OTHER Trip Report 06/28/2016

Peak(s):	San Joaquin - 13460
Date Posted:	06/28/2016
Date Climbed:	04/24/2016
Author:	bjornbauerphoto

Skiing the San Joaquin Couloir
Skiing The San Joaquin Couloir \| April 24, 2016 Distance: 12mi Gain: 4,500ft Time: 9hrs Transitions: 5 Team: Bj�rn Bauer, Erik Warmenhoven 4:00 am "Dude, I've got to take a dump. I'm doing it, I'm taking a dump." No one wants to spend time in the bathroom when you have 8 miles and 5,000 vertical feet ahead of you, but getting it out of the way is a better tactical decision than freezing your cheeks on a windy ridge. That's how Erik Warmenhoven and I started our morning with minds set on the San Joaquin Couloir, a 1,000ft - 50 degree damn near perfect cut in the San Joaquin ridge between Telluride and Ophir. 4:30 am We found out later that we could have parked on the mountain near the base of Polar Queen Express Lift, but in the dark haze of the early morning we opted to park in a garage at the base of Telluride's Mountain Village. From there we spent the next 3 hours skinning up the resort, following a blue/green run from ridgeline to ridgeline. Our approach up the resort from Telluride Mountain Village Watching dawn over the Wilson Group 7:30 am Weather forecasting in the mountains is largely BS. What we expected to be a sunny, blue sky day brought clouds as soon as the sun decided to rise. We hunkered down in a lift shack and had some breakfast as we watched clouds, snow, and a fox with a meal in his jaws cruise by. After an hour restlessness got the best of us and we mounted up, heading up the final slope to the ridge. The white world gave way to an incredible show. Erik gains the ridge with a glimpse of the distant basin A pause to watch the clouds blow off Palmyra Peak 10:30 am We reached the entrance to the Couloir. A sketchy approach across steep slopes, one quick doubleback off a wind slab, and traverse over a hanging snowfield lead to the opening. We agreed, the six mile approach was much bigger than we had anticipated. (Red) Our approach from the top of Telluride resort. (Blue) Couloir descent and exit to rejoin our approach tracks. 11:00 am The sickest thing I've ever done on skis. Erik dropped in first, laying a few tight turns before disappearing into the rocky slit. He hooted with happiness, feeling soft, knee-deep snow. The view in front of us was incredible, the horizon line below us, alarming. The couloir width necessitates hop turns, each turn dropping you a distance of ten or so feet. Following Erik's tracks I made my way down, attempting to throw more telemark than alpine turns. It was exhausting. By the time I reached Erik at the first choke my legs were shaking. You can skirt the first choke to the right, but the San Joaquin Couloir line proper goes straight through it. "Each hop turn slammed my skis into rocks on either side", said Erik. It was wide enough to get your skis sideways, but just barely. I lead the second half of the couloir, screaming into the transition from powder to ice at the start of the apron. I hip checked and was nearly sluffed the rest of the way down. A few exhausted, sloppy tele turns and one lawn-dart headplant later I was at the bottom. Erik followed with a series of hop turns and perfect GS turns out the apron. "You've gotta make it pretty, man!" Erik dropping into the couloir entrance Looking down 50 degrees as Erik enters the first choke Erik following into the second choke while I wipe snow from my helmet and goggles 11:30 am Skiing the exit after a rowdy line is usually like a victory lap. We had looked at skiing the Bear Creek drainage for a 5,000ft descent, but after peeking into the valley and seeing very little snow we decided against it. The best option was the hike back to the top of the resort and ski down the front side. Forget a victory lap, it was straight struggle-bussing. 1:00 pm Finishing a climb seldom feels so good. We transitioned for the last time and picked a route down the resort. Only a few dirt roads caused problems before we got to our car, took our boots off, and cruised to town for pizza and beer. Overview of the entire trip. Red is approach, blue is decent and exit to where we re-traced our approach tracks. Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Skiing the San Joaquin Couloir

