On April 24th Reed and I got denied in Mount Wister's Chockstone Couloir, more commonly known as the Northwest Couloir, attempting a top-down ski descent. Useful for the next descentionist?
Solo in Quartzite Canyon – North Face Couloir, Peak 10,686 – GTNP, WY (04.22.23)
The North Face of Peak 10,686 is home to one of the most striking ski mountaineering lines north of Mount Moran. A beautiful, meditative, solo day in the north end.
Laying Low – North Couloir of Leek’s Peak (10,333′) – GTNP, WY (04.16.23)
On Sunday April 16th I reconnected with Reed Finlay for an interesting powder redemption tick in Colter Canyon, the surprisingly exciting North Couloir of Leek's Peak.
Socked In – NE Snowfields Attempt, Diagonal Couloir Success – Mount Owen, GTNP (04.12.23)
On Wednesday April 12th, Connor James and I got caught in a storm atop Mount Owen's Northeast Snowfields. We down-climbed the lower East Ridge and made a successful ski descent, my second and partner's first, of the Diagonal Couloir into Cascade Canyon.
Chasing Winter in the Black Hole Couloir – Eagles Rest Peak – GTNP, WY (04.08.23)
The Black Hole Couloir is a 2,500 foot snake-like, and quite narrow, couloir on the north aspect of Eagles Rest Peak in Waterfalls Canyon. A long approach is rewarded with a truly unique Teton descent. Bonus recon shots of Darkness Falls.
Lake Louise Ice Gully (WI3-4, II) – Wind River Range, Fitzpatrick Wilderness, WY (03.25.23)
On March 25th Liam Wylie and I connected for a quick lap in the Lake Louise Ice Gully - my second time climbing this classic and aesthetic four-pitch moderate outside Dubois, WY. Spoiler alert, Liam racked up his first lead!
50 Degrees in The Overlooked Couloir – Nez Perce, GTNP, WY (03.19.23)
The Overlooked Couloir is the lower NW Couloir on Nez Perce, topping out a few hundred feet above the East/West Hourglass's and sporting a sustained 50 degree slope for over 400 feet, above a cliff with a low crux - no falls accepted - an interesting consolation prize, and first personal descent, in the South Fork of Garnet Canyon.
Dike Snowfield & Peak 11,751′ (East Prong SE Face) – A Link-Up – GTNP, WY (03.18.23)
On Saturday I enjoyed a Garnet Canyon/Glacial Gulch link-up, skiing the Dike Snowfield to Teton Glacier, climbing to the Tallboy Col and eventually skiing the rarely descended SE face of Peak 11,751 (East summit of the East Prong). Both descents were personal firsts, a great day in the hills.
West Glass Rando – Bottomless in the West Hourglass Couloir – Nez Perce – GTNP, WY (03.08.23)
The West Hourglass Couloir begins at 11,400 feet on the West Ridge of Nez Perce, averaging about 1,000 feet of 40 degree fall-line couloir skiing with a 50 degree crux, and an even longer runout. In full, the line is quite simply 2,200 feet of Teton bliss, an absolute classic Teton powder descent. The striking... Continue Reading →
Ovisight (WI6, IV) – South Fork Daze 4 – Cody, WY (02.2023)
Fully visible from South Fork Road, Ovisight is a three pitch WI6 climb of grand proportions, dominating the upper reaches of the Legg Creek drainage with a triad of impressive free-standing pillars, all WI5 or harder.