Teton Link-up

The iconic Grand TetonSuccessful ski mountaineering outings are born from a combination of planning, conditions, the right partners and technical ability. A ski descent link-up of the Grand, Middle and South Tetons has been on my radar since I first heard of Jimmy Chin completing it a few years ago. He was not the first, however, as local legends Mark Newcomb and Stephen Koch successfully climbed and skied all three peaks several years before that. The stars aligned and we got it done last Saturday.

Click to read more ...

Buck North Face Trilogy

L to R - Bubblefun, Newc, Northwest Couloirs - Photo: Lansworth Johnson

Here is a trip report on a recent trip in the Tetons. My crude attempt at a video is at the bottom for those who can't handle my story telling. Enjoy.

Like any ski mountaineer, I have a list of objectives to ski in the Tetons. The North Face of Buck Mountain holds two of the more compelling lines in range, the Newc and Bubblefun Couloirs. Seen from the north, any skier's eyes are immediately drawn to them.

Click to read more ...

Desolation Wilderness Tour

Corn o'plenty, Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, CA.Once in a while, it's nice to get out of town and travel to other ranges to be reminded just how sweet the Tetons are. My wife and I traveled to Northern California last week for both business and a holiday. I skied in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada early on the trip and we rode our bikes a lot in Sonoma County toward the end. In between was a three day stop in Carson City/Lake Tahoe to ride and ski there.

Click to read more ...

Terminal Cancer Couloir

Terminal Cancer CouloirTerminal Cancer Couloir. The first time I saw a picture of this ski line I couldn't look away. It's one of the most striking runs anywhere. I wasted an hour googling it and watching YouTube videos. Terminal Cancer quickly rose to the top of my hit list.

Click to read more ...

Big Day On Prospector Mountain

Dina high in the Vee CouloirThere's a life time of steep ski lines in the Tetons. Some are easier to get to than others. Many are on every backcountry skier's hit list and see frequent descents while others never come up on the radar for one reason or another. After skiing one of the more obvious gems in the range, the Apocalypse Couloir on the north side of Prospector Mountain, a couple of weeks ago another line in the same area came up in conversation. The Vee Couloir is one of those runs I have heard little about over the years. Steve Romeo at TetonAT.com posted a picture of it a few years ago during one of his "Name that Couloir" posts. I hadn't thought of it since.

Click to read more ...