S. Arapahoe Peak (Vader Couloir) Skiing 6/22/2011
This line had been on my mind, and a huge goal of mine, for awhile. Inspired by the success of several friends on other big lines, both skiing and climbing related, (North Face of Longs, Childhood's End on Big Rock Candy Mtn, Scenic Cruise in the Black Canyon) I wanted more than ever to get it done.
Jordan and I first tried on June 15th, but I wasn't feeling well and knew that this wasn't a line to try when feeling less than 100%. So we bailed, and I chilled at the bottom and watched Jordan climb and ski Skywalker Couloir, a proud line in it's own right. But I knew I had to get Vader. So a week later, we were back.
Vader is fucking real. Although easily accessible on one of the most prominent and popular summits in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, South Arapahoe Peak, Vader is rarely skied. I am aware of only three other parties to ski it, although IPW skiing is poorly documented and there are likely a few more. There's a decent chance that I was the 3rd telemarker to ever ski it. The vast majority of the line is over tremendous exposure, the routefinding is complex, and when we did it, the angle exceeded 50 degrees in more than one spot. Maybe 55+. Also, the lower choke was melted out and required a short class 3 downclimb.
Because of all that, we really didn't come away with many good pictures from the outing. I personally was scared the whole way up and down, and wrasseling a camera around on that steep of slopes above that kind of exposure was simply not going to happen.
This ski day is dedicated to Lacy Meadows, because this was one of his favorite lines (and he and Dave Bahr may have been the first two tele skiers to do it).
Read MoreJordan and I first tried on June 15th, but I wasn't feeling well and knew that this wasn't a line to try when feeling less than 100%. So we bailed, and I chilled at the bottom and watched Jordan climb and ski Skywalker Couloir, a proud line in it's own right. But I knew I had to get Vader. So a week later, we were back.
Vader is fucking real. Although easily accessible on one of the most prominent and popular summits in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, South Arapahoe Peak, Vader is rarely skied. I am aware of only three other parties to ski it, although IPW skiing is poorly documented and there are likely a few more. There's a decent chance that I was the 3rd telemarker to ever ski it. The vast majority of the line is over tremendous exposure, the routefinding is complex, and when we did it, the angle exceeded 50 degrees in more than one spot. Maybe 55+. Also, the lower choke was melted out and required a short class 3 downclimb.
Because of all that, we really didn't come away with many good pictures from the outing. I personally was scared the whole way up and down, and wrasseling a camera around on that steep of slopes above that kind of exposure was simply not going to happen.
This ski day is dedicated to Lacy Meadows, because this was one of his favorite lines (and he and Dave Bahr may have been the first two tele skiers to do it).
