy Garrison and I skied the north face. Four hours to summit; seven hours total. Some carrying. I sideslipped much of it. This is a very steep line.
Henry Gibb and I skied the north face on June 7, 2017. Unlike my previous two times up there it was soft. And it appeared stable. In fact, it was a little too soft for great skiing, but it was acceptable. After the climb back to Copper we skied down to 10400 feet, only 600 feet above the car. Total climb of 3900 feet. A little over 4 hours to the top; 7 hours total.
