Backcountry Ski Bucket List

[skiNEwhere]

It's filled in now and has been skied a few times this season. Good 5.5 hour trip for me though so conditions would need to be ideal to make the trip worthwhile

[jesski]

I always have issues with these classic ski descent books. Obviously the author of many of these books haven't skied all the 'classics' they have listed and Wild Snow is particularly good example. The wasatch section is somewhat laughable listing 10420 as a classic and then having like no/little route description for skiing off of timp's north peak.... its weird and always bugged me.

what's the criteria for a classic?
why does everyone list avalanche gulch as the shasta classic when hotlum-wintun and the west face (ie, cascade gulch) are far superior descents?
does classic status mean that it has to be popular? and if so, why does davenport list stimson as a classic when it has only seen a handful of descents?

This. I'm still puzzled as to what qualifies.

Agree with you on Shasta routes and many others for PNW volcanoes-- e.g., why ski the SW Chutes on Adams when it's right there next to the Avalanche Glacier HW?

[hatchgreenchile]

A few that have been on radar. I don't think any of them are necessarily trophy runs, just some areas that intrigue me and different from the usual Silver/ San Joaquin/ Tuning Fork Colorado babble . I'm ranking them low to high based on access & ability for me to scout:

1) Bear Claw on Parrys. Always in view from Winter Park. Very easy to scout and not a ridiculous walk.


2) Mica Basin - Zirkel Wilderness. No particular line here, just seems like a really cool place to set up during a big storm and shred. Some poor aspects so got to be mid-winter.


3) PICC Line - RMNP. No idea if anyone has been up there, skied it, or if its formally named (I've just called it PICC for some odd reason) . It's way up in the East Inlet, so its a 8 mile walk to the base of it, and I don't recall being able to see it clearly from the valley about 6 miles in. Just a cool looking north facing shot.

[MiddleOfNight]

incomplete list:

Cross Couloir, Mt Holy Cross
Pyramid - landry (much respect, goldenboy)
Daly Couloir
Snowmass - west into lead king
Bell Chord (again)
Sopris Laundry Chutes (again)

I haven't seen some Caucus yet either.

MMmn.

Feeling rusky.

it's 1:10. every 1 line I ski here, I see 10 more I need to. Amazing terrain, amazing people.

[Lindahl]

A buddy posted this just recently. Probably tops the all time list for me of any peak I've ever seen. Do want. Probably not as steep as it looks, but so aesthetic.

Photo credit: iskibc


Looks like this guy doesn't it?

[Soups]

^^now thats what I call a WROD

[Nevada29er]

Easy, put me down for pretty much everything Jeremy Jones has ridden.

[brutah]

A buddy posted this just recently. Probably tops the all time list for me of any peak I've ever seen. Do want. Probably not as steep as it looks, but so aesthetic.

Photo credit: iskibc

ohhhhhh that is a sexy looking peak draped in white.
do tell where she lies? I want to see more!

[tang]

Was thinking re some 2024 "objectives" and came across this thread from the past... thought worth a bump!
First, where and what is that ^^^ last post?!
Second, to further rekindle things, my current CO-oriented 2024 top 5 list (with requisite pics)...
Castle East Face - did north side this year, we were too late to drop onto the east, have a rez back at G-W hut next April

The Spider and Straight Arrow (Peak H) in Gores from Eiseman also in April... and still a long ways!


Dragons Tail - uber RMNP classic, so accessible

Sneffels Snake - climbed it 2 years ago, but too runneled/icy to ski, so must get back (and if get to SJs then trade-in or add SJ couloir, Wilson Boxcar, Wilson Coors, etc etc - so many)

Last, I've got my 5 year travel destination dream list - AK Thompson Pass, Atlas Mtns Morocco, Norway Lyngen, Chile volcanoes, Alps/Dolos. Although I prob can't get to any of these in '24 so already behind

[Shred Baron]

Sneffels Snake - climbed it 2 years ago, but too runneled/icy to ski, so must get back (and if get to SJs then trade-in or add SJ couloir, Wilson Boxcar, Wilson Coors, etc etc - so many)

The snake is on my list now. I stood atop sneffles this year after an easy skin/hike up yankee boy, since the ride was plowed to 11k, where there was still a 3 ft deep snowpack. But I was solo, so had to opt for the birthday chutes instead. I hope conditions/partners/free time align in the not too distant future.


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[enlosandes]

Adrenalina, Valle de Las Leñas, Argentina





La Horqueta, Los Molles, Argentina (horse assisted)





Sphinx, Cordova, Alaska (heli assisted)

[Trackhead]

Shishaldin…but my adventurous spirit has faded with age, so probably not

[wendigo]

was pumping out ash when i was out that way in august.
would be cool to ski (and some real cool kayaking in the area too) but may want to wait for it to stop erupting, or slow way down a bit.

