I have skied in these resorts all my life and this is the first time I have heard of the Pipeline. Too bad I did not know about it 20 years ago. I started out in the 50's when a day pass was $3.75. Now that part of my life is in the past. Take the time in your youth to do things like this. Youth does not last as long as you would like it to. One day you wake up old, but still enjoy watching videos like this one. I was there with these guys in my memories.
Oddly, the main challenge is climbing, not skiing. I can barely walk with ski boots, and I can't imagine having to do the horrible climbing. I get anxiety just looking at it.
I was wondering if there are people who use a back pack to swap out more appropriate climbing equipment for ski equipment. Thinking of down climbing with ski boots gives me the willies.
@@apet1572 At 11,000 feet, you have consistent high winds, low visibility (fog) avalanche risks, ice risks etc... Video hardly gives us full perspective of just how high, steep, narrow and scary that climb is. High winds or fog would almost make both the climb and the decent a death sentence. Then the snow has to be just right to ride down that chute. It can't be too icy as full edge control is crucial going down that steep. And there can't be too much snow due to avi danger. Quite a few stars literally need line up perfectly for Pipe to be open, hence why it's only open a couple/few times per season.
It’s best skied in July when the resort closes. There are much harder and more dangerous runs nearby on peaks outside of the resort boundary. The resort doesn’t trust the average person to go when there is .1% danger because they don’t want to be sued. In Europe runs like these are open year round because they won’t get sued into bankruptcy like here in the US
@@gculligan55 WRONG. July is NOT an ideal time to be running pipe. And the resort holds ZERO liability. Ever heard of a waiver? You know, that piece of paper that Snowbird Ski Patrol requires skiers to sign before granting access to the trail that leads to pipe? Oh and that .1% of danger you're talking about is quite irrelevant for this run LOL Clearly you 've never been up there. Must be from Florida..
I've done Pipeline once about 10 yrs ago and your video reminds me just how scetchy that down climb really was...Next time I am definitely going to bring a ice axe or at least a whippit. Someone got stuck on the down climb when I was did it and ski patrol had to come rescue them. That down climb was definitely the gnarliest and most memorable part. I made a lil video when I did it too but you guys did a much better job capturing the full experience!
I was lucky enough to be attend the PSIA instructors College at Snowbird in 1983. It was a great week! I remember looking to the right from the top of the tram and I saw the pipeline. It looked very skiable, but as I was training with members of the PSIA Demonstration Team, there was no time to get to it. I didn't realize how difficult it is to get to the top of the run.. Great job guys for all your effort and for sharing this amazing run with us!
Been a subscriber for awhile now. This has to be one of the funnest uploads! Really incredible skiing. Look forward to each and every video. Skilled snowboarder here and this line would definitely raise goosebumps. Hats off to ya both! Thank you for what you guys do on this channel!
ha we were the two in purple and red jacket on the tram with you that day... *doink* is right haha you guys were troopers with alpine soled boots that day!
@@alexblanck If someone thinks they need crampons, I really think that person has no business being up there! First they need to know how to attach the crampons correctly, but more so ... they need to know how to walk/stand in them! (yes there is a technique)
Brother you guys. I love Snowbird but you're absolutely right, I'm one of the 99.98% of the guys that wouldn't do this. I think through 90% of the video, all I had in my head was, "OH fuck that" :)
Awesome edit, @PeakRankings! Maybe even more impressive is these guys met us later in the morning at Brighton and skied Elevator Chute. That was an adventure! 😉😉😉
Looks like type 2 fun quickly transitioned into type 3 fun and back into type 2 fun. Gnarly. As a 2x AltaBird pass-holder I’ve never skied Pipeline and I think it was only open for a few hours one day I was there. I’m glad you two skied it and made it home safe! I love the video because it gives people a tutorial of what to expect if they decide to go up there. On the other hand, if beginners see this and think (oh I can ski pipeline) to them I say: please don’t.
Wow so much respect for you guys hiking that IN SKI BOOTS… I snowboard but I skied for about 5 years and man those ski boots are no joke. I remember being a kid complaining about how winded I was after a short walk uphill
I think if you fell at the top of the rocks you would more than likely slide into pipeline that go left over the cliff. The video doesn't show the contours very well. But you do have decent feeling of some exposure!
Ive done pipeline multiple times and the run with the cliff to the lookers left. Pipeline is for some reason more intimidating than the cliffed out one!
