{"id":421730,"date":"2016-06-23T16:14:57","date_gmt":"2016-06-23T22:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/?p=421730"},"modified":"2016-06-23T16:14:57","modified_gmt":"2016-06-23T22:14:57","slug":"tr-polaris-couloir-north-star-mountain-8-june-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/tr-polaris-couloir-north-star-mountain-8-june-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"TR: Polaris Couloir, North Star Mountain (7 June 2016)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In early June, the snow was transitioning from a spring snowpack to a summer snowpack.  East and south aspects were shedding, while north and west were holding snow quite nicely.  Still, warmer temperatures were sometimes doing unpredictable things to the snowpack.  Longer days were getting hard as they required a very early alpine start.  So, my friend Larry and I looked for something north-facing and short.  Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain proved to be the perfect choice!<\/p>\n<p>The views from Blue Lakes in the morning were gorgeous.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8566Beginning.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"505\" alt=\"View from the dam at Blue Lakes near Quandary Peak, CO. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As we headed up the valley, we passed many potential ski lines off the ridge that forms North Star Mountain.  But, we were after one of the steepest ones &#8211; Polaris Couloir.<\/p>\n<p>Booting is fun. Larry.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8614Larry.jpg\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8621Larry.jpg\" width=\"659\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><!--more READ MORE!--><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8624Larry.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We left our skis where the snow met the talus and climbed the last 150 vertical feet to the summit.  A calm and sunny day provided beautiful views from the top.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8637Views.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Views from the summit of North Star\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking down valley toward Blue Lakes and Quandary Peak.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8653Quandary.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Views from the Summit of North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mount Democrat, looking good.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8632Tweto.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" alt=\"Mount Democrat seen from North Star Mountain. \" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The skiing was great, especially for June.  Larry.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8817Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8839Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"605\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8864Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_8894Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"601\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9121Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"582\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9136Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9146Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Me.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/Northstar-Peak-045-Brittany.jpg\" width=\"688\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/Northstar-Peak-050-Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/Northstar-Peak-056-Brittany.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"751\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/Northstar-Peak-060-Brittany.jpg\" width=\"571\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Larry skiing out the apron, with Polaris Couloir behind him.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9269Larry.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"583\" alt=\"Larry Fontaine backcountry skiing Polaris Couloir on North Star Mountain.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We skied most of the way back, but had a little walking by the dam.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Northstar-Peak-069-BritWalk.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Northstar-Peak-069-BritWalk-672x800.jpg\" alt=\"Brittany Konsella backcountry skiing North Star Mountain.\" width=\"672\" height=\"800\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-421731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Northstar-Peak-069-BritWalk-672x800.jpg 672w, https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Northstar-Peak-069-BritWalk-252x300.jpg 252w, https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Northstar-Peak-069-BritWalk-768x914.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And then we saw them.  At first they looked like dogs, from afar.  But, there sure were a lot of them.  Mountain goats, right on the road.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9335Goats.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"634\" alt=\"Mountain Goats near Blue Lakes\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve never been so close to mountain goats before.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9327Goats.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"719\" alt=\"Mountain goat near Quandary Peak.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Some of them were still pretty young.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9354Goat.jpg\" width=\"800\" height=\"756\" alt=\"Mountain Goat near Quandary Peak.\" class=\"alignnone\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9368Goat.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/gallery\/Polaris_8June2016\/IMG_9368Goat.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Polaris Couloir is a great line, and easy to access, especially in late spring.  A great bang for your buck, I&#8217;d highly recommend it!<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.avantlink.com\/link.php?ml=539655&amp;p=23393&amp;pw=29053\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early June, the snow was transitioning from a spring snowpack to a summer snowpack. East and south aspects were<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-421730","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\/421730","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=421730"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":421734,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421730\/revisions\/421734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/14erskiers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}