TR: Super Star Couloir = SLAYED!!! 06/07/08

**BurnHard** · 06-07-2008, 08:35 PM

Location: James Peak Super Star Couloir
Date: June 7 2008
Slayers: FrontRangeDrummer, Nick PappaG (moral support), Bernardo

Story:
Last Saturday when NPG, JC, and I went to James Peak it was decided to not let the gnar that Super Star is be gone to waste and ski it the next weekend.

Saturday was the day. The goal - hike up St. Mary's glacier, drop down into the James Peak East Basin, climb up Super Star to evaluate conditions, and obviously ski the gnar. A 3am wake-up time made for enough time to cook a pound of pasta for breakfast and a timely departure from the St. Mary's Trailhead at 5.45'ish. Unfortunately, due to some technical problems with NPG's gear, we had a 1 hour delay at the base of the glacier, which cost us the excitement of climbing the couloir. Due to temperatures and snow conditions we decided to hike the ridge to the peak and drop into the couloir from the top.

FRD and I reached the summit at around 9.30am and met up with a few other skiers and hikers (who were gracious enough to take pictures of us skiing later on). At this point, a switch in my head flipped - I knew I was about to drop into the gnarliest line of the season. Excitement started to build up, mixed with tension. Oddly, I felt totally calm and focused on the task ahead.
Carl and I geared up, got the rope and tools ready, and headed 300ft down the north ridge to Super Star.

The entrance was gnarly. The cornice was huge, it had grown even more from what I had seen in the latest pics. Fortunately, it was/would have been big enough to plant a snow picket and rappel off of it, something we decided against to save the picket but in hindsight realize would have been the much easier, safer, and faster method. We looked all around the couloir for rock outcrops to hang webbing or nuts/hex' from for a rappel, but for the life of it could not find an appropriate spot. The only somewhat appropriate rock for a webbing crumbled into pieces as soon as we put some pressure on it.

It was decided that a downclimb was the only option. To skiers right of the couloir/cornice was a somewhat less steep (65-70degree) snow/ice covered entrance that led over some rocks down into the couloir. We packed up, and I decided to go ahead and give it a try as first. With both ice tools in my hand (a straight ice axe and an ice climbing tool), I started to very very slowly freeclimb my way into the couloir. It was nerve wrecking, but I was calm and focused and was taking very deliberate steps.

It took each of us 15-20 minutes to downclimb into the couloir and put the skis on (not nearly as easy as I thought it would be, to remove the skis from my pack and click into them on a 60 degree slope, self belaying on 2 ice tools).

That leads me into the skiing and, honestly, the less interesting part of the TR. The skiing SUCKED HAIRY DONKEY BALLS. By the time we got to it, the snow was too soft, Thursday's new snow formed into 4-5" deep wet slides heavy enough to keep you from turning well. These conditions and the exposure made for a very tense ~10 minute ski of the couloir. Only at the bottom, waiting for Carl to get down, was I able to fully relax and take in the line (and the accomplishment) in its entirety. Carl, too, got down safely and with confidence, and we both congratulated each other on a sick sick line.

A great fuckin day was had, and I'm glad that we got to ski such a beautiful and exposed line (mostly thanks to this year's snow conditions). The conclusion, however: the line could've/should've been skied ~6 weeks ago when coverage was slightly better, the cornice slightly smaller, and the snow safer.

Evidence:

Carl & I standing at the top of Super Star looking for belay.

Me starting to downclimb into Super Star

Putting skis on - more difficult than I thought... Can you find Carl downclimbing?

Halfway down

Almost down...

The reward!

DUH

Off to bed now can't keep my eyes open, more tomorrow.
Carl should have some awesome pics!
_B

**pointedem** · 06-07-2008, 08:43 PM

that looks rad.

What are the lemons for?

I assume you were making some pasta sauce?

Edit duh lemons beer.

**BurnHard** · 06-07-2008, 08:49 PM

Noooooooooooooooooo no no no, lemons NOT in beer, that's sooo soy!
Lemons for merengues for dessert, shouldn't have been in the pic

**montanaskier** · 06-07-2008, 09:06 PM

nice work B.....great line.

**kidwoo** · 06-07-2008, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Bernardo

The reward!

The boiled hearts of cowards?

**somegeek** · 06-07-2008, 10:29 PM

Pics are sick... reward looks worth it! Nice work.

**PulverSchwein** · 06-08-2008, 01:17 AM

this is recockulously steep! holy fuck

**intro** · 06-08-2008, 05:41 AM

i was going to say you should have dropped that big-fuck-off-scary cornice. till i noticed the steepness. gnar.

**BurnHard** · 06-08-2008, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by kidwoo

The boiled hearts of cowards?

