Conundrum Couloir

[cmor]

A few pics from my last trip. Spent a couple of days climbing and skiing around Conundrum and Castle around Oct 1st. The snow was better than expected for such an early date. Above 13,000 ft it was knee-waist deep in the couloir coming down from Conundrum, which was def. the best descent of the trip. Nothing grabbing the skis from underneath either. The snow off conundrum was feathery from base to top, except at the very top where a thin suncrust had formed. It shattered and sluffed off quite hard down the chute, I could only make about 2 turns before waiting for the whole thing to clear, otherwise I would have just gotten buried. It would have been a nasty ride if you had gotten cuaght. It wasn't too steep maybe 45 -50 max, but pretty tight in a few spots and I think it would have been hard to self arrest if you managed to really get going. I was at the top by 8:30 as it started spitting out snow ice and rock as soon as the sun hit it. I was flying solo so I was conservative about the summit time.

A shot from the top:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...al_topnice.jpg

My tracks coming up:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...l_topnice2.jpg

From the bottom:

http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...l_topnice1.jpg

You can kinda see the headwall in the last pic. It was a solid 10-15 feet of vertical ice. I ended up kind of side-stepping hucking it, it was the only real sketch part of the descent.

I looked for partners on the board but no one was down. You'all missed out. I think I'm headed to Utah tommorow so if anyone wants to make some backcountry turns lemme know.

[Lane Meyer]

That's the Scot Schmidt Chute, cmor. Nice work!!! I made a pilgrimage to that very place my last year in Colorado before I moved out to Tahoe.

[AltaPowderDaze]

be careful using the S word on here. people seem to take offense to someone making turns by themselves.

nice line btw

[cmor]

be careful using the S word on here. people seem to take offense to someone making turns by themselves.

nice line btw

Going solo is not inherentlly more dangerous than going with a group. You just need to know when to push it and when to lay back.

[Buster Highmen]

Going solo is not inherentlly more dangerous than going with a group. You just need to know when to push it and when to lay back.

Slow pitch...

[bcrider]

Sweet line man!

But why the zig-zag bootpack?

Solo adventures are great…just not in avy terrain. This line looks like the risk was fairly minimal as long as the conditions were good and you didn’t pinball on the descent.

Nice one…thanks for sharing.

[AltaPowderDaze]

Going solo is not inherentlly more dangerous than going with a group. You just need to know when to push it and when to lay back.

i know that, but some underinformed people think otherwise. a few thought it would be nice to force feed me their views on the matter. some however did it tastefully. link

[Ireallyliketoski2]

Going solo is a personal choice, I enjoy skiing solo, but would never ski that couloir solo, let alone in early season conditions. Some people would, that is their right to do, but when skiing solo you have to be willing to pay the ultimate price. If the turns are worth the risk, then have at it, it's that simple.

[Sierra Cement]

Solo hiking and solo mountain biking are not seen as a big deal. I do the majority of those activities solo. Solo b.c. ski trips are perceived as just a little more serious. I do plenty of them too.

I've always felt that having someone along with you doesn't change the line you're skiing - you still have to make each and every turn yourself. A partner isn't going to make a mountain safer, or stop you from taking the slide for life. They would just be able to assist in your recovery if you blow it. So don't blow it. Sort of like Yvone Chouinard - he regularly didn't pack a bivy sack, because if he had one he might use it. Without one, there's no other option but to make it.

Avies are a different story. Questionable avie conditions require partners.

Oh yea, nice couloir! Where is that line? In Colorado? Great early October conditions!

[72Twenty]

I ski the chutes in the Snowies solo quite often - in June and July. I have been skiing them for about 6 years now and know what I am comfortable with and what I am not. I totally agree with the advantages of having a partner or a group (another slow pitch...) but at the same time - I'm doing it, no one else is responsible for me, and I accept the concequences. I would much rather do it with a partner if for no other reason, to have someone to talk to on the way up (batter up!). I would never do it alone in winter months (bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, down by 3....)