Comstock Couloir, Mount Dawson

First skied by the legendary Greg Hill, Comstock Couloir flows 3,000 feet down Mount Dawson, the second highest peak in the Selkirks // [o] @bjarnesalen

 

Elevation: 10611’ 3234m

Aspect: North

Vertical: 2400’

Coordinates: 51°09’07”N 117°25’26”W

First descent: Hill, Kamink, Mills, Chance, Hardey, Hurley

“The steep and inviting Comstock Couloir begins in the saddle between the highpoints Mount Hassler and Mount Feuz on the Dawson Massif.” (FCSDofNA)

“Trees that don’t bend with the wind, won’t last the storm”
— Chinese proverb

Round 2 on the wild, rugged and exposed Comstock Couloir in Glacier National Park, Canada. With 28 days to ski three lines, a tough decision to stay in the Sierra versus driving ~2000 miles for a two day weather window hangs over Cody and Bjarne. Go to Canada and risk an opportunity in the Sierra or wait in the Sierra while wasting an opportunity in Canada. After making the call, the FIFTY crew links up with Greg Hill, Mali Noyes and Spencer Harkins to give another attempt at one that got away last season. An episode that opens up some of the philosophy behind the project, the irony of this objective based dream and why a lot of us go into the mountains.

Deep in the backcountry of the infamous Rogers Pass in British Columbia, Canada, lies a rarely skied beast of a line, the Comstock Couloir. This three thousand foot line is guarded by a full day's walk, multiple avalanche paths and aspects, glaciers and a giant cornice that guards the top of the line like a gargoyle guarding its castle.

Now throw in a year with as weird and challenging of weather as it gets and the Comstock gets even more challenging. Spanning a month of waiting, multiple weather shut downs, the kickoff line of the fourth year of The FIFTY proves to be a difficult line to check off the list for Cody Townsend