Rising a staggering 6,000 feet directly from the foothills of Grand Teton National Park, the East Face of Teewinot Mountain is a prized ski mountaineering descent sought far and wide. Instead of the usual Teton technical couloir shenanigans, the East Face resembles primetime descents in the Montana Rockies and High Sierra - steep bowl skiing... Continue Reading →
The Undercover Giant – Skiing the East Face of Mount Wister (Feb. 2020)
During a high pressure cycle in late February 2020, Sam Johnson and I set our sights to Mount Wister, the criminally overlooked 11,455 foot giant lurking deep in the heart of Avalanche Canyon, Grand Teton National Park. The East Face is the peak's test-piece descent, requiring a long (for the Tetons) approach and several hundred... Continue Reading →
Knee Deep on Nez Perce – The Sliver and East Hourglass Couloirs (Mar. 2019)
On a bitterly cold March 2019 morning, John Walker and I set off to attempt the "Nez Perce Trifecta" - skiing the Sliver, East Hourglass and West Hourglass Couloirs in a single push - a Teton ski mountaineering classic. We didn't quite hit the mark. High winds, deep snow and sub-zero temperatures pushed us towards... Continue Reading →
The Deadliest Route in the Tetons – East Face of Teewinot Mountain – Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY (08.2021)
The East Face of Teewinot Mountain is the deadliest route in Grand Teton National Park. But why? After my third lap on the 12,326 foot beauty, I believe I have a good idea. This article doubles as both a trip report and a discussion of "mountaineering in the information era" - a.k.a. 2021
A South Garnet Ski Traverse… In June – Cloudveil Dome, S. Teton, Peak 12,295, Cave Couloir – Grand Teton N.P. (06.2021)
June 11th was likely my last ski day of the 2021 season. Andrew Grasso and I teamed up for a traverse of Cloudveil Dome, the South Teton and a few couloirs/peaks in between - savoring the last scraps of winter.
Teton Tested – Icelantic Natural 101 – The Ski Mountaineer’s Quiver Killer
The Natural 101 from Icelantic Skis is the ski mountaineer's quiver killer. Light enough to climb the Grand Teton and tackle multi-peak traverses, but burly enough to dispatch thin couloirs, bushy June exits and rocky October strike missions, this ski can handle quite literally anything. The Natural 101 on a May ski mission to Static... Continue Reading →
Three Shades (and Ski Descents) of Buck Mountain – East Face – Grand Teton Nat. Park, WY
3 descents - 3 seasons - 3 sets of beta - 3 stories. If you are eyeing up this Teton classic, here's the skinny - From powder to ice, "cornslush" and beyond.
A Grand Attempt – “The Art of the Turn Around” – The Grand Teton and Nez Perce’s West Hourglass Couloir – Grand Teton N.P. (May 2021)
On May 9th 2021, Carl Osterburg and I attempted to ski the Grand Teton. Faced with dangerous conditions, we decided to turn around. This decision could have saved our lives.
The Skillet – Mount Moran – Last of the “Big Seven” – Grand Teton N.P. (03.2021)
Mount Moran's Skillet Glacier is not only a "50 Classic Ski Descent" of North America, but also marks the end of my three year journey to ski all the skyline peaks of the Teton Range.
Mount Owen – A Winter Summit and Ski Descent – Koven Route (5.3), Southeast Face and Diagonal Couloir – Grand Teton N.P. (03.02.21)
On March 5th 2021, Sam Johnson and I had one of our wildest ski mountaineering experiences on Mount Owen, the second tallest peak of the Teton Range, which sees very few winter ascents.