As far as the rock descent goes, once things get technical, turn around and face the rock to downclimb. It also allows you to hold your skis horizontally above you and can act like a deadman in case your feet slip.
I'm seriously afraid for my life and I'm just sitting here drinking coffee in my pajamas watching this. I've been on stuff 1/10 as dangerous as this and the overwhelming thought of "What if I slipped" still haunts me.
I LOVE hiking up to the craziest runs!!! Great views, great workout and runs to remember!! The best part of all my trips!! I’d love to hit that run if I ever go to Utah 😂
@@03crispi It would suck up ski patrol resources, if it was always open. Too many people would get stuck on that down-climb, require high-angle rescues. That takes minimum of two patrollers and time to set up & break down. Some would fall and be seriously injured, which requires more ski patrol involvement.
With regards to that down climb, any thoughts on taking a set of crampons for it? It’s been a while since I was doing anything approaching that but when I did in the Alps, we’d often take a set of crampons just to down climb sections like this.
That gear is really not required. I wouldn't want to be on rock with crampons ... that sounds scary to me. Any experience rock climbing or walking on snow (mountaineering) makes it quite straight forward. I was lucky April 20, 2024 to finally tick this off with my wife!
@@irideaduck939 Oh wait how was it? i wanted to do pipeline this past april but 1) didn't have anyone to go with and 2) I'm scared of the scramble lol. I think I can do it, just need someone whos done it before to go too. Its one of my goals for this coming season.
@@patrickmcmillan8285 The scramble is the hardest part, but it’s not so bad. The first guy in this vid did it right, the second guy down almost gave me a heart attack. Don’t try and climb down the rocks. As far as a partner: go to ski patrols office in the morning if it’s open with your gear (beacon probe shovel) and you’ll find a partner. They tend to close the gate by 10-10:30 in the spring. The best time to do pipeline is in late spring (late April/early may). They almost always open it if there’s a hard freeze overnight (~28 degrees f) and a regular spring day ahead.
@@patrickmcmillan8285 bring a ski tie or two, this really helps keep your skis and/or poles together when you hand them down. Last season I talked to a father of a teenager that aired over the rocks ... that would be crazy to watch. I too have dreamed of skiing this line for many years, and for one thing or another it didn't come together until this past season. The day prior my wife and I we arrived at the tram summit without our gear and had to return the next day with hopes of making it happen, which it did.
13:50 - rock band is tricky, yeah, but it would be so much easier if you turned around to face the slope, then down-climb backwards. This is the same climbing principle you would use if you were ascending the rock band, right? Only you're doing it in reverse, getting toe holds in the snow or rock with the boot. I'm no "armchair mountaineer", I've been out there doing it, skiing it, sending it. I'd have approached this problem the same way I described.
Good video! I'm totally down. Heading there this winter. I like how you pretend to not have any mountaineering skills to scare away the gapers. Well done
Too old for that scramble stuff, but Snowbird/Alta have all kinds of lift accessible steep stuff without hiking if thats your jam. Weekends however are a madhouse. This looks midweek.
The down climb is tame. I recently did it with old 32 boots with an EVA sole, very little grip. With ski boots or snowboard boots with a stiff sole like Vibram its chill.
I get the argument of "It should be difficult to get to extreme runs" but I feel that that argument only applies when it's something that if you can't pass, it just means you can't get up to the run. For something like that rock scramble they should probably install stairs or remove the rocks somehow.
I dont know about stairs or removing the rocks, but snowbird has ropes in other areas like one of the get serious chutes that they could put on the scramble. that'd make me feel more comfortable, at least. I guess the question there would be where to anchor since the get serious chute anchor is a tree. But they could put in a bolt or something. idk
i think they would've put something like that in there if it weren't for the fact that that run opens maybe twice a year. It's probably just not worth it to them to put in any work up there, and also a simple case of too many people would be upset about it to outweigh the amount of money it would take/how much it would get used.
Not totally sure that pipeline is even considered in bounds. Nonetheless the rock step is the crux of the ski line and for sure not easy given its with mixed class 3-4 scrambling with exposure and often time rotten snow, but doing any alteration would dilute it as a ski mountaineering objective. It can be made pretty casual with preparation of bringing ice tools
this is more of an in-bounds ski mountaineering line, the wild aspect of it is part of the appeal. furthermore, what would you attach a rope to? there isn’t a good place to put bolts on the run before the scramble. i’m mainly surprised that ice axes are not mandatory on the run, if you brought one, it would make the crux much more manageable
That was awesome! I wonder what you would think about the hike + ski of Hells Roaring on the headwaters of Big Sky. One key difference is Pipeline is definitely a rarer opening opportunity.
