Saint Sophia Ridge
Date: 06/21/2025
Partner: J Weingast, Kristi Henes
Trailhead: Governor Basin
Distance: 5m
Elevation: 2900ft
Duration: 8.5hrs
Summits:
* Saint Sophia Ridge (5.6)
* Mendota Peak
Saint Sophia Ridge 14ers.com Page
Mendota 14ers.com Page
It always feels good to combine climbing and skiing into a single outing. Although we were reaching a bit on the ski component this time, we still got in some good turns on Mendota after climbing Saint Sophia's fun 5.6 tower. The views weren't too shabby either... what an incredible place to be and its not far from town.
We weren't sure what to expect high on Saint Sophia so we brought BD Cams .5, .75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 but never placed the 5. We also had ice screws and a set of nuts, but didn't use them. 4 slings and 2 double slings which we used here and there. Webbing was in ok condition, but bringing extra always is a good plan.
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5m - 2900ft - 8.5hrs
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We brought BD Cams .5, .75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 but never placed the 5. We also had a set of nuts, but didn't use them. 4 slings and 2 double slings which we used here and there. Webbing was in ok condition, but bringing extra always is a good plan
![Saint sophia 03]()
Starting into Governors... just a year earlier we skied this pitch with plenty of snow. Hmmm... are skis the right call?
![Saint sophia 04]()
J taking the skis for a walk with Potosi behind
![Saint sophia 05]()
Doesn't look like we are going to get much skiing off of Saint Sophia... might have to add some extra credit to make it worth while
![Saint sophia 06]()
![Saint sophia 07]()
Eyeballing Saint Sophia's high point as we ascend into the basin
![Saint sophia 08]()
Up a short steep pitch
![Saint sophia 09]()
![Saint sophia 10]()
We would soon drop our skis
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There she is... only choss between us and the base of the tower
![Saint sophia 12]()
We roped up and climbed some steep loose terrain. We weren't sure what was above us so probably a good call. We waited to put on our climbing shoes
![Saint sophia 13]()
I think some Druids live here... a cool feature on the north ridge of T5
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J takes the lead
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![Saint sophia 16]()
Nice work!
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Summit party... Saint Sophie's small summit is rad... three was the magic number
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Views across Governor Basin to T5
![Saint sophia 19]()
Looking northwest across the rugged summit ridge to Emma
![Saint sophia 20]()
Sneffels and Kismet majestic as always
![Saint sophia 21]()
Northeast views across Governor Basin to Potosi
![Saint sophia 22]()
Time to come down
![Saint sophia 23]()
We descended a slightly different route than we climbed. Using the rope as a hand line we negotiated some extremely chossy terrain. While it was nice to be on the rope it was also challenging to manage it in the choss
![Saint sophia 24]()
J rapping the chossy section
![Saint sophia 25]()
Ok... let's find something to ski!
![Saint sophia 26]()
After descending a few hundred feet we ended up finding some soft snow
![Saint sophia 27]()
J getting it going below Saint Sophia Ridge
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All smiles... but it wasn't enough
![Saint sophia 30]()
J and I decided to traverse the basin, tag Mendota and ski about 1000ft of corn. Kristi headed back to the car
![Saint sophia 31]()
Looking ahead to our traverse and the snow we would soon be skiing
![Saint sophia 32]()
Soft sun cups
![Saint sophia 33]()
![Saint sophia 34a]()
J and I on Mendota's summit with Sneffels, Gilpin and Emma behind
![Saint sophia 35]()
Dallas sure is a chonker... always looks a little tilted as well
![Saint sophia 36]()
Time to ski
![Saint sophia 37]()
Soft and fun
![Saint sophia 38]()
![Saint sophia 39]()
![Saint sophia 40]()
Not too shabby... multi sport days just hit right!
![Saint sophia 41]()
Although not quite a 13er, Stony Mountain (south face) is a center piece between Governor's and Yankee Boy. It also offers some rad skiing on the south and north aspects. Checkout how much higher Coffee Pot and Teakettle are off to the right
