TR: Shit for Brains Couloir (16 April 2015)

(Last Updated On: April 26, 2015)

I didn’t name it. But, undoubtedly the name is comical. It gave my friend Alex a good chuckle when I proposed skiing this line to her a few days before – a line I’d been wanting to ski for 10 years.

Shit for Brains Couloir stands proudly over Arapahoe Basin ski area. Tucked away on Black Mountain, it’s actually a bit unassuming. It’s hard to even tell there’s a couloir there. It’s not until you view it from further away from other peaks in Summit County does it truly become a striking couloir to ski.

It was a trip that had been in the works for awhile – a girls’ trip. But, working around one another’s schedules and the weather was proving difficult. A tentative spring camping trip in Silverton was transformed when a storm was forecast for the whole state. Instead of hoping for sun and corn, we instead rearranged our trip in search of pow. Summit County seemed like it was going to get a good dumping from the system. But, Thursday looked like the “day-before-the-real-storm-that-would-only-snow-a-few-inches”. At least, that’s what I’d hoped. And we couldn’t have been more spot-on.

When we got out of the car to get ready for our Shit for Brains ski day an gust of wind hit full force, blowing snow all around us and piling flake into the car. I thought to myself, “Is this a good idea? Should we just give up now?” But, I was hoping the couloir would protect us from the NW wind. Susan and Alex still seemed into it, so we made our way up the slopes. Thank goodness for committed friends.

Still the skin up toward Black had some un-fun moments.
Skinning toward Black Mountain.

The apron was full of debris from warming earlier in the week.
Skinning up the apron toward Shit for Brains Couloir.

Even though it was windy and cloudy, the couloir was balmy and protected from the wind. The boot up was pretty fun. Alex & Susan:
Alex Riedman & Susan Mol climbing Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol climbing Shit for Brains Couloir.

Susan Mol & Alex Riedman climbing Shti for Brains Couloir.

Alex taking the lead.
Alex Riedman climbing Shit for Brains Couloir.

Alex got a couple of great shots of me climbing.
Brittany Konsella climbing Shit for Brains Couloir.

Brittany Konsella climbing Shit for Brains Couloir.

Shit for Brains Couloir looked creamy and good from the top. We were excited to drop in.
Shit for Brains Couloir from the top.

And the skiing was pretty good. Alex.
Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex Riedman skiing Shit for Brains Couloir.

Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex getting her jump turns on.
Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan.
Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Susan Mol backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Me.
Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

Alex taking it out to the exit.
Alex Riedman backcountry skiing on Shit for Brains Couloir

We enjoyed some milky turns on the apron.
Skiing apron on Shit for Brains

On the way down, we stopped to search for my GPS which I’d realized had fallen out of my pocket. We were fairly certain I lost it at treeline or in the apron. After nearly two hours of searching, we were unable to find it. So, it still remains on the mountain. It is a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSX. If anyone locates it, please let me know 🙂

We enjoyed some extra credit pow turns through a meadow in the trees on the way out. Alex.
Alex Riedman backcountry skiing.

Despite losing the GPS, it was a fantastic day out. Our timing for the Shit for Brains Couloir was great and we had some fantastic ski conditions. I’m so proud of my badass babes for rallying 🙂


Alex & I rock with Patagonia. Find it on sale now:

Brittany Walker Konsella

Aside from skiing, biking, and all outdoorsy things,Brittany Walker Konsella also loves smiles and chocolate 🙂 Even though she excels at higher level math and chemistry, she still confuses left from right. Find out more about Brittany!

Summary
TR: Shit for Brains Couloir (16 April 2015)
Article Name
TR: Shit for Brains Couloir (16 April 2015)
Description
A ladies day of ski mountaineering on Shit for Brains Couloir in excellent spring conditions!
Author

Brittany Walker Konsella

Aside from skiing, biking, and all outdoorsy things, Brittany Walker Konsella also loves smiles and chocolate :) Even though she excels at higher level math and chemistry, she still confuses left from right. Find out more about Brittany!

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