Christina Lustenberger and Brette Harrington Score First Descent on Baffin Island

This season has been a big one for Christina Lustenberger in the first ski descent department. After a stellar winter and early spring hunting big lines in British Columbia, she set her sights on an expedition to Baffin Island, where she joined Brette Harrington, Hilaree Nelson, Emily Harrington, Drew Smith, Jordan Manoukian and Mathis Dumas. Camping on a frozen fjord, the crew ticked of a series of ambitious ski objectives, including a repeat of the classic Polar Star Couloir and a first descent of a new line nearby they named Polar Moon.

The line is on Mt. Qulliqtaliujaq (also known as the Walker Arm), located to the east of the famous Polar Sun Spire. Lusti and Brette climbed the peak via the south couloir, skiing the new descent top-down without knowledge of snow conditions. About halfway down the 4000-foot line, the couloir is guarded by a nearly 600-foot tall hanging serac, which the two rappelled into the bottom exit couloir.