[Trackhead]

was pumping out ash when i was out that way in august.
would be cool to ski (and some real cool kayaking in the area too) but may want to wait for it to stop erupting, or slow way down a bit.

Yup, flew over it on my way to Adak a few years ago on a clear day. I’ve had my eye on that for 25 years. But alas, interest has faded.

[caderader]

Glacier Peak is on my list. I lived up at Lake Wenatchee one summer and Glacier was so cool, imposing but secretive, hidden deep within a lot of other peaks.

https://cascadecrusades.org/SkiMount...ateglacier.htm


http://www.alpenglow.org/skiing/glacier-2007/index.html

[DougFromCO]

My end goal for this year is to take the intro to mountaineering course with CMS and ski Dragons Tail here in RMNP. Hoping to find someone to do it with me to tend the season as nobody from my group is at a high enough level.

[riff]

Glacier is worthy


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[DougFromCO]

If anyone is looking to spend some time in RMNP and needs a parter, let me know!

[ate'em]

Top 5 I've skied-
Crater Lake rim to beach, climb back out - looking down into the crystal clear water
Alagna Valsesia 7000' vertical run to town - massive line, stone shepherd huts
Spine walls above Cordova via heli - so good
Mt Shasta avalanche gulch - huge volcano
Deep Creek, Raggeds Wilderness - wolverine tracks and solitude


Still Wish-
Mt Superior, Wasatch
Mount Lamborn, West Elks
Adams SE colouir, Cascades
Mount Locke, Sierras
Skillet Colouir, Tetons

Fun times thinking about all the lines over all the years.

[tang]

^^^ Doug, feel free to ping me re Rmnp as we get closer. I get up there a decent bit. And also have DT on my list, a classic for sure

[lazyasian]

Top 5 I've skied-
Crater Lake rim to beach, climb back out - looking down into the crystal clear water
Alagna Valsesia 7000' vertical run to town - massive line, stone shepherd huts
Spine walls above Cordova via heli - so good
Mt Shasta avalanche gulch - huge volcano
Deep Creek, Raggeds Wilderness - wolverine tracks and solitude


Still Wish-
Mt Superior, Wasatch
Mount Lamborn, West Elks
Adams SE colouir, Cascades
Mount Locke, Sierras
Skillet Colouir, Tetons

Fun times thinking about all the lines over all the years.

How'd you go about poaching Crater Lake? Looks like tons of cool lines in there, but my understating was that it's all off limits?


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[ate'em]

How'd you go about poaching Crater Lake? Looks like tons of cool lines in there, but my understating was that it's all off limits?


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Just go. I dropped in down the prominent ramp just across from the visitor center, IIRC. It's way more for the setting and scenery, though the line I took was a nice consistent pitch all the way to the water, with nice spring snow on it. Some tourists saw me go, and I didn't look back.

It was so beautiful that I really didn't care about the consequences when I climbed back out. Turned out, nobody cared. Highly recommend.

[V.R.P]

^^^ Doug, feel free to ping me re Rmnp as we get closer. I get up there a decent bit. And also have DT on my list, a classic for sure

Tang and Doug, add me to your potential partners list for RMNP. Used to ski in the park a lot before moving away for a bit. Have skied DT, Lambs, Dutchman, and Elevator Shaft. I’d like to ski DT again at some point. I have Dragon’s Egg high on the list as well as exploring more in Wild Basin and Lawn Lake areas.

[Jeb McHardman]

It's fun to think of this question in two parts: what are the most classic lines you've skied from a) an aesthetic and/or difficulty perspective and b) best conditions and/or overall experience. Obviously somewhat arbitrary divisions, but it results in two pretty different lists for me.

Most aesthetic/difficult:
Gibraltar Chute (Tahoma)
Tahoma Glacier (Tahoma)
East Face and Southeast Ridge (Little Tahoma)
Glider Chute (Ebbetts Pass)
Northeast Couloir (Mount Langley)

Best conditions/most fun:
Northeast Couloir (Mount Langley)
Rattlesnake Range Traverse, including Mosquito and Stuart Peaks (Montana)
The Lake Run (Donner Pass)
North Face (Pyramid Peak, Desolation Wilderness)
Hotlum-Wintun (Shasta)

Some photos:
Lake Run


Pyramid

Glider Chute


Gib Chute



Tahoma Glacier


Little T


Mosquito Peak



Langley

[raisingarizona13]

I no longer have a bc bucket list but my bucket ski list does have the closing day party at Aspen Highlands on it as well as an on mountain disco party somewhere in the Alps. That is all. Carry on.