Mt. Huron
![Summit with the Three Apostles to the southwest.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_7112-1024x536.jpg)
Summit with the Three Apostles to the southwest.
Peak #5: January 28, 2016
Elevation: 14,003’
Ski Route: Northeast Slopes
Roundtrip Mileage and Skiable Vertical: 5,200′, 19mi, Summer Trailhead then back down road for 7 miles below Winfield.
Ski Partners: Jared Kedrowski
- Start Time: 9:00 AM
- Reached Summit: 2:00 PM
- End Time: 5:00 PM
![](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_6965.jpg)
Jared turning around and breaking some trail.
Jared pulled me to Summer trailhead on snowmobile. Then I soloed from 9am-2pm up unconsolidated powder and 1ft of depth hoar w 2 ft of powder. Summit 2pm, then skied down and made it 9 miles past Winfield to car on road back to car by 5pm. Long day!
![About as isolated on a 14er as you can get in winter.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_6996.jpg)
About as isolated on a 14er as you can get in winter.
Huron was an adventure. A clear and calm Colorado winter day to a tucked away corner of the Sawatch. It’s true that in Calendar winter, Huron sees probably less than 10 people per season. I know for sure I was likely the first person to climb in during 2016 this particular year.
![Summer Trail with nobody else around.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_6968-300x225.jpg)
Summer Trail with nobody else around.
My brother Jared was generous to follow me to the end of the dirt road about 7 miles from Winfield where we unloaded his snowmobile and I had a fun ride up to Winfield. He pulled me with a rope on his Sled and by 830 we were up at the summer trailhead. From here my brother forged ahead a bit to explore a good way to ascend the north slopes to timberline.
The snow here was about 3 feet deep. It was 2 feet of powder and then a bottom layer of depth hoar. As it turned out, we could go no further on the snowmobile, so I said goodbye to Jared and startd to break trail though the woods. It was tough! I would sink in the powder then break through the hoar layer below.
![Three Apostles in the distance after reaching timberline.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_7120.jpg)
Three Apostles in the distance after reaching timberline.
After a couple hours of this I only made it about a mile, but finally broke out to timberline. The peak was in front of me and so I ascended gentle slopes to the ridgeline. The day was gorgeous with endless views including the Apostles in the distance.
![](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_6990.jpg)
Heading towards the peak, I skinned up the ramp fem left to right to gain the ridge.
The summit ridge was quite windblown. Originally I was going to try the Southeast face of the peak, but had to opt for skiing down the way I came up instead.
![Nearing the Summit, the ridge was loaded!](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_7025.jpg)
Nearing the Summit, the ridge was loaded!
After an hour on the summit I dropped in in perfect conditions and made my way back down the basin towards the Huron Summer Trailhead.
![Summit shot.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GOPR4661.jpg)
Summit shot.
![Northeast aspect was great to make turns with nobody around.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/GOPR4669.jpg)
Northeast aspect was great to make turns with nobody around.
It felt good to have #5 all done.
![Heading back down to the summer Trailhead to the road and the snowmobile trail.](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_7092.jpg)
Heading back down to the summer Trailhead to the road and the snowmobile trail.
But once I reached the summer trailhead I had a nice long 10 mile journey following my brothers snowmobile tracks to get back to my car. The way to Winfield was downhill, so I got back there around 3pm.
![Winfield with 7 miles to skate still!](http://skiing14ers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_7100.jpg)
Winfield with 7 miles to skate still!
After an hour and a half skate down the main road on rolling hills for 7 miles, I was back to my Car and headed home before dark, no problem!
On to the San Juans!
Dr. Jon