Just outside of Aspen, North Maroon Peak is among the most photographed and recognizable mountain in the world and remains a classic route for any ski mountaineer. I've climbed this peak twice previously in the summer (once via the standard northeast ridge and another time via the Bell Cord couloir and ridge traverse from South Maroon Peak) but I always felt the urge to take on the north face. North Maroon has been on my 'must-do/ski' list for 2-3 seasons, but conditions or timing with partners just never seemed to work out right. It seemed like the same might happen again this year, but I got in contact with a group that planning to give it a try the upcoming weekend. After a few e-mails to make sure we were on the same page, Carl invited me along the trip. I have to say that I've extremely grateful to Carl, Marc and Ben for taking some risk inviting me along despite not having any personal experience with my skiing or climbing abilities.
The Bells (North Maroon peak to right) from Maroon Lake:
Carl put together an excellent trip report on 14ers. com that can be viewed here: Carl's North Maroon Peak report. Instead of re-writing many of the same descriptions, I've included some of the better (and most telling) photos from the day.
Keeping high spirits at 4 am despite a horrendous bushwhack after losing the trail above Crater Lake (Photo - Carl D):
Carl pausing the take in the north face:
Climbing up the north face included some steep bootpacking, traversing, and breath-taking views (Photos - Carl D and Ben C):
On the summit at 14,014 feet, ready to ski (Photo - Carl D):
Making turns off the summit, Pyramid Peak providing the picturesque background (Photo - Ben C):
Ben taking off through the Punk Rock Band at 13,800 feet. A fall here might be the last one you ever take (Photo - Carl D):
Good turns await down the north face:
Linking some turns on the upper face, Snowmass and Capitol Peaks in background (Photo - Carl D):
Ben traversing back to the central couloir:
Carl banking some turns in the narrow couloir:
Getting in a few more turns before the final traverse (Photo - Ben C):
The line:
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