May 18th, 2022 saw my second summit ski descent of the East Face of Teewinot Mountain. Sustained 45+ degree face skiing above terraced cliffs and a 400 foot wide upper bowl funneling through a ski-width choke characterize this extremely classic Teton ski mountaineering objective. Connor James and I took advantage of the newly cleared Lupine... Continue Reading →
Three Times The Charm – We Finally Found the Tallboy Couloir – Owen/Teewinot Cirque – GT Nat. Park, WY (04.24.22)
The Tallboy Couloir is an underground classic in the Teton steep skiing scene. 4,000 feet of fall-line vertical relief, uber-exposed entrance, 1,000 feet of sustained 50 degree skiing in a commanding, narrow and consequential upper couloir, all in the shadows of two of the Teton's finest peaks, Mount Owen and Teewinot Mountain - need I... Continue Reading →
Bobbi Chutes The Moon! – Chute The Moon Couloir, 25 Short/Peak 10,696 – Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY (04.16.22)
This weekend I had the pleasure of joining Bobbi Clemmer on her first ever... ever... couloir ski descent - and I'm happy to report she knocked the ball out of the park! Chute The Moon was the name of the game, one of the few and finest "entry-level" couloirs in the Tetons. Load the beast... Continue Reading →
A Closer Look: Reducing Congestion on the Grand Teton’s Most Popular Ski Route [opinions]
In 2015, David Gonzales wrote a popular article for POWDER Magazine titled "Is There A Better Way to Ski the Grand Teton?" - in which he discusses the perilous and increasingly pressing issue of congestion on the Grand Teton's most popular ski route, the Ford-Stettner. This article will double down on Gonzales's work, putting a... Continue Reading →
Unintentionally Rowdy – Skiing The Tallboy’s Evil Twin – Owen/Teewinot Cirque, Grand Teton Nat. Park (04.09.22)
This past weekend Carl Osterberg, Ryan Corley and I made an unintentional descent of a rarely skied line on the north side of Peak 11,840 while looking for the renowned Tallboy Couloir. The Tallboy's Evil Twin, also known as the Just Enough Couloir, begins at the saddle separating Teewinot Mountain and Peak 11,840, dropping over... Continue Reading →
First Winter Grand Teton Solo – East Face/Starr-Workman Variation, Ski Descent – Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY (03.30.22)
On March 30th, 2022 I completed my first solo climb and ski descent of the Grand Teton, with ropes used for rappel. I used the traditional Stettner & Chevy Couloirs (WI2+, steep snow) for ascent, but climbed a new (to me) variation of the Ford Couloir - the "Workman-Starr Sneak" - to access the summit... Continue Reading →
North End Recon & Beta Bomb – Eagles Rest (almost) In A Day – Waterfalls Canyon, Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY (3.16.22)
Eagles Rest Glacier? Waterfalls Glacier? I'm not sure how this thing doesn't have a name, but someone should call USGS and tell them there's a huge glacier separating the twin summits of Eagles Rest Peak, deep in the confines of Waterfalls Canyon, needing a title. Either way, first time partner Nick LaToof and I skied... Continue Reading →
Truly Magical – Knee Deep Powder in the Ellingwood Couloir – Middle Teton – Grand Teton National Park, WY (03.14.22)
According to the late great Steve Romeo, acclaimed Teton ski mountaineer and founder of TetonAT.com, "The Ellingwood Couloir on the Middle Teton is one of the most classic steep descents in the Teton Range", and if Romeo deems it a classic, I'll give it my humble blessing too. The Ellingwood is one of the very,... Continue Reading →
Randonee’ Skis, Apocalyptic Winds and Thigh Deep Powder – Red Sentinel Couloir, Grand Teton National Park, WY (03.12.22)
The Red Sentinel Couloir has become somewhat of a Teton "trade route" the past few seasons. Why has it taken me six winters to ski this iconic line? Probably the same reason I haven't skied the Apocalypse Couloir - WHO KNOWS! On March 12th, 2022 I finally tagged the beast, scoring 100% fresh tracks in... Continue Reading →
Deep Powder, Wind Slabs and Everything In-Between – Eddington Chutes – Teton Canyon, WY (02.23.2022)
The Eddington Chutes on Treasure Mountain are home to possibly the best fall line skiing on the west slope of the Tetons. After a rapid pulse of snow following 5-6 weeks of high pressure, Reed Finlay and I sought sheltered powder and thought this to be the place. Though phenomenal conditions were found up high,... Continue Reading →