Mt. Arkansas (13795 feet)

From right: Moonshine Couloir, Arkansas summit, broad east face, southeast couloir from the south summit, the AT (Arkansas–Tweto Col), Treasure Vault Mountain at far left. In rear: Mt. Elbert at far right. La Plata right of center. Hope and Hopeful Couloir left of center.

There are many ski lines on all sides of Mt. Arkansas, which offers a nice high start (11000 feet) at Climax Corner.

  1. The prominent and steep northwest face that one sees as one drives over Fremont Pass. I’ve skied this several times. Quite steep at the top.
  2. The west face from the summit. I have skied this once.
  3. The southwest face from the south summit. I have skied this a few times.
  4. The southeast face from the south summit, a nice steep line that I have skied twice. I like the name “This Way Up” for this one as many use it as a climbing route to reach Moonshine.
  5. Moonshine Couloir, a famous line that drops very steeply to the east from north of the main summit, and has a tricky entrance.
  6. Various other slopes on the east side, both north and south of the summit.
  7. A loop that goes around the peak, counterclockwise, through the 13200-foot col with Mt. Tweto.
  8. A long gully that drops northwest from the ridge well before one reaches the top of the northwest face in (1).
  9. Skating: One can, in the right conditions, skate in the broad valley to a knoll at 12900 feet, likely the highest skate-ski destination in North America. This is also fine on light-touring skis, with half skins.
Me, on the gentle plateau west of the summit. (Photo by Rich Seeley)
Elke Dratch descending the east side of AT Col.
The valley that is the head of the Arkansas River. Buckskin Peak in center. Mt. Arkansas is out of frame to the right.
The northwest face.
AT Col and the south summit.
Matt Wentz descending This Way Up.
AT Col and This Way Up to the south summit.
The true summit of Arkansas, viewed from the south ridge.
Moonshine Couloir.
Janet Jacks and Dave Blakeslee skating up the valley: crust cruising.
The true summit is at left, with the entire west face in decent condition.