SkiSickness

So after a serious clusterfuck, a near meltdown and a very cold midnight glacier ski on the way to Wedgemount, we sleep until nearly noon. Naomi is sick and the whole group acknowledges that the big plans for the day are no longer in play.

But the boys decide to boot up a big couloir on Rethel. It's right there at the hut.


This couloir is huge.


Nobody expects to get past the huge cornice that guards the top. But as we get close to it, there's some magic coastal snow that lets us boot up a very steep ramp through a cliff.

Suddenly, we find ourselves on a steep hanging snowfield above the couloir.


We don't have any crampons or ice axes but it doesn't matter because the snow is so perfect.


The hanging snowfield magically delivers us to the summit plateau above a cliff where there's no cornice.


Et voila !


The views are spectacular.

Parkhust!


Now we schralp steep powder. I guess, first dibs for me since I kicked the steps.


Purrrrfect.


Eric on the last bit of hanging snowfield above the couloir.


Fork an egg, that was fun!


Just to be all raunchy about it, Rethel.

looks awesome! but we need more details about the clusterfuck and meltdown

One should be so lucky to have that little number as a 'back-up plan.' Rad terrain!!

sky, are you skiing Parkhust today? it looks incredible.

I agree with Ziff. That Parkhurst couloir looks saweet.

I like this concept of cross-country freeride. Skiing multiple lines while never necessarily skiing a single 'objective.' This subject needs to be elaborated upon.

How does cross-country freeride make you feel?

System's we're off on this cold trip.Frozen metal bottle,frozen thermos,stove not working.

Reverse alpine start 3pm start from the creek.I felt I was going backwards on the Wedge glacier.I was so bonked.
I was literally 50 feet from the cabin and I had to take a rest.

But it was all worth it when Sky found the route up the east to the summit of Rethel down the south couloir in boot top
pow.

So sad I got sick. I would've loved to ski that couloir too. Oh well. Can't really complain with all the other stuff I get to ski.

Pretty dope, gotta say.

A short video from the day filmed with a helmet camera.

Thanks, Andy. That was a cool blast on a hot summer day! What an unbeatable combination of terrain and conditions. I'm counting my lucky stars.