Mount Saint Elias

**philippeR** · 09-05-2007, 02:05 AM

Axel Naglich and Peter Ressmann from Kitzbühel have climbed then skied down Mount St. Elias, AK.
http://www.redbull.com/axelnaglich
"Compared to Mount St. Elias, peaks even as high as Mount Everest might appear as dwarves. Even though it is only “5,489“ metres high, Mount St. Elias has an immense vertical relief as it rises from the sea level. Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world (8,848 metres) but it is only about 3,500 metres above the surrounding Tibetan highlands."

A video on Skipass.

**Incompetent Boob** · 09-05-2007, 03:12 AM

What balls. Do they have specially tailored ski pants?

**Hicks** · 09-05-2007, 03:42 AM

Axel Naglich is a badass for sure. His resume of accomplished first descents is absolutely impressive.

**BFD** · 09-05-2007, 10:06 AM

They may be bad ass skiers but to bad they did it in such poor style.

**cj001f** · 09-05-2007, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by BFD

They may be bad ass skiers but to bad they did it in such poor style.

what makes their style so poor, aside from them not being Alaskan?

**BFD** · 09-05-2007, 10:16 AM

to start, getting shuttled up the mountain by super cub. I think good style would be Duke of Abruzzi style. Start at sea level and climb. These guys brought just as much crap but included a plane to haul it for them.

**Trackhead** · 09-05-2007, 10:43 AM

From Lou's blog,

Andrew wrote.......

The diary is enlightening. On May 20th, after being dropped off by plane at the 10,000′ Haydon Shoulder, they skied to the water, where they were picked up by a plane and flown back to camp. Sounds like high altitude heli skiing to me.

Then, two months later, they were again dropped off at the 10,000′ Haydon Shoulder, where with the assistance of two mountain guides, they climbed to the summit over two days, then skied back to Haydon Saddle where they were picked up and flown back to the Ultima Thule Lodge. Four days, round trip, to “climb” St. Elias.

Descents like this are a travesty.

Yeah, they did some nice skiing, but in what kind of style. Seige tactics? Reversed descent?

**cj001f** · 09-05-2007, 11:15 AM

not as silly as being stuck behind a computer arguing ethics

**Sutter** · 09-05-2007, 11:17 AM

Mount St. Elias — Record for Vert in One Ski Run? And Who Did the First Ski Descent?

Update: Well, apologies to all for my getting caught in the spray of rosy bull coming from the Red Bull website. Lorne Glick got in touch with me and jogged my memory. Sure enough he, along with James Bracken and Andy Ward, did the first ski descent of Mount St. Elias back in 2000, along with a second ascent of the Mira Face route (somewhat the source for the name Andrew and Polly McLean picked for their new child.) Doug Byerly was along on the trip as well, but turned back before the ski descent because of concerns about potential frostbite.

**Trackhead** · 09-05-2007, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by cj001f

not as silly as being stuck behind a computer arguing ethics

True.

I'd much rather be engaging in a 'silly' descent fully funded by an energy drink company, than sitting here, wasting time at work.

**summit** · 09-05-2007, 11:54 AM

freaking gnar... major props to those guys

that is one my list of try-to-ski-in-my-life-mountains

**cj001f** · 09-05-2007, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

True.

I'd much rather be engaging in a 'silly' descent fully funded by an energy drink company, than sitting here, wasting time at work.

Me too

Those two have some substantial descents in NZ and the Himalayas to their credit.

**Trackhead** · 09-05-2007, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by cj001f

Me too

Those two have some substantial descents in NZ and the Himalayas to their credit.

I'm not knocking their ability, more the claim. Clearly they are uber skilled skiers.

I'm sure they had the ability to ski the entire thing in one go, or one descent. But I'm guessing trying to get skiable conditions not only from the summit, but all the way to the ocean is a vary narrow window.

Maybe someone can go back and improve on the style in the future. Climb the entire mountain after a fly in at sea level, then ski the entire line over a couple of days. No mid mountain support. Just a small team and plenty of time.

