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Backcountry Skiing

Backcountry SkiingFourteenersFront Range
Brittany Walker Konsella

TR: Late Season Lines – The Emperor Couloir on Torreys (26 June 2019)

Torreys was the second fourteener that I skied during my fourteener skiing project. I skied it back in 2006 and was lucky to have descended the luscious Emperor Couloir. You can catch a glimpse of this iconic line for just a couple of seconds as you travel down I-70. This line is respectably steep, aesthetic, long, and fun. It has all the makings that a classic ski route should have. Yet, Dead Dog seems to get more love. But I love the Emperor much better.
Backcountry skiing the Emperor Couloir on Torreys Peak

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Backcountry SkiingCrested Butte
Brittany Walker Konsella

Mount Richmond Ski (20 June 2019)

Frank and I were looking to ski something in the Crested Butte area. Admittedly, after skiing here for so many years, sometimes it’s hard to find things to ski that keep us interested. But, I suggested Mount Richmond – a peak that I had never skied, and Frank had an idea for a different line on it which would be new to him as well – it seemed like a great option. Mount Richmond lies the shadows of nearby Augusta Mountain and Mineral Point. Seemingly unassuming from afar, Mount Richmond, actually has some fun steep backcountry ski descents!

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Backcountry SkiingFront Range
Brittany Walker Konsella

Mount Guyot Ski – Swan Dive (14 June 2019)

Chances are, if you’re a backcountry skier who spots inticing lines, you’ve spotted Mount Guyot’s south face from US 285 as you pass near Fairplay. From this viewpoint, the modest 13,370 foot peak commands the skyline, and begs to be skied. The south face requires just the right conditions to be skied, and is not always “in”. But, the hidden behind on the north side of the mountain lies more moderate and ski-friendly terrain. The most popular of these is the Swan Dive, a northeast facing gully that plunges into the Swan River below.

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Backcountry Skiing
Frank Konsella

TR: Independence Mountain 6.1.19

Still, we had time to drop in the East bowl, which had the best corn snow we had skied in years. Lately, it seems like corn snow barely exists- we get dust, or rain, or the temps get too hot, too fast. But not this day- we had effortless skiing. We made our way back to the summit, where the more North-facing bowls were just beginning to turn “ripe” with the corn harvest.

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Backcountry Skiing
Brittany Walker Konsella

Cronin Peak (8 June 2019)

Back then, maps called it 13,870′. Others called it “North Carbonate”. But, the Department of Interior actually officially named it Cronin Peak in May, 2005. Still, it took a handful of years for the name to really take hold. The new official name for this peak is to honor Mary Cronin, who became the first woman to climb all the fourteen-thousand foot peaks in Colorado, in 1921. After learning this, I wanted to climb this peak even more.

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Backcountry SkiingFeaturedWyoming
Brittany Walker Konsella

Mt. Moran Skillet Ski – My Bucket List (5 May 2019)

Really, the best time to ski the Skillet is early to mid-May. But, Jackson Lake is not frozen enough to cross, and not thawed enough to row. But, as I mulled over the idea of the Skillet with our friend Hans, I learned something new. Hans had moved to Jackson from Colorado in 2014, but we knew him from skiing in Colorado. He told me that he thought Mt. Moran could be approached from the String Lake Trailhead via Leigh Lake Trail, and that the road to String Lake opened up on May 1st. He hadn’t known anyone who had done it. But, looking on a map, it seemed easy enough – a 5 mile, mostly flat, approach to the bottom of the route and then a 5500 vertical foot climb from there. This would be a long one, but I’ve done longer, harder, steeper routes with greater vertical before. Avoiding Jackson Lake seemed like the way to go.

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