Page 1 of 1

Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:29 pm
by skykilo
It's another birthday bash. They're getting longer. What kind of party only lasts a day? It's much better to spend a week celebrating a birthday.

Alex arrives at the Russet Hut. Instead of bringing overnight gear like Eric and I did, he brought a six pack.
Image

Eric and Alex skin over the blowhole at Whirlwind-Fissile Col.
Image

"Sky, what do you think about my binding?"
"Are you really asking me that?"

...

Two days later:
"Did you fix your binding?"
"It was fine. I was just freaking out."
Image

It is December, after all. A little rockstep below Overlord made things interesting.
Image

Here we see the objective, the West Face of Iago Peak. Yeah!
Image

Next to the summit of Benvolio, we had a consultation. The summit of Fitzsimmons looked more difficult than usual to obtain with quite thin snow over the rocks. The North Face would still be easy to ski through the notch, but that's not as satisfying and I've already skied it twice. It was a real push with the later hour (past 3 pm), but the homies agreed that we should ski 400 m of epic pow past Fitzsimmons then skin to the summit of Iago.

The powder was epic, but there was no time for pictures. I made my transition ASAP and started breaking trail toward Iago. I love being way out here with no other people and no other tracks!

Eric skins toward Iago, Cheakamus in the background. I really want to ski that face!
Image

Almost to the ridge and the Iago Glacier, I break trail as Alex follows.
Image

Other future fun!
Image

It was late and the light wasn't great, but Eric got one picture that vaguely does justice to the conditions on Iago. Truly steep and deep.
Image

How about that viddy, Alex?

We skied it to the valley and enjoyed some whiskey before the long (given our physical fatigue) climb to the hut.

Those two beers at the hut tasted so good! Eric and I spent a total of 17 hours or so at the hut before we found a steep stash off Russet Ridge, slalomed snowboarders on Singing Pass Trail, then scammed free pints of "IPA" at the Longhorn.

The steep stash.
Image

He left a little for me.
Image

More to come on the second half of the birthday bash, including celebrity sightings and a laser light show!

Joffre Peak, Aussie Couloir

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:10 pm
by Alex
I forgot my camera up at Whistler. Luckily Maddy's still up there, and she'll bring it down tomorrow. So, video and pictures tomorrow... ish.

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:14 pm
by LeeLau
Beauty - skied that at night with headlight once. Good to see that style is not going out of style.

I have some pics of that N face of Cheak and its ridgeline hiding in a hard drive somewhere

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:57 am
by Atraslin
Looks like you guys nailed the weather window.
I skied it a few years ago, with epic conditions
with waist deep powder floating.Scary as hell but one of
the best descents I can remember.

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:01 pm
by mtraslin
Good one!

Thanks for sharing....

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:21 am
by ziff
Lovely work!

Re: Steep and Deep on Iago Peak

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:39 am
by WilliamTerrano
jealous!