**cj001f** · 09-05-2007, 01:09 PM

yeah, the claims made are a bit much. Without knowing them I'm not sure how much is theirs or RedBulls

**Odin** · 09-05-2007, 01:11 PM

I bet 84.9% redbull, 10% Austrian, 2% persperation, and 4% Butterscotch Ripple.

**BFD** · 09-05-2007, 01:22 PM

My opinion was based on reading their diary. I just visited Lou's site and see some discussion there. Trackhead I know you are interested in history. Gulf Air was probably flying climbers before Ultimate Thule. After Mike Ivers died the business got sold after a few other accidents. Gulf Air had a great journal with lots of route and trip info. Unfortunately last time I was in Yakutat Gulf Air was out of business and the locals were not sure what happened to the journal. It would be nice if the AAC got hold of it.

**cj001f** · 09-05-2007, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by BFD

My opinion was based on reading their diary.

The RedBull 3rd person "diary"?

**randosteve** · 09-05-2007, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Odin

I bet 84.9% redbull, 10% Austrian, 2% perspiration, and 4% Butterscotch Ripple.

Well put!

**BFD** · 09-05-2007, 01:40 PM

Don't know who wrote the diary. Having had my ass kicked on my trip I am interested in the mountain. Was curious about how they worked the logistics especially the sea level to 10000' part. I knew the upper part had already been skied. Was surprised to see they used a Super Cub and never even climbed the lower part if I am correct from reading the diary. Anyway when my buddy did the first winter ascent of Logan and skied out the White River he should of taken his skis to the summit. That possibly would of been more vertical.

**philippeR** · 09-05-2007, 01:55 PM

RedBull's bullshitting ? What a surprise. They have no shame.

Impressive nonetheless, but thanks for the insights.

**summit** · 09-05-2007, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

But I'm guessing trying to get skiable conditions not only from the summit, but all the way to the ocean is a vary narrow window.

Maybe someone can go back and improve on the style in the future. Climb the entire mountain after a fly in at sea level, then ski the entire line over a couple of days. No mid mountain support. Just a small team and plenty of time.

I am interested in that mtn and have studied it some. Time is a huge problem with Elias. It is renowned for its horrific weather because it is *right* on the coast. IIRC most climbs of the mountain are aborted due to storms that can confine people to their tents for weeks. Getting good weather AND good skiing snow the whole way??? I'd be surprised if that is even a yearly occurance.

Look at the journal... they were there for a MONTH trying and were defeated due to weather from getting the summit. They left and came back two months later to try again and got lucky weatherwise.

**Trackhead** · 09-05-2007, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Summit

Look at the journal... they were there for a MONTH trying and were defeated due to weather from getting the summit. They left and came back two months later to try again and got lucky weatherwise.

I spent 2.5 weeks in the St. Elias range in 2002 and accomplished next to nothing. We landed, set up our tens, got tent bound for a solid week. Had 1/2 day clearing, skied one peak. Then got stormed for another week.

We spent about 12 days digging our tent out every 2 hours.

I'm familiar with the hardships of the St. Elias range.

**enlosandes** · 09-05-2007, 02:44 PM

Our great friend Aaron "Big Bird" Martin and another lost their lives there trying to ski from the summit in 2002.

**summit** · 09-05-2007, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

I spent 2.5 weeks in the St. Elias range in 2002 and accomplished next to nothing. We landed, set up our tens, got tent bound for a solid week. Had 1/2 day clearing, skied one peak. Then got stormed for another week.

We spent about 12 days digging our tent out every 2 hours.

I'm familiar with the hardships of the St. Elias range.

Ugh that sux!

**Trackhead** · 09-05-2007, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by enlosandes

Our great friend Aaron "Big Bird" Martin and another lost their lives there trying to ski from the summit in 2002.

On our plane ride in, there was a 16mm film guy going to shoot them after dropping us off. Paul dropped us off, flew to St. Elias, and then realized about the deaths. They died that morning.

I'm glad we didn't have radios, because it would have been terrible to hear about that the day you fly in.

It was somber flight back to the lodge when we returned.