Skiing The San Joaquin Couloir | April 24, 2016

Distance: 12mi
Gain: 4,500ft
Time: 9hrs
Transitions: 5
Team: Bj�rn Bauer, Erik Warmenhoven

4:00 am

"Dude, I've got to take a dump. I'm doing it, I'm taking a dump."
No one wants to spend time in the bathroom when you have 8 miles and 5,000 vertical feet ahead of you, but getting it out of the way is a better tactical decision than freezing your cheeks on a windy ridge. That's how Erik Warmenhoven and I started our morning with minds set on the San Joaquin Couloir, a 1,000ft - 50 degree damn near perfect cut in the San Joaquin ridge between Telluride and Ophir.

4:30 am

We found out later that we could have parked on the mountain near the base of Polar Queen Express Lift, but in the dark haze of the early morning we opted to park in a garage at the base of Telluride's Mountain Village. From there we spent the next 3 hours skinning up the resort, following a blue/green run from ridgeline to ridgeline.

Our approach up the resort from Telluride Mountain Village

Watching dawn over the Wilson Group

7:30 am

Weather forecasting in the mountains is largely BS. What we expected to be a sunny, blue sky day brought clouds as soon as the sun decided to rise. We hunkered down in a lift shack and had some breakfast as we watched clouds, snow, and a fox with a meal in his jaws cruise by. After an hour restlessness got the best of us and we mounted up, heading up the final slope to the ridge. The white world gave way to an incredible show.

Erik gains the ridge with a glimpse of the distant basin

A pause to watch the clouds blow off Palmyra Peak

10:30 am

We reached the entrance to the Couloir. A sketchy approach across steep slopes, one quick doubleback off a wind slab, and traverse over a hanging snowfield lead to the opening. We agreed, the six mile approach was much bigger than we had anticipated.

(Red) Our approach from the top of Telluride resort. (Blue) Couloir descent and exit to rejoin our approach tracks.

11:00 am

The sickest thing I've ever done on skis.
Erik dropped in first, laying a few tight turns before disappearing into the rocky slit. He hooted with happiness, feeling soft, knee-deep snow. The view in front of us was incredible, the horizon line below us, alarming. The couloir width necessitates hop turns, each turn dropping you a distance of ten or so feet. Following Erik's tracks I made my way down, attempting to throw more telemark than alpine turns. It was exhausting. By the time I reached Erik at the first choke my legs were shaking.

You can skirt the first choke to the right, but the San Joaquin Couloir line proper goes straight through it. "Each hop turn slammed my skis into rocks on either side", said Erik. It was wide enough to get your skis sideways, but just barely.

I lead the second half of the couloir, screaming into the transition from powder to ice at the start of the apron. I hip checked and was nearly sluffed the rest of the way down. A few exhausted, sloppy tele turns and one lawn-dart headplant later I was at the bottom. Erik followed with a series of hop turns and perfect GS turns out the apron. "You've gotta make it pretty, man!"

Erik dropping into the couloir entrance

Looking down 50 degrees as Erik enters the first choke

Erik following into the second choke while I wipe snow from my helmet and goggles

11:30 am

Skiing the exit after a rowdy line is usually like a victory lap. We had looked at skiing the Bear Creek drainage for a 5,000ft descent, but after peeking into the valley and seeing very little snow we decided against it. The best option was the hike back to the top of the resort and ski down the front side. Forget a victory lap, it was straight struggle-bussing.

1:00 pm

Finishing a climb seldom feels so good. We transitioned for the last time and picked a route down the resort. Only a few dirt roads caused problems before we got to our car, took our boots off, and cruised to town for pizza and beer.

Overview of the entire trip. Red is approach, blue is decent and exit to where we re-traced our approach tracks.

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

SnowAlien	Thanks for the report 6/28/2016 2:17pm This couloir is really high on my list. Thanks for the info. Looks awesome!
BillMiddlebrook	SanJ 6/28/2016 2:57pm Another year has gone by and I haven't driven down there to ski that thing. It's been on my list for over 10 years. Lol

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