There’s a magical run waiting to be ski’d but it only awaits those willing to brave a potentially life threatening little down climb. Well? I’m waiting!
Palmyra Peak at Telluride similar hike, almost the same exposure going up as going down in your video, did that hike the first year they opened it at Telluride in 2006-2007 highest in-bounds hike to terrain in North America 13,320ft, at the time I had no idea that it was the very first year for them to open it as 'Inbounds'.....
Dangerous because of unsufficient gear (crampons and an axe) at the rock scramble section, first attempt even w/o T.S.P... no powder left so super safe and hence open.
One day you’re uploading a video on a first timers experience, the next you’re tackling one of the hardest runs in the country! Love it
that explains his intermediate ski skills.
I have skied in these resorts all my life and this is the first time I have heard of the Pipeline. Too bad I did not know about it 20 years ago. I started out in the 50's when a day pass was $3.75. Now that part of my life is in the past. Take the time in your youth to do things like this. Youth does not last as long as you would like it to. One day you wake up old, but still enjoy watching videos like this one. I was there with these guys in my memories.
I’m with you. My double black diamond days are long past.
Too true. At least we enjoyed it while we could👍😀
@@ClanMcDuck Life moves on, but I can do things now that I could not do then. I will list them.
1.
2.
Well, I guess I can't.
I was in the group right in front of you guys, nice to have this footage so I can show people how it was when they ask me about the down climb!
Oddly, the main challenge is climbing, not skiing. I can barely walk with ski boots, and I can't imagine having to do the horrible climbing. I get anxiety just looking at it.
I was wondering if there are people who use a back pack to swap out more appropriate climbing equipment for ski equipment. Thinking of down climbing with ski boots gives me the willies.
I talked to a patroller who was there for 40 years and he said opening it more then 2 days a season is a blessing
but why can it only be done 2 days
@@apet1572 At 11,000 feet, you have consistent high winds, low visibility (fog) avalanche risks, ice risks etc... Video hardly gives us full perspective of just how high, steep, narrow and scary that climb is. High winds or fog would almost make both the climb and the decent a death sentence. Then the snow has to be just right to ride down that chute. It can't be too icy as full edge control is crucial going down that steep. And there can't be too much snow due to avi danger. Quite a few stars literally need line up perfectly for Pipe to be open, hence why it's only open a couple/few times per season.
@@noahpaynenoahgayne7309 and I bet having too many peeople go makes it super dangerous.
It’s best skied in July when the resort closes. There are much harder and more dangerous runs nearby on peaks outside of the resort boundary. The resort doesn’t trust the average person to go when there is .1% danger because they don’t want to be sued. In Europe runs like these are open year round because they won’t get sued into bankruptcy like here in the US
@@gculligan55 WRONG. July is NOT an ideal time to be running pipe.
And the resort holds ZERO liability. Ever heard of a waiver? You know, that piece of paper that Snowbird Ski Patrol requires skiers to sign before granting access to the trail that leads to pipe?
Oh and that .1% of danger you're talking about is quite irrelevant for this run LOL Clearly you 've never been up there. Must be from Florida..
*ice crunching loudly underneath*
“magnificent” 😂😂😂 lol yeah right
Lots of factors besides good snow at play here
I've done Pipeline once about 10 yrs ago and your video reminds me just how scetchy that down climb really was...Next time I am definitely going to bring a ice axe or at least a whippit. Someone got stuck on the down climb when I was did it and ski patrol had to come rescue them. That down climb was definitely the gnarliest and most memorable part. I made a lil video when I did it too but you guys did a much better job capturing the full experience!
That hike and downclimb are super gnarly!!! You guys got stones man, awesome vid
back to back uploads from PeakRankings? Christmas came early.
Merry xmas Flip!
I havn't skied in 20 years but hearing you guys say Gnarly brought a big smile to my face. Thinking glad they still use this word for a cool run...
Been 30yr ago for me,east coast, WICKED GOOD/GNARLY, etc., memories backcountry out west,old man smiling now,GODBLESS 😊.
Congratulations on a great ski achievement. Y’all got bragging rights for sure.
