Central Couloir: Did We Just Witness a Record Early Descent?

The Tetons have a way of humbling even the most seasoned locals, but once in a while, someone decides to dance with the dragon before the dragon is even awake. Central Couloir on Cody Peak is widely considered the crown jewel of the Jackson Hole sidecountry. It is a 1,500-foot vertical gash defined by a 55-degree pitch, a narrow choke, and a mandatory 30-foot exit air that has claimed its fair share of gear and ego.

While the couloir is typically a spring "test-piece" when the snowpack has filled in the jagged rock teeth, recent social media footage has the community buzzing: did we just witness the earliest descent in the peak's storied history?

Central isn't just a ski line; it’s a stadium where Jackson’s elite athletes go to set benchmarks. We’ve seen the legendary Teton Brown shred it as late as May 25th after a lean year was saved by spring storms. We’ve even seen Jim Ryan clock a world-record speed descent, screaming through the choke and over the exit air in a blistering 20 seconds. However, those descents usually occur once the resort is in full swing and the bootpack is established.

While records of every single early season descent is hard to track, this recent footage certainly pushes the timeline. Whether it’s a true calendar record or just an incredibly bold display of early-season hunger, it reminds us why Cody Peak remains the ultimate focal point for the Jackson Hole community.