Looking down the Big Couloir in High Summer
Last summer, on one of many hikes up my home mountain – Lone Peak – I crossed over the 11,000-foot summit, picked my way down the precipitous east face and paid my respects at the top of the Big Couloir. The Big, as it is affectionately and ominously known, is the most famous ski run off Lone Peak: a 1,200-foot 50 degree vertical drop that slices down the peak’s east face like a white lightning bolt. Sitting at the top of that impossible chute, I swore off ever skiing it. Too steep, too narrow, too cliffy, too foreboding. I should know better than to ever say never.
For most of my 20’s, I honored a tradition of climbing mountains on my birthday. For my 30th, I upended my usual quest and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. What a fitting evolution to spend my 35th sliding down a mountain on one of the gnarliest ski runs in the West, loving every moment, every movement. I am, as always, exactly where I should be at this point in my life. I wonder where the next five years will find me…
Waiting my turn to drop into the Big. This photo was taken from the same spot as the one above. Amazing how a little snow can change terrain.
The End of the World- that’s actually the name of this part of the mountain.
As Big as it gets. Photo by my friend Leah Bothamley. I was too busy survival skiing to get my own shot.
Me skiing down the apron at the bottom of the Big with the Lone Peak trams overhead. Photo by Dan Whitaker, who was at the right place at the right time to cheer me on.
Happy Birthday to me
Hiking the Headwaters ridge on Lone Peak. The Big Couloir is the chute over my left shoulder.
Travels with the Blonde Coyote 
Happy Birthday. Glad you got to spend it in your own adventurous style. 🙂
Happy Birthday! And glad to see you back!
Wow, such a wondrous landscape!! And you are very brave, but I hope you were not on your own, such slopes can be dangerous if you fell down without nobody at your side.
Happy birthday and still doing what you do so well,and above all enjoying it. Welcome back. Will be looking forward to hearing of your new adventures. Best wishes.
That was exciting. Thanks for the video. And, Happy Birthday!
I just can’t quite believe that people can do that and stay upright! What an adventure! Happy Birthday, and many more adventures.
Whew! My stomach is still doing flip-flops after the video! Congratulations for that feat and Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday!!! Thanks for sharing the experience.
My home mountain is also called Lone Peak, but not the one in Montana. 😉 Gorgeous photos! Happy Happy Birthday!
xox