Fissile, Summit Chute TR, worst crash of my life

Powder11 and Atrain started off at 9 in the village. TOby already had lost his treckers so was on some rental black diamonds. Needless to say he forgot his skins at the top of peak chair. Athan and I trecked on never expecting to see him again. Starting off at 10 we made it to the final ascent of fissile at around 11:50 to our shock Toby had caught up to us. We got the the top of Fissile by about 1:30. The peaks around there are absolutely amazing.

Sitting on top of Summit Chute I was pretty scared shitless. If anyone has ever said they have skied anything 55 degrees or higher up they are probably lying. Not to mention its 55 degrees for prob a good 1800 feet. I thought I had on Whislter/Blackcomb or in the Blackcomb backcountry but there is no way in hell. It basically looks like something a ski superstar would ski in Alaska. It had already been skied and it looked like there had been a mini avalanche at the middle section which becomes 60-65 degrees. I"ve been looking at this chute for 4 years and felt that my skiing this year was strong. I had skied so many new lines and had barely never fallen. Maybe a bit of overconfidence.

Anyways Athan dropped in first and it looked like it was taking him awhile. THeres a dip halfway in the chute were you can't see anything. I didn't wnat to slough him out but in case he fell I wanted to be there so I slowly worked my way down. At the dip where it turns 60-65 degrees it got really interesting. There was def a small avi that had gone off a few days earlier and it was some shit snow with nice snow. FIve turns later I had the worst crash of my life and am lucky to be alive.

I got something on the back of my skis and before I knew it I was tomahawking down 60% slope. THe worst part is my body had gravitated to the rock hard ice avi chute. If anyone has seen Aaron McGovern's crash in I think its ski movie 3 imgaine that but not falling in powder but falling on ice. I think I did about 10 rollovers and then I was on my ass where I hit a wall of ice. I was prob going about 90k and finally hit some powder a good 1500 feet after this had happened. What McGovern says is true after a fall like that your so damn tired you can barely move. I checked out all my body parts and miracuoulsy nothing was broken. All I had was a fatlip and 3rd degree burns all over my body, a slight concussion, and dehydrated as hell from the sun.

After this the interesting part comes. I had double ejected and Toby had found one of my skis. We didn't want to look anymore because avi danger was increasing and we wanted to get out of there. So Fissile is prob a good 15k away from the resort. For the next 2 hours I skinned up on one ski sinking knee deep with my foot all the way to the top. THen after that I was rotating skis every 30 seconds for the next 2 hours on the singing pass trying to get down. It was pure hell.

Anyway, I dont care about the skis. I'm lucky to be alive. I don't think I have any desire to ever do summit chute again. But who knows theres always next year. I can imagine that chute being amazing with better snow conditions. And thanks again Athan and Toby for bearing with me on the way out.

Toby and Athan had digitial cameras so I'm sure they will post some pics later on. I had my Canon Rebel G so when I get those developed and scanned I will post them as well.
-Phil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by postman22

I don't think I have any desire to ever do summit chute again.

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That thing is going to be calling your name all summer. By November you'll be checking every week to see if it's in condition. You will kill it next year. You now know what to expect.

Facking hell!
Great to hear that you're OK.
You know what they say.... what doesn't kill ya only makes you stronger.
I have no doubt that Summit Chute has not seen the last of you.

Wow glad that this didn't turn out any worse.

We looked down Summit Chute on Sunday, but stuck to our plan. It looked gripping. From STEEP it just rolls off into what looks like vertical.
The slog out must have been hell. Just skinning out is long enough.
http://shirk.smugmug.com/photos/66196685-M.jpg
Lee hanging his foot into Summit Chute for perspective.

It's odd how you hear that chute "x" or "y" in-bounds is 50 or 50+ degress, and you ski it like it's a green run. But when out on these actual huge chutes in the bc you stare down them and they look near vertical.

Insanity. Glad you got out in one piece.

Nice one cheating death.

Having just done 45-50 degrees in icy conditions today and feeling like I was gonna die at every turn, I can't imagine anything steeper without a perfect layer of powder...

dude - Im glad you're OK. Its a committing line for sure. There's a reason I ski lines like that very slowly and cautiously and don't let the skis run - E X P O S U R E.

Now that Im done lecturing you like Im your dad - props for trying it. The snow was good high then got manky lower on our chute so I would guess it was the same for you guys.

Unless conditions change dramatically to get colder and firming up - snow conditions look pisspoor right now. Maybe some very early starts are in order

man phil that sounds pretty scary, glad you are ok.

