Bluebird! Bottom half of the couloir to the summit ridge was melted out but the upper half was in good shape. No one else climbing, outstanding Elk range views.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 16, 2019 6:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2019
fantastic day
Lower trail had a lot of avalanche debris with fallen trees "making this section a crux" :). 2019 600% colorado snow pack! There was snow on the trail about 2/3 up and all the way to the top of the south couloir. The lake was still completely frozen. There was so much snow, I did not have to worry about any loose rocks. The ridge was easy, I don't think I even found class 3 moves on it. The summit spectacular. Did not see anyone all day until coming back there was a good brasilians who turned below the avalanche debris. Beautiful mountain.
Senad Rizvanovic - Jun 12, 2017 8:10 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2017
South Couloir
Perfect day with great conditions. This mountain is real deal with some realy nice snow lines. Amazing views of Maroon Bells and other 14ers in Elk Range.
Loved the climb and the view from the summit. Hike to Cathedral Lake is a classic in itself. Snow couloir lots of fun, final summit scramble loose but not too bad. Summit was a special place.
This was the year after the big snow in Colorado and the couloir was completely full of very hard snow, crampons barely sunk in. We climbed up and down in ape-like fashion to use ice ax pick, as the other end wouldn't go in. Very grateful to be alive after that one!
Kiefer - Aug 26, 2012 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Standard Route
Had the whole mountain to myself!!! Absolutely shocked for a Sunday and saw no one. Spent an hour on the summit catching a burn! :o)
Cool mountain. Elks are da shit!
astrobassman - Jun 9, 2012 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2012
Nemesis Mountain
Everyone has their nemesis mountain, and Cathedral is mine. After two failed attempts, I finally got up Cathedral, but at a small price. 100 feet below the summit I put both hands and all my weight on a solid looking rock, and a 100 pound boulder crashed into me, busting up my hand a bit. Nothing too bad, but it was obvious this mountain did not want to make it easy for me.
Matt Lemke - May 21, 2012 5:27 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
Fantastic snow climb
Beautiful day and a beautiful mountain! One of my favorite summit views.
theREALCarpeDM - May 13, 2012 9:51 am Date Climbed: May 12, 2012
Standard couloir route
Still decent snow in the couloir in this bad snow year, but was a little thin. Started up the couloir a little late (8-ish). Was mashed potatoes on the way down. Weather was great despite the forecast! I measured the angle twice at 38 degrees. Someone higher up measured 48 - I don't know about that.
I suppose so. I've heard 48 degrees a few times. It was one of my first couloir climbs, so I'm not the best judge. It just didn't feel like it got much steeper than the 38 degrees that I measured.
Climbed Cathedral via standard route. Rotten snow in the gully made it more interesting. Overall, nice hike/snow climb, great views. Click here to see the Cathedral Peak picture album.
Eric Holle - Jun 13, 2011 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2011
Spring, Standard Route
Great spring condidtions for a snow climb! Absolutely beautiful day and a super fun route!!
I did this once and probably wont do it again. Not that its a bad route, and I love the elks, but the gully was a bit gnarly
chicagotransplant - Jun 29, 2009 10:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
Standard Route
1st: 6/28/09 - Climbed with Colin, Scot, Craig and Amanda. Good snow in the gully still, but there was some rock on the snow and you can tell its been getting some rockfall, bring a helmet. The ridge was nice, closer to the crest had a few easy class 3 sections, but its mostly class 2. There is a nice trail through the talus in the basin, its a little tricky to find, but worth it!
2nd: 5/15/22 - Climbed with Lindsay, Sarah and Jason. Some old wet debris in the gully, ridge was mostly dry but we kept crampons on and did cross a few firm snowfields. Skied down the gully but the skiing was crap, all that old debris makes for very difficult turns down low, some of the chunks are pretty big. They were softened up, but it was a struggle.
Britette - Nov 5, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2008
Skied the Pearl
Climbed to top of Pearl. Sun super heated snow so turned around before summit. Skied the Pearl. Rough snow.
heather14 - Jun 24, 2008 1:32 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2008
East Face Couloir
With a 3am start I was feeling a little sluggish, but once above the lake and eyeing the couloir....
Ended up being a great day!
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Twice including winter
6/17/06 - This was my first snow climb and it was a blast! Traversed on to "Electric Pass Peak" on the gnarly, rotten ridge. The rock was falling apart and the scree was extreme. I wouldn't recommend this unless you have a lot of experience on serious junk rock and scree. It is dangerous, especially on the Cathedral side.
3/5/2016 - Climbed the standard route from winter closure at Ashcroft. Very stable, late spring-like conditions. Added on neighboring Malemute for dessert and descended back to Ashcroft via Montezuma Basin.
altitude14er - Jun 15, 2007 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Route Climbed: South Couloir
Climbed this peak w/asphazell. A great snow climb and white-knuckle down-climb. I had to face-in due to the slick snows steep grade...mucho fun.
Woodie Hopper - Jul 10, 2024 2:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2024
StandardBluebird! Bottom half of the couloir to the summit ridge was melted out but the upper half was in good shape. No one else climbing, outstanding Elk range views.
Liba Kopeckova - Jun 16, 2019 6:56 am Date Climbed: Jun 15, 2019
fantastic dayLower trail had a lot of avalanche debris with fallen trees "making this section a crux" :). 2019 600% colorado snow pack! There was snow on the trail about 2/3 up and all the way to the top of the south couloir. The lake was still completely frozen. There was so much snow, I did not have to worry about any loose rocks. The ridge was easy, I don't think I even found class 3 moves on it. The summit spectacular. Did not see anyone all day until coming back there was a good brasilians who turned below the avalanche debris. Beautiful mountain.
