On June 8th, 2022, Carl Osterburg and I skied the Grand Teton via the traditional "Ford-Stettner Couloir" Route. This was Carl's first and my fourth Grand Teton ski descent, a mission propelled by one sole purpose, enjoying a final day in the mountains with my best Teton friend before he packs up and moves to Minnesota. Can you think of a better sendoff? I can't, because there isn't one.
A Winter of Gratitude – 2022 Ski Recap, Five Things I Learned and My Favorite Photos (2022)
The winter of 2021/22 was far and above my best yet. I skied more steep lines in the Tetons, with a wider array of partners, than I have in the past three seasons combined, and was left with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Corn on the East Face! – Teewinot Mountain, GT Nat. Park (05.18.2022)
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 →
It’s a War Zone – Late Season Powder in the V Couloir – Prospectors Mountain – GT Nat. Park, WY (04.28.22)
The V Couloir is a lesser skied 1,000 foot technical couloir on the north side of Prospectors Mountain. Mid-fifty degree skiing above exposure, a mid-run ice fall and likewise rappel, and notorious overhead danger characterize this exceptionally scenic yet serious ski mountaineering descent. On April 28th Connor James and I tackled the beast in iffy... 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 →
Rainy Couloir Stoke – Skywalk and Chuter Buck Couloirs – 25 Short/Avalanche Cyn. – GT Nat. Park, WY (04.21.22)
The Skywalk Couloir is a seldom skied and deceptively steep 500 foot technical couloir on the west side of Peak 25 Short, just left of the popular Moonwalk Couloir. Chuter Buck is a striking 800 foot technical couloir diving north from the bench beneath Buck Mountain and Peak 10,696. After scoring the MoonWALK Couloir in... Continue Reading →
April Powder in the Moonwalk Couloir – 25 Short – Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY (04.20.22)
Today I had the pleasure of skiing the Moonwalk Couloir with Reed Finlay and Brian Ladd. Instead of a full beta bomb, this will be a quickie with a few photos, mostly for a conditions update. For a deep dive into the Moonwalk Couloir, click here. Peak 10,696 viewed from the ridge of 25 Short.... 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 →