I'll be around this summer, maybe I can take a hike out there to look for your ski

yesterday was quite an adventure. Phil's crash was one of the worst Ive ever seen and I didnt even see 1/2 of it. Im so glad he made it out relatively unscathed. Ive never seen anyone more happy to slog home on one ski.

the day started out crappy for me. in my haste of having to rent a pair of G3 Reverends (long story) I left my skins in the car. I didnt realize this until I was already up the lift.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58067.jpg

I had to race like crazy to catch up with Phil and Athan, but I finally did 1/2 way up Fissile. I guess having featherlight gear has its advantages.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58062.jpg

I was pretty gassed at the summit from literally sprinting to catch up to Phil and Athan, but the scenery was enough to get my juices flowing. All of us being Fissile virgins, we decided to ski the summit chute which is the one from the summit that goes lookers left all the way down.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58069.jpg

Ive skied some prettty steep terrain in AK and this was right up there. Sustained 55 degrees with a wall in the middle that went much steeper.

Heres our guinea pig, Athan dropping in 1st.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58063.jpg

After a couple more turns, Athan disappeared. Phil waited a bit and decided to go down to where he could see. Phil made a few turns, stopped and reported he still couldnt see Athan or all the way down for that matter. Phil waited until we saw Athan appear safely below and started off.

At this point I let my mind wander a bit and took in the scenery. I was going to wait until I saw Phil at the bottom. What I saw next was horrifying. Phil sliding head 1st out the bottom at mach one in what I soon realized was an ice chute for sluff. Im not particularly religious, but I looked down at the good reverend doctor on my rented G3's and we said a prayer for Phil.

I waited until I could see Phil moving and started off on my mission of gear retreival. I skied the top section no problem. When I turned to ski the face, I was horrified to see this ice luge running through the middle all the way to the bottom. This meant navigating a tight strip of snow skiers left of the ice luge in variable snow while looking for Phils skis.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58064.jpg

I managed to pick one of Phils skis out of the ice luge, but the other was burried somewhere in this ice luge. Every few seconds a river of sugar snow would come screaming down the ice luge. The ice luge freaked me out and I decided my life was more important than Phils ski. I got the hell out of there quickly and safely to where Phil and Athan were waiting.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58065.jpg

Phil was shaken up, but in good spirits and somehow found the strength to slog home on one ski. That reconfirmed my opinion that Phil is tough as nails. The slog home took longer for obvious reasons and we were getting cooked by the sun.

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58071.jpg

singing pass never looked so good!

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58070.jpg

looking back on cowboy ridge

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58068.jpg

Arriving back in the village, a huge D9 was excavating the snow off the hill to make way for the bike park. Mentally I think I changed seasons yesterday as well.

Have a good summer in Hawaii boys... Aloha!

WOW
glad to hear you are ok philthy!
that shot from the top looks frightening

so in that picture from the bottom, could you tell me which line down you guys did?

Glad your alright dude. Exsposure is such a mental drain and takes so much preperation. I don't even want to imagine the what the slog out was like.:nonono2:

this pic gives a much better perspective. we skied the chute lookers left of the green line chute

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...3/IMG_1544.jpg

this should clarify things a lot

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58175.jpg

Glad you're okay. What about the chute lookers left? Is it a more moderate way down?

To ski the chute lookers left you would have to start down the North East face then enter it. From the summit it does not have it's own enterance if I remember correct. I didn't get any pics from the NE side to show that aspect. Possibly Lee has some that show it from a little further around to the main face.

Nasty fall. Really lucky u didnt injure yourself.

Is the summit chute reached the same way as the ne face and can u skin all the way up?

And is it possible to ski Saddle Chute? the cornice looks huge!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by postman22

this should clarify things a lot

http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58175.jpg

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WOW that looks brutal. Glad you could made it out on your own though. I rag dolled out of about a 800 vert. (can't imagine doubling that) chute two seasons ago and thought I was going to get splattered on the rocks but fortunately made it out safe. The crash broke my heal piece, tore one of my shoulder straps off my pack and somehow tore my shovel from my pack. I think that chute will eat at you untile you go back and kill the monster. I know mine did with me. Now it is a chute I hit at least once a year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by contender

Nasty fall. Really lucky u didnt injure yourself.

Is the summit chute reached the same way as the ne face and can u skin all the way up?

And is it possible to ski Saddle Chute? the cornice looks huge!

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Skin right to the summit.

I think there is a break in the Saddle Chute cornice.

contendor - the summit chute is right off the summit. The cornice on saddle chute can be rapped if you get there early enough. I would only consider skiing below a cornice now if I got there early - say a 5 am start at Singing Pass with a summit at 9am. I don't know if you can cut in there.

Greydon - the chute on lookers left is Elevator Shaft and can't be reached from the peak. You have to cut into it from the NE face. I was too busy with bowel control to take a picture.

Props to Pow111 for even looking. Im not sure I would hang around that slope.

Phil - I might hike there in summer and will look for your ski.

