Feb 3/10-Joffre Peak-Joffre Couloir
2/15/10
4886
15
Feb 3/09
Joffre Peak-Joffre Couloir ski descent
Prime steep skiing conditions brought us to Joffre group and the classic North Face.For some reason there was six of us skinning up the Joffre glacier.Luckily Sky talked me into an alternative to the recently popular Central couloir, gargoyles and all.But this is one of the top ten ski desents I've ever done.Steep snow climbing,short rock climb,first ski rappel and a ski off the summitt.Then end with a knee deep couloir descent and fall line to more epic powder.
Photos: Andy Traslin,Sky Sjue
Joffre Peak-Joffre Couloir ski descent
Prime steep skiing conditions brought us to Joffre group and the classic North Face.For some reason there was six of us skinning up the Joffre glacier.Luckily Sky talked me into an alternative to the recently popular Central couloir, gargoyles and all.But this is one of the top ten ski desents I've ever done.Steep snow climbing,short rock climb,first ski rappel and a ski off the summitt.Then end with a knee deep couloir descent and fall line to more epic powder.
Photos: Andy Traslin,Sky Sjue
Nice work that area is so sick!
Hell Yeah!
That looks like a great ski. Way to go get it!
That looks like a great ski. Way to go get it!
Sweet. Gotta get up there someday.
Oh, Canada. Never mind the Olympics.
Killer -- nice work. Looks fantastic.
More pictures here if you're into that kind of thing:
http://skisickness.com/2010/02/03/
http://skisickness.com/2010/02/03/
Yeeehaw!
Nice shot of the rap over the little cliff. Guess I am into that kind of thing.
The ski certainly looked worth it.
Nice shot of the rap over the little cliff. Guess I am into that kind of thing.
The ski certainly looked worth it.
Sweet indeed! Nice work!! 8) 8)
Absolutely ski mountaineering sickness at it's best...little climbing, little rapping, lot of powder. Nice work. Sky, this pic is absolutely sick!
(I hope you don't mind me posting your pic...)
(I hope you don't mind me posting your pic...)
You guys are the tron brothers!
I hope Shucksan went well.....
I hope Shucksan went well.....
BEE-YOO-TA-FULL!!!! Strong work!
Gotta love the butt-grovelling on the rap ;)
Just curious: how did you retrieve your rope and what did you use for anchors?
-Bill
Gotta love the butt-grovelling on the rap ;)
Just curious: how did you retrieve your rope and what did you use for anchors?
-Bill
Smart-ass answer: Oh, we just used a Fifi hook with the rubber band trick on a v-thread.
Real answer: curious thing, Bill: there was a rope fixed at the top. I'm guessing you noticed the one-strand rappel. When we initially saw it, one impulse I had was to remove it. But, while raising many questions, it also proved convenient. We left it. I've sinced learned whose rope it was and I do believe they'll be recovering it.
I had a couple of pitons with me. In analogous situations in the past, I've always found a horn to sling to rappel.
Real answer: curious thing, Bill: there was a rope fixed at the top. I'm guessing you noticed the one-strand rappel. When we initially saw it, one impulse I had was to remove it. But, while raising many questions, it also proved convenient. We left it. I've sinced learned whose rope it was and I do believe they'll be recovering it.
I had a couple of pitons with me. In analogous situations in the past, I've always found a horn to sling to rappel.
That fifi/rubber band thing could work!
Thanks for the info, Sky. Did they anchor it with pitons, stoppers, a bollard ??? I'm always looking for new ways to bail safely without leaving too much gear. Any idea of their reasoning in leaving the rope? Like you said probably: they're coming back.
As always, I'm impressed with your tech skills and willingness to work hard (and smart) to get the goods and worthy goals. You and your crew have the best ski-porn on the web: true ski mountaineering, no BS.
-Bill
Thanks for the info, Sky. Did they anchor it with pitons, stoppers, a bollard ??? I'm always looking for new ways to bail safely without leaving too much gear. Any idea of their reasoning in leaving the rope? Like you said probably: they're coming back.
As always, I'm impressed with your tech skills and willingness to work hard (and smart) to get the goods and worthy goals. You and your crew have the best ski-porn on the web: true ski mountaineering, no BS.
-Bill
Bill,
If you are interested in how to make interesting anchors and leave nothing or little behind, check out some of the stuff being done in canyoneering. While many of their tricks won't apply, they do have some neat retrievable anchors systems and knots that I have tried. As with anything, they work well - when done properly.
http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1558&highlight=macrame\
http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Advanced_Canyoneering_Anchors
ziff
If you are interested in how to make interesting anchors and leave nothing or little behind, check out some of the stuff being done in canyoneering. While many of their tricks won't apply, they do have some neat retrievable anchors systems and knots that I have tried. As with anything, they work well - when done properly.
http://www.canyoneering.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1558&highlight=macrame\
http://www.canyonwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Advanced_Canyoneering_Anchors
ziff
THANK YOU! GREAT RESOURCE!
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