Finally got out and skied the Landry line on Pyramid Peak this weekend - it's been on my tick list for years. With the Maroon Creek rd dry to the lake (but closed), new snow to cover the dirt layer, reasonable stability and a willing and very able partner, the pieces finally fell into place to attempt this rowdy line. 2 am alarm, a quick bike ride and a smooth climb put us on the ridge with a view of the business end of the climb/ski just after dawn. Above, Brian shows off his best multitasking skills as we got a look at the top part; eating clif blocks, applying sun screen and trying to figure out where the ski line is... The climb from the saddle on the ridge to the summit was definitely heads up, with big exposure and very variable snow conditions - everything from solid refrozen snow, to powder, horrendous breakable mystery crusts with unsupportable shit-show snow underneath. Particularly when climbing around the rock band near the summit - where I fell through to my belly button and flailed around for a while, scary and unnerving moment.
Once on the summit, we quickly transitioned, and started working our way down the very exposed upper pitches above the big cliffs. Above, Brian is just a few turns off the summit and in what is probably the crux part of the line in terms of skiing - steep turns above a huge cliff in firm to breakable crusts conditions. We worked our way around and into the couloir, where we ran into Ted and Christy Mahon and crew - good to finally meet you guys!
They had climbed the line from the bottom, which erased our final question mark - the sneak through the cliffs below the couloir was filled in enough. From this point the route felt like a walk in the park, compared to the upper pitches... but it is all relative. An incredible line and an awesome peak. Huge kodus to Chris Landry whom pioneered this ski line the 70's - a truly awesome feat. I would like to return and ski this thing again, but in good conditions...
shit nice work
Posted by: chris | May 10, 2010 at 08:01 AM