Senad Rizvanovic - Jun 12, 2017 8:10 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2017
South CouloirPerfect day with great conditions. This mountain is real deal with some realy nice snow lines. Amazing views of Maroon Bells and other 14ers in Elk Range.
utclimber - Jan 22, 2017 12:57 pm
Cathedral PeakHiked up Cathedral Peak in late spring, early 2000s.
Brad Snider - Jul 28, 2016 8:35 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2016
ClassicLoved the climb and the view from the summit. Hike to Cathedral Lake is a classic in itself. Snow couloir lots of fun, final summit scramble loose but not too bad. Summit was a special place.
rockymountaindiva - Jul 26, 2013 4:41 pm Date Climbed: Sep 4, 2011
Wished I had ice toolsThis was the year after the big snow in Colorado and the couloir was completely full of very hard snow, crampons barely sunk in. We climbed up and down in ape-like fashion to use ice ax pick, as the other end wouldn't go in. Very grateful to be alive after that one!
Kiefer - Aug 26, 2012 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 26, 2012
Standard RouteHad the whole mountain to myself!!! Absolutely shocked for a Sunday and saw no one. Spent an hour on the summit catching a burn! :o)
Cool mountain. Elks are da shit!
astrobassman - Jun 9, 2012 9:03 pm Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2012
Nemesis MountainEveryone has their nemesis mountain, and Cathedral is mine. After two failed attempts, I finally got up Cathedral, but at a small price. 100 feet below the summit I put both hands and all my weight on a solid looking rock, and a 100 pound boulder crashed into me, busting up my hand a bit. Nothing too bad, but it was obvious this mountain did not want to make it easy for me.
Matt Lemke - May 21, 2012 5:27 pm Date Climbed: May 20, 2012
Fantastic snow climbBeautiful day and a beautiful mountain! One of my favorite summit views.
theREALCarpeDM - May 13, 2012 9:51 am Date Climbed: May 12, 2012
Standard couloir routeStill decent snow in the couloir in this bad snow year, but was a little thin. Started up the couloir a little late (8-ish). Was mashed potatoes on the way down. Weather was great despite the forecast! I measured the angle twice at 38 degrees. Someone higher up measured 48 - I don't know about that.
Matt Lemke - May 21, 2012 5:29 pm
Re: Standard couloir routeYeah...48 is correct. The upper half was definently over 45 by a little bit
theREALCarpeDM - May 29, 2012 10:27 pm
Re: Standard couloir routeI suppose so. I've heard 48 degrees a few times. It was one of my first couloir climbs, so I'm not the best judge. It just didn't feel like it got much steeper than the 38 degrees that I measured.
strudolyubov - Jul 11, 2011 11:14 pm Date Climbed: Jul 10, 2011
Standard RouteClimbed Cathedral via standard route. Rotten snow in the gully made it more interesting. Overall, nice hike/snow climb, great views. Click here to see the Cathedral Peak picture album.
Eric Holle - Jun 13, 2011 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jun 11, 2011
Spring, Standard RouteGreat spring condidtions for a snow climb! Absolutely beautiful day and a super fun route!!
climbingfurry - Jan 24, 2011 10:22 am
standard routeI did this once and probably wont do it again. Not that its a bad route, and I love the elks, but the gully was a bit gnarly
chicagotransplant - Jun 29, 2009 10:16 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2009
Standard Route1st: 6/28/09 - Climbed with Colin, Scot, Craig and Amanda. Good snow in the gully still, but there was some rock on the snow and you can tell its been getting some rockfall, bring a helmet. The ridge was nice, closer to the crest had a few easy class 3 sections, but its mostly class 2. There is a nice trail through the talus in the basin, its a little tricky to find, but worth it!
2nd: 5/15/22 - Climbed with Lindsay, Sarah and Jason. Some old wet debris in the gully, ridge was mostly dry but we kept crampons on and did cross a few firm snowfields. Skied down the gully but the skiing was crap, all that old debris makes for very difficult turns down low, some of the chunks are pretty big. They were softened up, but it was a struggle.
Britette - Nov 5, 2008 11:38 pm Date Climbed: May 15, 2008
Skied the PearlClimbed to top of Pearl. Sun super heated snow so turned around before summit. Skied the Pearl. Rough snow.
heather14 - Jun 24, 2008 1:32 am Date Climbed: Jun 22, 2008
East Face CouloirWith a 3am start I was feeling a little sluggish, but once above the lake and eyeing the couloir....
Ended up being a great day!
SarahThompson - Mar 28, 2008 8:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2006
Twice including winter6/17/06 - This was my first snow climb and it was a blast! Traversed on to "Electric Pass Peak" on the gnarly, rotten ridge. The rock was falling apart and the scree was extreme. I wouldn't recommend this unless you have a lot of experience on serious junk rock and scree. It is dangerous, especially on the Cathedral side.
3/5/2016 - Climbed the standard route from winter closure at Ashcroft. Very stable, late spring-like conditions. Added on neighboring Malemute for dessert and descended back to Ashcroft via Montezuma Basin.
altitude14er - Jun 15, 2007 12:29 am Date Climbed: Jun 9, 2007
Route Climbed: South CouloirClimbed this peak w/asphazell. A great snow climb and white-knuckle down-climb. I had to face-in due to the slick snows steep grade...mucho fun.