I was lucky enough to be attend the PSIA instructors College at Snowbird in 1983. It was a great week! I remember looking to the right from the top of the tram and I saw the pipeline. It looked very skiable, but as I was training with members of the PSIA Demonstration Team, there was no time to get to it. I didn't realize how difficult it is to get to the top of the run.. Great job guys for all your effort and for sharing this amazing run with us!
1983 was my first season there. Miss it, but not the crowds
I did not intend to watch this .. but got totally invested in the success of you two miscreants. Great footage!
Been a subscriber for awhile now. This has to be one of the funnest uploads! Really incredible skiing. Look forward to each and every video. Skilled snowboarder here and this line would definitely raise goosebumps. Hats off to ya both! Thank you for what you guys do on this channel!
ha we were the two in purple and red jacket on the tram with you that day... *doink* is right haha you guys were troopers with alpine soled boots that day!
Glad you found this vid!
I agree that the downclimb is sketchy for non mountaineers but if you have any winter mountaineering experience that is a very simple descent
Exactly.
@@daveamirault Agreed Oz!
You can also just jump it ...
Or if you bring crampons I suppose
@@alexblanck If someone thinks they need crampons, I really think that person has no business being up there! First they need to know how to attach the crampons correctly, but more so ... they need to know how to walk/stand in them! (yes there is a technique)
Nice effort gents...enjoyed our chat before dropping in. Another soft snow bluebird day at the Bird...Pipeline was a bonus!!
Brother you guys. I love Snowbird but you're absolutely right, I'm one of the 99.98% of the guys that wouldn't do this. I think through 90% of the video, all I had in my head was, "OH fuck that" :)
Tore my ACL on that mountain on day 1 of 5 day trip. Resort has a good pool & hot tub btw. Good times. Good times.
As a lifty that does this annually there. I have to take off work when I find out it opens. Usually mid March to mid April
Hell yeah! Now it’s time to send: Broom closet, get serious #2 straightline under the log branch, forbidden zone, etc. Let’s see it!
Awesome edit, @PeakRankings! Maybe even more impressive is these guys met us later in the morning at Brighton and skied Elevator Chute. That was an adventure! 😉😉😉
I'm too old for this "nonsense" now, but can recall a time when this might have been right for me. Thanks for shooting and sharing.
Honestly for your skill level this is really impressive.
Daley Spam is my freaking hero man 🫡
Looks like type 2 fun quickly transitioned into type 3 fun and back into type 2 fun. Gnarly. As a 2x AltaBird pass-holder I’ve never skied Pipeline and I think it was only open for a few hours one day I was there. I’m glad you two skied it and made it home safe! I love the video because it gives people a tutorial of what to expect if they decide to go up there. On the other hand, if beginners see this and think (oh I can ski pipeline) to them I say: please don’t.
I miss living in SLC snowbird was my home away from home when I lived there.
Same here. I was in SLC for over ten years. Best place I ever lived!
Wow so much respect for you guys hiking that IN SKI BOOTS… I snowboard but I skied for about 5 years and man those ski boots are no joke. I remember being a kid complaining about how winded I was after a short walk uphill
Im ngl, every one seems so calm, but It is scary how close u are bordering the edge of death
I think if you fell at the top of the rocks you would more than likely slide into pipeline that go left over the cliff. The video doesn't show the contours very well. But you do have decent feeling of some exposure!
Ive done pipeline multiple times and the run with the cliff to the lookers left. Pipeline is for some reason more intimidating than the cliffed out one!
Love Snowbird~Alta combo.
Great climbing in the canyons in Summer.
As far as the rock descent goes, once things get technical, turn around and face the rock to downclimb. It also allows you to hold your skis horizontally above you and can act like a deadman in case your feet slip.
Skied hundreds of days at the Bird and never got to ski Pipeline. Timing never worked out. Fun to watch you guys get the goods.
Could feel the anxiety on that rock wall climb down. Can only imagine real life.
I'm seriously afraid for my life and I'm just sitting here drinking coffee in my pajamas watching this. I've been on stuff 1/10 as dangerous as this and the overwhelming thought of "What if I slipped" still haunts me.
Yeah... that rock scramble.... NOPE! But awesome run man. Great vid.
Sketchy asl. Snow bird is such an epic ski resort. So many of their runs have a good bit gnarly
Way to shred that line Sam! Run of a lifetime for sure 👍
all that boot packing to go down an icy tracked out couloir. i'm happy for ya'll!!!
Type II fun I guess!