Haha awesome! I'm gonna call that pasta

"Pasta al Cuore di Vigliacco" (Coward's Heart Pasta)

Originally Posted by intro

i was going to say you should have dropped that big-fuck-off-scary cornice. till i noticed the steepness. gnar.

dude, that was the plan all along! Huck that shit and ride it switch to the road... but seriously, the cornice was hudge!

**smitchell333** · 06-08-2008, 10:06 AM

Good work. Did you climb down belayed or just solo?

**BurnHard** · 06-08-2008, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by smitchell333

Good work. Did you climb down belayed or just solo?

Thanks

Updated the TR with a full description.

We free climbed / solo climbed into the couloir. There was nothing to set a proper rappel on - we could've belayed the first guy into the couloir with a belay on a snow picket, but we were both comfortable free climbing into it if we took it easy.

**bklyn** · 06-08-2008, 11:04 AM

Nice work.
Boiled hearts of cowards - luv it.

**Powow** · 06-08-2008, 11:08 AM

That is burly. Nice skiing!

**Franz** · 06-08-2008, 03:49 PM

Nice job dude! Too bad we couldn't get after it today...next weekend.

**pointedem** · 06-08-2008, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bernardo

Noooooooooooooooooo no no no, lemons NOT in beer, that's sooo soy!
Lemons for merengues for dessert, shouldn't have been in the pic

I was trying to figure out why they would be included in the pic. I though... no way he would be making the sauce with lemons... so i guess he must be using them for the beer. Yes. I agree. Lemons in beer = soy.

**mb2778** · 06-08-2008, 04:32 PM

i'm not familiar with the line, but is it well known/legendary? either way, that shit's serious!

**pappag** · 06-08-2008, 05:20 PM

That was quite the show you guys put on. I'm just stoked you were able to get to it after my debacle in the morning. On the initial climb up from the far east side of the glacier (north of Fox Mountain), I slid about 150 feet on a steep, icy slope into some trees and rocks. Luckily, I wasn't hurt too badly, but ensuing equipment failure delayed me and pushed me back about 30 mins from Bernardo and Carl. As a result, I stationed myself near Starlight Couloir for the pictures which I later skied down after filling up my memory card with photos and video (which didn't come out good at all).

Starlight itself is 46* for 600 vertical before dumping you into the basin. For June 7th, the snow was really fucking good. Decent amount of slough with each turn and incredibly fun. Can't imagine how amazing it would be with late winter powder once the couloir fills up.

**BurnHard** · 06-08-2008, 08:39 PM

Franz, so sorry I didnt' go out today - two reasons, one I really didn't feel like another 3am wake-up for what looked like an 'ok' ski day, but mostly, I seriously burned my eyes on Saturday (this dumbass wasn't wearing sunglasses) and woke up in the middle of the night with some of the worst pain ever. Three old vicodins knocked me back to sleep fortunately

As for the line being well known or legendary - I don't honestly don't know. All I know is it's a beautiful and pretty rad line that we were lucky enough to catch on a year with great coverage. As far as I know there hadn't been a previous Super Star TR on TGR so I was pretty stoked to post a first ...

**pappag** · 06-09-2008, 10:22 AM

Few more pictures ...

The line from a distance (photo taken 5/3/2008):

A view of the task at hand with a nice backdrop:

RMNP:

Bernardo and Carl surveying the land:

Bernardo downclimbing with Carl snapping the soon-to-be-posted sickly photos of the action:

Carl making his way down:

Bernardo doing his best not to fall into the never ending white hole of death:

Closeup of Carl getting ready to strap in:

Carl almost ready to make his descent with Bernardo through the tough section:

Again, that was an amazing job by you guys.

**ColMan** · 06-09-2008, 10:52 AM

Superstar is appropriately named. Serious line. Well done.

**Ireallyliketoski2** · 06-09-2008, 11:13 AM

Very strong work, I think that's a first descent.

**Whiteroom_Guardian** · 06-09-2008, 11:18 AM

Killed guys! Wish I could have tagged along. I did have a sweet dream about skiing last night though....almost as good, almost.

**MakersTeleMark** · 06-09-2008, 12:42 PM

**jSki** · 06-09-2008, 01:15 PM

That's a huge line, way to be persistent and get it. We may need to start a fund to buy you some sun glasses.

**BurnHard** · 06-09-2008, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by jSki

That's a huge line, way to be persistent and get it. We may need to start a fund to buy you some sun glasses.

lol - no worries. I found my uebersteezy euro glacier sunglasses in my car under my seat AFTER the hike on Saturday... And got a new $10 pair just in case.

... but I have been eying those sweet Oakley HalfJacket XLJs for a while ...