When skiing the steepest lines, a partner's fear may cause one to doubt one's self. Conversely, a partner's confidence may cause one to overlook certain realities. Hence, steep skiing is often done solo.
On this route I once again recognized a duality of steep snow couloirs. When viewed as a climb, looking up, It was the steepest, most continuous snow I've climbed unroped and a little scary. But, every time I looked down I was comforted by the familiar vista of a steep ski descent. How steep was it? I've often marveled at how at the start a route may seem steep, but after hours of climbing and gradual steepening the climber become comfortable with greater and greater slope angles, rendering the start of the climb not-so-steep. In this case, looking down from the top, I was impressed with how not steep it looked. Surely, many factors go into our perception of slope angle.
While descending, regularly placed boot tracks whizzed by in my peripheral like highway lines. Awareness of the precise aggression necessary to initiate safe turns crept into my mind as did the concept of the folding pole plant and smearing the end of each turn to keep momentum down the slope, rather than into the wall. An exaggerated low stance and an active return of the ski to the surface after initiation to ensure maximum control. Full awareness of sensations being sent from the entire length of both edges (my homunculus has skis on, for sure!) as well as a visual awareness of the snow surface for the next 5 meters, continually updating. Recognize when adrenaline gets too high, slow heart rate. Was I reminding my self to do these things and then executing, or was I observing my self doing them and then commenting?
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| climbing up |
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| Gallatin Valley June weather |
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| Looking down before dropping in |
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| linked turns over rock |
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| looking down at crux roll-over, icy due to shading from high wall on right |
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| After completion. |
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| On the hike out |
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| On the drive out |
