Bottom of the Apocalypse Couloir
Well, just got back from a week in Jackson, and had a great time. Skied a few lines I haven’t skied before, and also took another stab at the Apocalypse Couloir. Phil, Jim Larue and I skied it a few years ago in a heavy winter from the top. It appears that we were lucky to not get rained on with debris and ice chunks as we did this time.
Apocalypse from death canyon
This time Phil was joining me for another go around, and Jon Lewis for his first time in this intimidating couloir. We got a pretty early start, as we just got some new snow, and the temperatures were not that cold. It was also supposed to be a cloudy day with snow showers, which would have made the climb a little safer. It turned out to be totally bluebird, and warming up fast.
Heading up the couloir
We all new the hazard going into the day, and it was a process of evaluating the deteriorating conditions. I figured to keep going until something stopped us. It was getting warm, but not much was coming down the couloir yet. Okay, keep going.
Jon, Phil and I gearing up at the base
This was a different ski day because we had climbing gear with us, we didn’t know what to expect in the crux. We had a rope , crampons, ice tools, harnesses, and ice screws. The crux can vary from a ski through, as we found a few years ago, to a few 65 deg ice bulges, as we found this day.
The ski through crux in a heavy snow year
Impressive ice in the couloir
Jon climbs the lower part of the couloir
Getting deeper into the Apocalypse
Nearing the ice bulge crux
Jon experiments with flash photography
As we neared the crux, there wasn’t much activity of falling debris yet, so we decided to move quickly, and solo through.
Jon at the base of the crux
Jon was first, I was second, and Phil third. As Jon neared the top of the ice bulge things started to change, there was some sluff coming off the south facing wall, and funneling through the narrows. Jon was near the top when he got hit with a wave of loose sluff, and I was in the middle, I drove my tools into the ice bulge and prepared for the worst. Phil was lucky, and below the ice bulge. The sluff was not as bad as it could of been, but I believed it was a sign of things to come, I made the call to get out of there.
Jon in the middle of the crux, where I was when the sluff came.
Jon and I down climbed the ice bulge, and retreated to relative safety under some overhanging ice. We put some screws into the ice and anchored in to protect us from more sluff to come.
Anchored in
Phil is having fun, Jon wants out
We anchored in and transitioned to ski mode which took a little bit. I rushed to get ready, and was first to ski.
Ready to go
Lets get out of here
Good powder in the Apocalypse
I skied first, and did not stop until I hit death canyon creek, in fear of more sluff coming down. Phil and Jon were not so lucky, and were hit with ice chunks and debris before they skied. I think it was a good call to get out of there.
Phil after getting white washed with debris
I’m glad we made the call to get out the Apocalypse. Next time we need colder temperatures to make the couloir safe to ski. There is just way too much danger above you releasing in warm temperatures.
hey man. far out.
license to drive was inspirational and hilarious. lost boys was a variation in and of itself. corey haim was a great actor who made me laugh youthfully. its time to say good-bye in our own way. by “playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes” love eternal
Really dude, were talking about Corey Haim here, okay… The scene in” Licence to Drive” with the drunk dude singing Sinatra while driving is pretty sweet. Him and Corey Feldman were quite the duo. I think Feldman was best in “The Burbs”. Haim was okay in Lost Boys, with Feldman and his brother stealing it. Feldman edges out Haim by a nose in my book.
agreed but Feldman lives. As you stated they were close and having said that Feldman was hilarious. no, seriously, kick ass pictures from apocolypse. excellent ice bulge action and as usual youre looking strong and confident in all pictures. good call to turn around. no reason to stay in a coulie when it starts releasing roller balls, sloghs or rock debris for that matter. had a good trip 2 stowe recently. thinking about north conwaying it this weekend. doesnt compare to the rockies but the food in the rockies doesnt compare to our food in rhody island either.
I will leave the 80’s movie quotes to the professionals, I don’t remember much of that decade, due to too many concussions. Nice pics and adventure. Knowing the mountain is half the battle, and you always come out ahead. Whats up Phil, looking good guys keeping me inspired and motivated to come out west. Keep it coming and stay safe boys.
3:45pm eastern standard- M. Nugent posting up. Colors fly in Providence. Native grown white widow indoors. Combustion temperatures transfer: moving gas vapors. contact: cilia in my lungs. And we have lift off houston; checkpoint alpha, beta, gamma. t minus 48 hours minimum over
I like the way you roll Mr Nugent. It’s been a long time since the Culture show at the Moose. I’m picken up what your putting down and I like it
9:05 am eastern standard- M. Nugent posting up. colors fly- Providence. rain, rain, rain. t.h.c. transfer occurring in t-minus 8 hours. white widow ind.. checkpoint alpha, beta gamma 015:00hrs over. word EJ
15:55 eastern standard- M. Nugent posting up. Colors fly- Providence albeit wet. road salt washing into atlantic o.. white widow ind. temp. combustion. gaseous and import; lung, cilia (personal). t-minus 50 minutes and counting. acknowledgement. check point alpha, beta, gamma 17 hours minimum over.
by the way EJ, that was a great show @ the moose. Joseph Hill, the lead man in Culture passed almost 2 years ago. The band, led by his son (whose supposed to be good), lingers on but either way thought you might wanna know. we saw one of the last Culture tours after an almost 50 year history of touring. real glad he played “It tried.” Nuge
Roger that Nuge….An awesome show and even better band, I did not know Joseph Hill died, He was a cool guy and put on a pretty insane show, from what I can remember, what I do recall is your stylin liesure suite. Calla always hooks it up and he delivered that week as always. Trying to get up to N.H. one last time this season if the weather allows , anyways have to go close up the the kitchen and hit the tube.. sour d
11:58 eastern standard. colors fly- Providence. sunshine, daydream. EJ is the man. Sour D, eh? a nice smoke. k.g.b (kind green bud) hitting combustion temp. in t-minus 4.5 hrs. cilia, lung. binga. checkpoint alpha, beta, gamma minimum 2hrs..
10:43 eastern standard. Hope & anchor fly-Providence. waiting for the next Calla excursion post. did not know crown burger lives in California. good burger. not a fan of fry sauce, no offense weissbard. starter broken in vehicle. silver haze cannabi(s) approaching combustion phase entry-lungs, blood stream brain in t-minus 6hrs. and counting. checkpoint alpha, beta, gamma 15:30 hrs. over.
16:00 eastern standard. Green, orange and white fly-Providence. stay away from green beer. try green bud? silver haze ind. vapors connect: lungs, t-minus 59 minutes. checkpoint alpha, beta, gamma 10:00 hrs. over
10:31 eastern standard. something creeps- Providence. what happened 2 bootedandfed.com? is this seriously all you do? siver haze ind.. nuge was here. checkpoint alpha, beta, gamma following admin.’s next post over