I put this video trip report together from my descent of the Koven Couloir last week. It’s got some decent steeps footage and includes some fun Whippeted sidestepping. Here’s a little more info on the slab I mention about…if you missed it last week.
Enjoy…I think it’s a good one!
Steve,
Cool video! A few questions/observations:
1. It looks like you ski cut at the top right?
2. Appears that skiing through some of the avi debris was difficult…
3. What was the snow like? It looks like powder of some sort rather than corn. At least in the Sierra’s we would call it powder! 🙂
On another note the Snow Cloud pack you sold me is working great (after a few top pocket mods). It worked very well for my trip. Still getting the photos organized, will post this weekend I hope.
Thanks! Glad you like the pack.
1. I stomped on it a little to try and get it to go. It wasn’t really a ski cut…as the slab didn’t continue much further down the line. So on on entering the couloir…I just wanted to get in unscathed.
2. Some of the skiing was challenging. Yes.
3. Mostly dust on avy debris…mixed with icy sections where the new snow had sloughed out. I wouldn’t really call it powder…it was only and inch or two on top of mostly consolidated snow. Corny lower down.
Nice video. Seemed like an analysis of the steep skiing. Good one. Is Whippeted side stepping safer than simple sliding on the edges? I do not have whippets, so if the snow is ice, I usually slowly slide without turns and hope that I will survive 🙂
You should get a Whippet Matus.
You will find it VERY useful on the ups AND downs.
Yeah, without the Whippet, the skis would have been off and I would have down climbed with crampons. There was minimal security in the runnels as the ski edges under our boots were not in contact with the snow much of the time. The Whippet RULES!
If going gets tough, we use the ice axe…together with the ski poles (axe and pole in one hand). Probably not the best solution. However, better than nothing.
love this new style of commentary,just curiuos did that exit left go thru?
You know…when we got back down to the glacier…I was so glad to finally be skiing good snow…that I forgot to look. I think it does go through…but is very narrow.
I would think this line would be much more manageable if skied later in the day (or in winter conditions)…when the sun hits these sheltered south facing aspects. But then you might be skiing mush down low…and stuff higher up could get a little weirder.
Spicy line! I really like the narration over the music. Keep it up.
Ahh yes the Whippet… didnt Mr. McLean design that? what a badass that guy is
Yeah…he did. Check this one out.
The real deal self arrest with the Whippet while skinning…in New Zealand. I had the hardest time getting back upright with my skis on since the snow was so icy. I ended up having to pull the whippet out and take a mini slide-for-life. Luckly there wasn’t a huge crevasse below me.
Whoah, looks like it came in handy there!
On his facebook Andrew said he’s in Alaska attempting Foraker. Are you going to be posting his progress?
Where you been Collin? That was last week’s fun.
http://tetonat.staging.wpengine.com/page/2/
Pretty sure he’s home now and will post something on StraightChuter.com soon.
Apparently not geting my tetonat fix! Here I’ve been checking all this week for updates… thanks Steve!