More often than not, with projects such as this, the difficult objectives get pushed in favor of easier (relatively speaking) ones, whether due to time constraints, convenience or other circumstances. As a result, according to Ted Mahon, “suddenly you’re backed into a corner where you don’t have any choice [but to ski them].”

That’s where they found themselves, staring down the belly of the beast, the Weminuche, with three peaks left to tackle. On May 6, the crew ventured in for a multi-day trip, returning with peaks number 98 and 99 checked off, Pigeon and Turret. And with the exception of a pesky wet slab on Pigeon, the trip went without a hitch.

That left Jagged, the final piece of the puzzle.

Each of the members of the team (Strafe Outerwear co-founder Pete Gaston joined along on the Jagged objective) harped on the fact that Jagged needed every ski mountaineering skill they had to be employed.

“It just presented every challenge that you could encounter,” said Ted. “We didn’t have any ski history on it and it’s not something that skiers would look at as an aesthetic ski. We didn’t even know how to approach, there were questions of coming in from the East or one of the multiple ways from the West. How much gear do we need? What do we do about the fact that there’s no proven ski line on it?”

“All of our ski mountaineering skills learned in Colorado and throughout the world were brought to bare on Jagged Peak,” said Davenport. “It really required everything we had and was really awesome. We think it was a first descent, we’re not really publicly claiming that because, who knows, there might have been some hippy in the 70s that was there on acid and skied it, but I highly, highly doubt it.”

In the end, the final slog required three nights of camping and the longest approach of any of the other peaks, one that includes a train ride from Silverton into the wilderness. The group had to ascend the über steep couloir, stash their skis, complete the technical climb to the summit and rappel back down to their skis. All before even making one turn.

Following another night at low camp, the group made their way back to the train, cracked open those Ska Brewing beers and began a light celebration.

For those following the project, the obvious question for Davenport and the Mahons is, “what’s next?”

Davenport, reflecting on an already brilliant career, will focus his efforts on his business ventures that include Kastle Skis and Spyder, while furthering efforts to promote education through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE).

But, he deflects the notion of slowing down. “I don’t know about slowing down, I’m not even sure what that would look like. I’m still going to keep going at everything full gas, even if it’s not full gas in the mountains, it’s full gas in the industry,” he says. “I’ll continue to be a positive influence in the sport of skiing anyway that I can.”

For the Mahons, the end of this project is bittersweet. “I did feel a bit of sadness, in a way, of it being over,” explains Christy. “I don’t think we’ll ever be able to relive that in the same way.”

“There is a natural sense of ‘what now?'” explains Ted. “It feels a little empty, you know? Because when you put a lot of energy into that stuff, you get used to it.”

Rest assured, however, there’s always another project. “We were even looking at the Bicentennials and there’s definitely some super exciting ones we want to ski,” says Christy. “We were laughing at how it could be a retirement project, still out doing it when we’re 60.”

Aside from what’s next for each of the team members, the Centennial Peaks Project can still serve aspiring ski mountaineers the country and world over. There’s now intel on how to access and ski these 47 subliminal peaks, something that wasn’t previously available.

And for those aspiring to achieve feats like this, Davenport provides words of wisdom: “I spent a lot of time in my twenties and thirties getting educated, taking courses, paying my dues, getting out there with good people and learning about how to make good decisions in the mountains. I firmly believe that’s one of the reasons I’m still here today. You could still make mistakes out there, but there is no substitute for getting your hands dirty in the mountains, digging in the snow, educating yourself and having good mentors. It’s not only necessary, it’s mandatory.”

At this point in his career, the Centennial Peaks Project could be considered Davenport’s magnum opus, his greatest work. He called it “probably one of, if not my biggest accomplishment to date.” And it’s only natural that the man is reflective. “When I’m 85 years old, still skiing Snowmass and looking back on things, whether it be my adventures in Colorado or around the world, the big takeaway is the fact that I’m still here, I’m still alive,” he says. “To still be here, that means a lot, and to think about all of our lost friends, it makes me all the more respectful.”

For more on the project, visit centennialskiers.com.

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