Fossil Mountain is a remote 10,921 foot peak located deep in the central Teton Range. The Ice Cave Couloir is a short, steep and seldom skied couloir that will only be relevant to enthusiasts of the obscure. While hardly worthy of its' own mission, the "Ice Cave" made a great addition to Carl Osterburg and... Continue Reading →
Teewinot Mountain – Southeast Couloir – A Slushy Summer Mess, and A Near Fatal Miss – Grand Teton N.P. (May 2019)
The Southeast Couloir of Teewinot Mountain is an often overlooked alternative to the highly sought East Face route. Topping out at 11,600 feet on the southernmost shoulder, the 600 foot couloir starts narrow, finishes wide and maintains a steady slope angle in the mid-forty degree* range. Despite impressive views of the Grand Teton and a... Continue Reading →
Loving Life in the Amor A’ Vida Couloir – South Teton – GTNP, WY (Apr. 2018)
The Amor A' Vida Couloir is an ultra-classic Teton ski mountaineering objective on the south face of the South Teton. The full technical descent into Avalanche Canyon is nearly 3,000 feet - the first 900 on a vast and airy alpine face, and the latter 2,000 in a continuous, unique and especially aesthetic couloir.
The Moonwalk Couloir (TR, Jan. 2018), and Other West Face Lines – Peak 25 Short – Grand Teton N.P.
The Moonwalk Couloir is located on the west-north-west side of 25 Short (USGS Peak 9975') in Grand Teton National Park - a more committing and exciting alternative to the commonly skied Chute the Moon and Turkey Chute Couloirs. The line rarely (if ever) fills in from the top, requiring a mild but exposed down-climb that... Continue Reading →
Skiing the East Face of Teewinot – By the Skin of Our Teeth (03.01.20)
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 →
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.
The Unassuming Static Peak – East Face Ski Descent – Grand Teton N.P. (May 2021)
On May 19th, 2021, Drew Grasso and I set off for what is in my opinion, one of the best corn skiing runs in Grand Teton National Park. I love Static Peak, and you should too!
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.