TR: Fitzsimmons North Face - March 23, 2014

[Neuro]

After several weeks of good resort skiing, the snow stability and weather finally lined up for a big touring day last Sunday. Crazyhorse, Splitz, FoxyLady and I decided to make the most of the conditions and get out onto the Spearhead.

Our goal for the day was the North Face of Mt. Fitzsimmons. A classic line at the far end of the Spearhead traverse, it's a committing face that deserves respect and needs the right combination of stability, coverage and weather to come together.

The North Face of Mt. Fitzsimmons from Mt. Iago


None of us had completed a Spearhead traverse this season, and we wanted to get a decent look at the line to scope out any open slots on the lower part of the face. To do this we took the longer route and approached from Blackcomb, rather than the more direct route over the Musical Bumps from Whistler.

Just past Decker on our way towards Mt. Trorey


From the top of the Platform Glacier, we scoped out our exit route. After skiing the face we would climb to the Col at photo center and then cross the lower section of the Overlord glacier to pass below Mt. Fissile.



A different angle on our exit route.


It was a busy day on the Spearhead with 9 people in 4 parties doing single day traverses. As we reached the platform Glacier, we were joined by two friends who joined us for our descent.

We made good time around the Ripsaw and Naden Glaciers, and by lunchtime we were climbing up Iago. A quick drop down the sunny side of Iago and we were at our final climb before getting to the face.

Descending Iago.


Regrouping at the bottom of Iago to climb up Benvolio


Climbing up Benvolio.


Crazyhorse, Splitz and I did a quick climb up to the summit of Fitzsimmons. After that, it was time to drop into our line. The upper part of the face was acceptably steep with about 10 cm of prefect dry snow. At least 1 party coming from the Whistler side had beat us to the line while we were climbing Benvolio, but sharing a 200+ m wide face was grudgingly tolerated.

FoxyLady slaying the North Face of Fitzsimmons.


Splitz arcing some big turns on the face.


After some turns down the upper part of hte face, we got to the lower apron and were able to open up in perfect pow and sunshine.





After clearing the apron, we had a few hundred metres of climbing up the shoulder and a ski across the overlord glaciers.
Climbing up the face.




After skiing below Fissile, we had one last climb up past Russet lake to get to Singing pass. A quick bobsled run later and we were in Black's Pub before sunset.

[angrysasquatch]

Great pictures and stoke- thanks

[Norseman]

Yeah, kickass TR. Thanks for sharing!

[Tye 1on]

wow, damn, well played! This would be on my phone, homescreen, etc...awesome shot!!!!

[Mike Pow]

Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

[hutash]

Excellent TR. What a great day all around. Some fantastic shots.

[mtnbiker/boarder]

sweet TR..thx

[adimmen]

oh so purdy

[gramboh]

Great stuff! Makes me regret biking instead of going for a tour on Sunday.

[spook]

dammit. i used to tell people i was canadian when i traveled internationally so they wouldn't think i was from the u.s. and so they'd get a taste of what assholes canadians really are hiding behind bigger assholes like the u.s. and now i'm jealous i'm not canadian.

karma.

[WaistDeepGroomers]

great TR Neuro! Just blew it up on the TGR Twitter account: https://twitter.com/TetonGravity/sta...04435121410048

more please!

[Neuro]

Thanks for the comments. Happy to share some stoke!

[xyz]

Awesome pics!

[PNWbrit]

Thanks. Awesome.

[montanaskier]

great stoke....really nice pics

[_Aaron_]

Yeehaw!!

[kalisto]

Was that you asking about the f-stop pack by any chance?

[SterlingSpikeDancer]

Badass, thanks for sharing those great pics.

[spook]

wow, damn, well played! This would be on my phone, homescreen, etc...awesome shot!!!!

i showed my almost 3 year old this pic and he goes "that's ADVENTURE, daddy! you and me and mom are going to ski those mountains!"

[mtl_ripper]

dammit. i used to tell people i was canadian when i traveled internationally so they wouldn't think i was from the u.s. and so they'd get a taste of what assholes canadians really are hiding behind bigger assholes like the u.s. and now i'm jealous i'm not canadian.

karma.

That's pretty funny right there.

But, amazing photos and TR here !! Way to rip it!

Sent from my Nexus S using TGR Forums

[Neuro]

Was that you asking about the f-stop pack by any chance?

Yup that was me.

Sent from my XT1032 using TGR Forums

[looseofforangejuice]

wow, damn, well played! This would be on my phone, homescreen, etc...awesome shot!!!!

god i love the mountains.

thanks for sharing this and reminding me. and us all.

[looseofforangejuice]

Yup that was me.

Sent from my XT1032 using TGR Forums

f-stop gear is fricking sweet

[oldskibum]

Breathtaking, beautiful!!!

[ISL]

Stoke!

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