I LOVE hiking up to the craziest runs!!! Great views, great workout and runs to remember!! The best part of all my trips!! I’d love to hit that run if I ever go to Utah 😂
This channel is criminally underrated
The underestimation is insane
Nice production ! What a reward for the hike.
in europe they'd just declare this as backcountry terrain and skiing at own risk
and it'd be open everyday
Easy
@@03crispi It would suck up ski patrol resources, if it was always open. Too many people would get stuck on that down-climb, require high-angle rescues. That takes minimum of two patrollers and time to set up & break down. Some would fall and be seriously injured, which requires more ski patrol involvement.
you gotta practice kicking your toes in multiple times until you dig a solid footing
4 hours until my Math midterm, here I am again watching videos about Skiing.
I’m starting to think I should need to pick up this hobby.
Wow. Congratulations!
This has been on my bucket list for years. But seeing that sketchy rock scramble….I’m second guessing it. Yikes
excited for the new season! hopefully i can catch it
This is, uh, not a thing I want to do. You guys have balls of steel.
Same, I'm fine cruising blue groomers and trees.
The risk and effort just does not seem worth the payoff. Rather get more laps in on difficult, lift-served runs.
hell yeah Sam D knows whats up with the Moment Wildcats.
This is absolutely insane. So cool.
With regards to that down climb, any thoughts on taking a set of crampons for it? It’s been a while since I was doing anything approaching that but when I did in the Alps, we’d often take a set of crampons just to down climb sections like this.
Awesome work taking care of each other!
Seems like a lot of work for some icy skidded turns.
Wow. I feel like I'm right there. This is NUTS. This run is terrifying. Well done though guys!
I would just bring crampons and ice tools with me. Makes the descent so much easier. :)
That gear is really not required. I wouldn't want to be on rock with crampons ... that sounds scary to me. Any experience rock climbing or walking on snow (mountaineering) makes it quite straight forward. I was lucky April 20, 2024 to finally tick this off with my wife!
@@irideaduck939 Oh wait how was it? i wanted to do pipeline this past april but 1) didn't have anyone to go with and 2) I'm scared of the scramble lol. I think I can do it, just need someone whos done it before to go too. Its one of my goals for this coming season.
@@patrickmcmillan8285 The scramble is the hardest part, but it’s not so bad. The first guy in this vid did it right, the second guy down almost gave me a heart attack. Don’t try and climb down the rocks.
As far as a partner: go to ski patrols office in the morning if it’s open with your gear (beacon probe shovel) and you’ll find a partner. They tend to close the gate by 10-10:30 in the spring.
The best time to do pipeline is in late spring (late April/early may). They almost always open it if there’s a hard freeze overnight (~28 degrees f) and a regular spring day ahead.
@@jacobstein828 I think they both showed a very novice ability for snow travel. Sitting on your butt on a steep slope ... that was scary to watch.
@@patrickmcmillan8285 bring a ski tie or two, this really helps keep your skis and/or poles together when you hand them down. Last season I talked to a father of a teenager that aired over the rocks ... that would be crazy to watch.
I too have dreamed of skiing this line for many years, and for one thing or another it didn't come together until this past season. The day prior my wife and I we arrived at the tram summit without our gear and had to return the next day with hopes of making it happen, which it did.
Outstanding story love it...the adventure is real.. I've skied all over the bird but never that run wish I did when I was younger
What an incredible experience, excellent video. Love from the cascades!
I love the views from over 11,000’
I love skiing the Bird.
Great Video!
this was gut wrenching. great job
The camera angles don’t give it any justice
Or just how incredibly exhausting it is to simply “be” at 11,000+ feet, much less dragging all the equipment, the hike, the climbing etc etc..
13:50 - rock band is tricky, yeah, but it would be so much easier if you turned around to face the slope, then down-climb backwards. This is the same climbing principle you would use if you were ascending the rock band, right? Only you're doing it in reverse, getting toe holds in the snow or rock with the boot. I'm no "armchair mountaineer", I've been out there doing it, skiing it, sending it. I'd have approached this problem the same way I described.
the fact that you'd even consider going up w/o proper gear nor even had that stuff in your pack is a red flag.
great video. Lucky day at the bird!
What did we ever do right to get a YT channel like this?
We're not worthy.
🙇🙇🙇
were so spoiled lol
Good video! I'm totally down. Heading there this winter. I like how you pretend to not have any mountaineering skills to scare away the gapers. Well done
So cool! What bag do you use to attach your skiis like that for an easier hike?
