Sunday, April 17, 2016

Colorado Couloir Skiing

Aspen...California, "Where the beer flows like wine"

Last week i headed down to Colorado to meet up with fellow Spyder athlete Chris Davenport. We headed out to his yurt near Marble. Here is the sunset from his deck. Not bad.



 The next day we booted up the couloir right across from the yurt. With 6" of new snow it was great skiing. Here's Chris and Ian Fohrman booting up behind me.

Chris Davenport and Ian Fohrman
 Here's my view right before dropping in.

Owen Leeper skiing near Marble, Colorado
After heading back to Aspen, i found this "line" on google earth, i wasnt' sure if it went but i thought we go and give it a try. The next day Scott Waylett, Ian Fohrman and I went to check it out. We skinned to the base near Hayden Peak.

GORE Couloir, Aspen Colorado
 We booted up through hanging ice and mini chutes.

Scotty Waylett - PC: Owen Leeper GORE Couloir







Topping out at 13,000 feet, we transitioned to ski and headed back down.

Scott Waylett and Owen Leeper below Hayden Peak
The Couloir got so tight in one section we had to take our skis off and downclimb because the snow conditions didn't warrant the 200 foot straightline.

Owen Leeper getting squeezed in a tight couloir in Colorado.
 After the downclimb we were able to jump turn through the rest of the couloir and ski out the bottom to perfect corn skiing. It was a great day with terrible conditions in the couloir but always fun to explore new zones the backcountry.

Follow me on instagram for more great photos and ski missions this spring at @o_leeps

Owen leeper midway through the GORE Couloir. PC: Scott Waylett