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Thread: The Fifty One?
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04-09-2019, 01:21 AM #51
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04-09-2019, 01:24 AM #52
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04-09-2019, 10:00 AM #53Registered User
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04-09-2019, 10:02 AM #54Registered User
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04-09-2019, 10:07 AM #55Registered User
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Not many folks with your breadth of Rainier experience - thanks for chiming in. I sure hope I can get a chance to ski Kautz HW, Success and Mowich one of these days to back up my opinion beyond just aesthetics.
Edited cause NW couloir needs a photo. Just look at that thing - begging to be skied.
I'm in agreement too on both Crestone mountains. NW couloir on the Peak is one of the most striking lines in the state. I've only skied it in pretty tough conditions, but we still had a blast. I've skied needle in good and bad snow and had plenty of fun both times.
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04-09-2019, 10:31 AM #56Registered User
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A well traveled friend was asking me the other day what I thought the best line in the state was. I couldn't really come up with an answer. Certainly none of the lines in the 50 classics book that I have skied stuck out to me as the clear #1. I've had a lot of nice skis on a lot of nice lines. The ones that standout as single lines (vs part of a longer tour) are the ones that seem improbable, or had high uncertainty at the time. Aside from some fresh experiences that felt particularly vivid, that NW couloir on Crestone Peak was near the top of my list. I'd love to ski it in fatter conditions (like those in my photo above).
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04-09-2019, 10:59 AM #57
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04-09-2019, 11:07 AM #58Registered User
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04-09-2019, 11:42 AM #59registered abuser
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tom and laurel (mendenhall and pinner) are the 2 biggest omissions in cali imho
really miss sky's contributions to this place. good to see u back and hope yer still gettin after it+++
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04-09-2019, 11:58 AM #60
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04-09-2019, 01:32 PM #61Registered User
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Mendenhall is one of the nicest lines I've skied anywhere (certainly above Bloody and Avy Gulch and probably on par with Giant's Steps in my books). Plus with that roadside visibility, it's certainly a classic to me.
I'd put the San Joaquin in there over many of the CO lines as well. That thing is such a beauty.
Respect to Dav and the authors though. Can't be easy to put together a list like this when there are so many great lines on offer. The book is a ton of fun to look through and get inspiration from!
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04-09-2019, 01:46 PM #62registered abuser
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^^^ what does that have to do with anything???
they are arguably the most "classic" descents in the e sierra. split and giant steps are among the raddest lines,........ but classic??? for me, to be a true classic, it needs to be in shape often and somewhat obtainable and has seen plenty of descents. for example, the n face of robson, while legendary and steeped in history, is not a classic by my def. all in good fun. great thread
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04-09-2019, 02:21 PM #63Registered User
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Yea I can't disagree with you on the definition of classic or the inclusions of those lines. I do think Mendenhall still fits the bill.
It's interesting to see the definition changing depending on who was picking the lines (I.e. all rad lines in AK, a mix in CA, all accessible lines in the PNW).
I must say I like it better with all the out there lines in it though - much more fun for eye candy!
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04-09-2019, 02:33 PM #64
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the 50 Classic Climbs book, which served as the inspiration for the ski descent book, has at least one route (Hummingbird Ridge on Logan) that only has one successful ascent- ever. So by that standard, Robson should be there, no?
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04-09-2019, 03:40 PM #65Registered User
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04-09-2019, 04:50 PM #66
Anchorage AK front range classic. Ptarmigan peak S couloir. Pic is probably late May or June.But Ellen kicks ass - if she had a beard it would be much more haggard. -Jer
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04-10-2019, 09:42 AM #67
seconded
I have skied in Alaska for 20 years, I had never heard of University Peak until the book came out. I would put the S couloir in front of that. I've honestly never met or heard of anyone skiing it. Also how is St. Elias which has been skied like twice on the list? S couloir is big, classic, accessible and gets skied on the regular. How can mountains that never get skied or that the locals have to google be classics?
Also for your consideration:
North Face of Pioneer Peak
aka Grand Teton north
Its not that I suck at spelling, its that I just don't care
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04-10-2019, 10:30 AM #68
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04-10-2019, 10:38 AM #69
Chugachjed already mention Pioneer Peak and I believe several folks are already booking flights to anchorage.
powdork.com - new and improved, with 20% more dork.
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04-10-2019, 10:45 AM #70
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04-10-2019, 10:51 AM #71
I remember seeing b-rad a few weeks after his attempt on university. He was humbled and in awe. His warm up runs in the area (many were first descents) sounded awesome.
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04-10-2019, 03:10 PM #72
Should those descents be in the same book at Tuckermans Ravine and Mt. Superior? St. Elias was first skied like a decade ago, calling it a classic is like calling The Goo Goo Dolls classic rock. I don't know the history of University Peak (obviously) but among the list of objectives in Alaska... Which is endless... Why this one? (I'm guessing because Chris Davenport skied it and wants to brag?) Are they both amazing cool mountains that are super badass and I want no part of of (I once spent 5 days at the base of St. Elias when it rained 13 inches)? Sure. Should they be among the 50 classic ski descents of North America? I'm not sure, 50 most badass? Probably. 50 classics in Alaska? Sure.
Might I add another nomination that I would put ahead of St. Elias and University... Definitely on the 51
Its not that I suck at spelling, its that I just don't care
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04-10-2019, 06:28 PM #73
I agree how the fuck is St Elias on the same list as tuckermans ravine. Literally everything in the anchorage front range is radder than tucks. Here’s S couloir today. Which interestingly is on the North side of the mountain. Also I wouldn’t book a flight to ski pioneer this year. It is not in.
But Ellen kicks ass - if she had a beard it would be much more haggard. -Jer
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04-10-2019, 06:59 PM #74
Read the intro to the book... he decided to include various regions to make it fun instead of some stupid ranked list. It’s not 50 best, it’s just 50 classics. You guys can put your dicks away already.
I ski 135 degree chutes switch to the road.
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04-10-2019, 07:12 PM #75Registered User
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And since the validity of certain selections and the criteria for selection is being discussed I'll chime in with this; the list is very American centric.
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