Too old for that scramble stuff, but Snowbird/Alta have all kinds of lift accessible steep stuff without hiking if thats your jam. Weekends however are a madhouse. This looks midweek.
After watching this I have so much more respect for everyone at peak rankings
How doable do you feel this is with (soft) snowboard boots? That downclimb looked pretty intense. Do people ever bring crampons?
Algorithm got me here and I’m happy it did. Nice one boys. Yall did the damn thang!!
What's wild is the red bull guys ski off those rocks. 😂
Sweating watching this.
I'd recommend hiking up the couloir during the spring after the season has ended, it's much less intimidating.
😮 amazing 🤩
Question 🙋♂️ this most be hard for a snowboarder 🏂?
👏never 👏down👏 climb 👏 facing 👏 down 👏 hill 👏
That's not what his guide on Mont Blanc said
I genuinely want to know why snowbirds ski patrol HQ needs to be redacted😂😂
how good are the ski patrol in this resort to rescue from here 😮
Watching this video was like watching "Free Solo"
Nice! Way to make it happen!
The down climb is tame. I recently did it with old 32 boots with an EVA sole, very little grip. With ski boots or snowboard boots with a stiff sole like Vibram its chill.
Just found out my state has one of the most dangerous ski runs in the country :D
I get the argument of "It should be difficult to get to extreme runs" but I feel that that argument only applies when it's something that if you can't pass, it just means you can't get up to the run. For something like that rock scramble they should probably install stairs or remove the rocks somehow.
I dont know about stairs or removing the rocks, but snowbird has ropes in other areas like one of the get serious chutes that they could put on the scramble. that'd make me feel more comfortable, at least. I guess the question there would be where to anchor since the get serious chute anchor is a tree. But they could put in a bolt or something. idk
i think they would've put something like that in there if it weren't for the fact that that run opens maybe twice a year. It's probably just not worth it to them to put in any work up there, and also a simple case of too many people would be upset about it to outweigh the amount of money it would take/how much it would get used.
Not totally sure that pipeline is even considered in bounds. Nonetheless the rock step is the crux of the ski line and for sure not easy given its with mixed class 3-4 scrambling with exposure and often time rotten snow, but doing any alteration would dilute it as a ski mountaineering objective. It can be made pretty casual with preparation of bringing ice tools
this is more of an in-bounds ski mountaineering line, the wild aspect of it is part of the appeal. furthermore, what would you attach a rope to? there isn’t a good place to put bolts on the run before the scramble. i’m mainly surprised that ice axes are not mandatory on the run, if you brought one, it would make the crux much more manageable
That was awesome! I wonder what you would think about the hike + ski of Hells Roaring on the headwaters of Big Sky. One key difference is Pipeline is definitely a rarer opening opportunity.
This was 10x harder when including the rock scramble
8:25 dudes leaving a leak 🤣
LMFAO ... you can't unsee it
Mountain climbing in ski boots? I'm not that brave. These people have guts.
Snowbirds pipeline cooler is wider than the Baldy Chutes at Alta. I left 47 figure eights down Gunsight with no other tracks at all. In 1975
This is amazing content
Well done for making the effort. But imho it really doesn’t look like it is worth the effort and risk.
It’s strange when getting to the run is harder than the actual run.
Sking looked like fun, getting there no sooner much!
Does this mean the next PeakRankings video will be hiking up a mountain in Norway with Nikolai Schirmer?
There’s a magical run waiting to be ski’d but it only awaits those willing to brave a potentially life threatening little down climb. Well? I’m waiting!
not sure about giving away your only arresting tool (your poles) on that downclimb.
Palmyra Peak at Telluride similar hike, almost the same exposure going up as going down in your video, did that hike the first year they opened it at Telluride in 2006-2007 highest in-bounds hike to terrain in North America 13,320ft, at the time I had no idea that it was the very first year for them to open it as 'Inbounds'.....
I’m a simple man. I see moment skis, I press like:)
Have climbed it many times starting in the mid 70's, I had my wooden shafted (hickory) Chouinard ice axe, didn't really need my crampons.
Video starts at 11:43
The guy you met on the tram and passed you on the hike up appears to be Owen Leaper. You should look him up he’s pretty awesome!
Legs must have been burning just with hike. The scary part is defo not having anything to arrest your fall. Concentration to max setting.
Dangerous because of unsufficient gear (crampons and an axe) at the rock scramble section, first attempt even w/o T.S.P... no powder left so super safe and hence open.