Alright, well everything has pretty much been explained already, but I have a few things to add and some photos.
I've wanted to ski fissile ever since I came out here, and I wanted it to be summit chute. None of this mediocre banana chute stuff. So that was the goal. I'm going to apologize for some of the pics as I was using my roomates camera, and I accidently switched something.
Eager fissile virgins at the bottom of flute
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58176.jpg

The view of fissile from the top of flute-Summit chute is the diagonal from just left of the summit all the way down
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58178.jpg

Getting closer-better view of summit chute
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58177.jpg

Powder11-making up ground. We were moving at a pretty good pace. He must've been flying. We were glad he caught up, because we knew he wanted to bag fissile as much as us.
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58184.jpg

Phil hiking
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58182.jpg

Postman22 and powder11 on the summit and stoked
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58183.jpg

Here's where things get interesting. Summit chute is probably the scariest thing I have ever done on skis. People flip out at big cliff drops, but having done both this was by far scarier. The glacier is so far below you it is unreal. That's all you see. It rolls over right at the start and looks like you are dropping off the edge of the world. I was stoked and since no one else wanted to guinea pig it, I was happy to jump in.

I got over the first roll over and was on the steepest run of my life. Just ridiculous, like skiing down snow stuck to a cliff. The conditions were extremely variable. One side of the chute held nice mid winter sugary pow. The other side was bullet proof ice with hard crust mixed in all over the place. I knew if I fell their was no stopping until the bottom. A couple of times my skis went under a crust and I almost lost it. A while into the chute these huge troughs ran down the middle. They were slough, slide, runnell chutes of icy death. The biggest one was about three feet deep, three feet wide, and nothing but jagged ice. The slough was intense as it roared by me and below me like a raging river with huge rapids through the troughs.

As I got to the first safe zone near the bottom, a while after the exit of the chute my legs were burning and I set up on the side to take some photos. I accidently switched something on the camera to manual, and the last settings that were used on the little digi were for night shots by my roomate. So the pics are way overexposed.
I watched as phil came down to the steepest, gripping section right where the huge troughs started. It looked like he crossed a tip or something. I couldn't quite tell as I was so far away. He rolled once. I held my breath and said, "oh no." I knew if he didn't stop after that first roll he was going to the bottom. He started tumbling/tomahaking. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" I said. It's hard watching one of your buddies in immense danger and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. He immediately was funneled into the biggest avy/slide/runnel trough of death. I knew the thing was pure ice. I can't imagine the pain. He kept picking up more and more speed. He slid on his ass for a while, then head first on his back, all while rolling, spining, tumbling, limbs flailing, with a raging river of slough all around him. He roared past me so fast I had to snap my neck to keep up with his speed. He was going about as fast as if I were making super G turns down the face. He came to a stop maybe 400 feet below me.

Here he is falling. The first little dot below the rocks. His fall started pretty far above the top of the picture.
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58179.jpg

Another...I don't even want to know how fast he was going here.
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58180.jpg

Last one...ripping by me at mach looney.
http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/200...ines_58181.jpg

He was motionless, but sitting up. I yelled at him, nothing. A few more times. Finally his hand went up. I collected my things and yelled up to powder11 to collect his gear. I went down to phil and said, "phil are you alright, I need to know if you are ok or not?" It was obvious his bell was a little rung as he replied, "Do you know where my skis are?" "I don't care about your skis bro, let me know your ok." He checked everything and said he was pretty numb and exhausted from the adreniline. He was still thinking though as he said, "I'm getting to a safe zone." He walked down to the next safe zone. The slog out must've been brutal. I was exhausted and he was doing it on one ski.
I'm glad your ok bro.

That was the gnarliest, scariest thing I have ever witnessed. Phil is a lucky man to walk away with scrapes and cuts everywhere and what he thinks are a few broken ribs.
I know I will be going back when the conditions are better, hopefully phil will come with me.
An intense day to end the season on. Working and surfing in Hawaii for four months here I come.

Glad you guys are okay. I should be in Hawaii by June 1st. I'm sure I will hit the big island at some point -- hopefully see you guys in the tropics.

Shit guys, I wish I could have been there with you. Next year we'll go back for redemption, phil. I have some demons to exorcise myself. I'm really glad you're okay man, I can't handle any more bad news right now. Stay safe, and have a killer time in Hawaii.

Toby, you're a fucking machine.

-sam

damn.

Can I add that it is amazing that you thought "I better take pics of this" as your buddy came flying off the mountain?

Me, I would have been to busy shitting myself.

Sam, I wish you were there with us. We were thinking of you. Next year.
And frozen-I'm a master at doing two things at once, because trust me I was shitting myself.

good griddles.. nothing like a near death experience to put your priorities in perspective...

priority number 1: return to summit chute next season and slay the bastard for the out and out spanking it gave you this year.:D

glad you're ok.