056 | James Peak . Sky Pilot Couloir + Steamboat Marathon

This week, we're coming off the no-skiing low to bring you a sweet line I did along with Bernardo and JC off James Peak. Nick and I were shut-out that time so we made damn sure to do something actually off the summit: something steep, a bit scary, and most importantly fun, because skiing 48 degrees on top of a 100+ foot no-fall zone is just that ... fun.

Also in this installment are some pictures from Steamboat. It was my first time up there during the summer and first time since I was 7 or 8. It is absolutely gorgeous and I will definitely try to make more trips back. Only wish I had a sports car to whip around the winding roads along the way. If there's a place to check out how gripping your tires are and how well you downshift, it's here.





► Skiing recap of the week (with some awesome video):

It was Saturday, May 31st, 2008 and we're still skiing on some decent snow. I left Denver promptly at 4 AM and met up with Bernardo and JC in Golden where we drove together the remaining thirty minutes to St. Mary's Glacier. JC was driving his Jeep which was outfitted to climb rocks, so he road up the road and saved us a couple hundred of feet. Soon after 6 AM, we were on our way up.

It was another leisure climb and an incredibly perfect day: warm temps, slight breeze, and not a cloud in the sky.


The approach:




JC looking huge:




Another picture of the approach with me in the foreground and Bernardo further down:




A look at Super Star Couloir which we didn't get to do this time around but may head back this coming weekend:




JC getting close to the edge:




Bernardo and me standing in front of Shooting Star Couloir which is skiable, we just didn't know if it cliffed out at the time. Luckily, it doesn't so it's on the list of things to do:




And a look inside it:




Now let's go skiing ...


JC entering in:




My turn:




Now Bernardo:




JC and I pause just above the cliff before making our next move:




Me navigating down:




With JC leading the way:




Admiring the work:




We met a group of climbers that shot some video of us coming down which you'll see just shortly:




A look at the many options:




Now the names of the couloirs:





And the all-important video:





To view pictures in larger size, please click here and here.





► Steamboat pictures of the week:

After coming back from skiing, I drove up with Nancy to Steamboat who would be running the marathon the next day. I took the opportunity to scope out the area north of Silverthorne and find potential spring skiing lines, if not for this year, then most certainly for next.










A few sunset pictures from the hotel room's balcony:













And now some of the marathon (there was a kid race as well):









Still some snow on top of Steamboat:





A few photos along the way back home:











To view pictures in larger size, please click here.





► Quote of the week:

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson