{"id":413249,"date":"2015-04-19T21:59:45","date_gmt":"2015-04-20T03:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/?p=413249"},"modified":"2015-06-24T03:34:21","modified_gmt":"2015-06-24T09:34:21","slug":"tr-grizzly-couloir-10-april-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/tr-grizzly-couloir-10-april-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"TR: Grizzly Couloir (10 April 2015)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After descending the <a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2014\/12\/14er-tt-torreys-peak-14-may-2006\/\" target=\"_blank\">Emperor on Torreys<\/a>, completing my 2nd fourteener ski descent, I stood on the Grizzly Gulch road and giggled in excitement of what my fourteener project held in store for me.  Then, my smiling eyes looked upward and gazed upon the grace of the Grizzly Couloir.  I vowed to ski it some day.  But, my focus remained on completing my fourteener project.  So, the Grizzly Couloir would have to wait.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/004grizzlypose.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"688\" alt=\"Grizzly Peak and Grizzly couloir\" class \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frank &#038; Brittany pose with Grizzly Peak and the Grizzly Couloir behind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That was nearly 9 years ago &#8211; before I skied 52 more fourteeners, before I even met Frank, and before I moved to Crested Butte.  During that time, the Grizzly Couloir still stood there, waiting.  It was time to get it done.<\/p>\n<p>Frank and I met up with Summit County local Gary Fondl, on our way for yet another adventure.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7572apron.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"611\" alt=\"Backcountry skiing on Grizzly Couloir\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As you can see in the previous photo, Grizzly couloir is guarded by a massive cornice. I am told that there are sneak arounds some years, and plenty of options for ascending Grizzly Peak.  But rather than having to navigate around the cornice, we opted to climb below the cornice, planning to stop just below it to transition for our ski. The climb was fun.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/012frankclimb.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Climbing Grizzly Couloir to go backcountry skiing.  \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><!--more READ MORE!--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7582climbing.jpg\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Frank Konsella and Gary Fondl climbing Grizzly couloir to go backcountry skiing. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Admittedly, transitioning for a ski on a fairly steep slope with a cornice hovering above you is a bit unnerving.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_0548gettingready.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" alt=\"Getting ready for backcountry skiing on Grizzly Couloir. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But, a few inches of fresh made for a great ski.  Frank.<br \/>\n<figure style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7670frankwithtuningforks.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing on Grizzly Peak.  \" class \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frank Konsella descending the top of the Grizzly Couloir with Torreys&#8217; Tuning Forks behind.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_8023frank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"629\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_8067frank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"551\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/028frank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/024frank.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_8069frankpow.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"504\" alt=\"Frank Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Gary.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7608gary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7629gary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7821gary.jpg\" width=\"657\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7832gary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"636\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7875gary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_7879gary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"591\" alt=\"Gary Fondl backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_0667brit.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"578\" alt=\"Brittany Walker Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Couloir. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_0670brit.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"571\" alt=\"Brittany Walker Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_0675brit.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"595\" alt=\"Brittany Walker Konsella backcountry skiing Grizzly Peak Couloir.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What a fun ski!<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/grizzlypeak_10april2015\/IMG_0685britwithgrizzly.jpg\" width=\"650\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Walker Konsella with Grizzly Couloir on Grizzly Peak. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But, there was still time left in the day&#8230;  On to the Tuning Forks on the neighboring Torreys!  Check back tomorrow for the full report of our fantastic sunset ski on Torreys!<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>On days like this, we are thankful to have our CAMP XLC 390 crampons!<br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"http:\/\/www.avantlink.com\/product_ad_widget\/paw.php?pawid=102554&amp;pw=29053&amp;output=js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After descending the Emperor on Torreys, completing my 2nd fourteener ski descent, I stood on the Grizzly Gulch road and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":413283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-413249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backcountry-skiing","category-front-range"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413249"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":413412,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/413249\/revisions\/413412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/413283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=413249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=413249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}