Ashamed. That’s how I felt after my 1st attempt at skiing this particular chute, or rather the headwall next to it. I timidly ventured into some of the steepest Tahoe backcountry ski lines of my life, only to find myself overwhelmed and caught in a long slide down the mountain. It was a humbling experience. I couldn’t let it stand. I KNOW I could ski it, but there were mistakes that needed to be rectified to ensure my success. With the forecast looking perfect, we set a date to tackle the chute once again.
Training For Another Kind of Marathon
To do nothing and expect different results is the definition of insanity. After swallowing last season’s big slice of humble pie, I was determined to improve. I spent the off season focused on training in the gym to improve my strength and balance for snowboarding the Tahoe backcountry. Throughout this season, I tackled more challenging terrain inbounds. And most importantly, my backcountry partner and I worked on our group dynamics ensuring that when we did hit the Chute we were ready.
Visualize And Attack
You’ve probably seen the movie Waterboy where the coach told Bobby Boucher to “Visualize and attack.” The night before, my stomach was again in knots. I then began to think about what was the reason? Was it a genuine fear or was I simply replaying the memories of my past experience in the Chute? It seemed to be the latter. So, I took a deep breath and focused on visualizing how I would want the upcoming day to unfold.
Starting On The Right Foot
From the onset, my backcountry partner understood how big of a deal this was for me. It wasn’t that I lacked the skills. It was a mental hurdle to overcome. He made a point to say that we weren’t committed to skiing the Chute but rather we have a whole bunch of options to pick from. With that reassurance, my stress level lowered, and I found myself feeling genuinely excited.
Mistake #1 Fixed
One of our initial mistakes we made the last time was climbing up to the summit of Covered Wagon Peak. Once there, the only way down was through a challenging downclimb. This time, we opted to boot pack three-quarters of the way up and then ski over to Melissa Coray Peak. This decision saved us AT LEAST fifteen minutes of navigating rocky terrain and searching for a descent route.
Time On Skis Helps
Transitioning to splitboard skis, we made easy work of ascending Melissa Coray Peak. This time, I found myself unfazed about the steeper pitch. Time on the split skis was beginning to boost my confidence. What I did notice as we neared the summit, the soft snow had been swept away, leaving only wind-buffed terrain for the final section.
Mistake #2 Fixed
My partner and I stopped at this point and created a plan. Equipped with radios, he volunteered to traverse the slope to see if our observations were correct. As he ascended, he radioed back, confirming, “It’s borderline ice. It’s a good idea to throw on the crampons just before the rock.” As someone that’s never actually skied before, navigating steep slopes with icy conditions on splitboard skis poses a significant challenge.
Week Old Bread And A Serrated Knife
I threw on my crampons quickly and skinned up to the point that it became firm. I grinned as I blasted through it like I had four-wheel drive. As if it was week old bread and I had a sharp serrated knife. With two of the biggest obstacles removed, my confidence was through the roof.
Intimidation Factor Ratchets Up
Finally, we made it up to the top of the Chute. I peered over the edge and gulped. Adrenaline began to course through my body. Was this the right decision? Based on what we heard from ski patrol, the conditions were perfect. The two issues we were looking for were rapid warming and wind deposits. Both were non-factors at the moment.
Plan On How To Ski Zone
My backcountry partner and I talked about the next move. He asked if he could ski one chute over. I looked over and could see most of it from here. I nodded. We devised a plan for him to ski it and stop half-way down out of the way of any moving snow to watch me just in case.
Partner Goes First
I stood in my chute and watched closely to his moves. He radio’ed in and said “Dropping in 10.” I watched as in a few seconds he tapped his poles and leapt in. The first fifty feet he wasn’t visible. The only inkling that he was skiing was the sound of skis scratching firm snow. And then nothing for a few moments till I see him fly out the chute with a holler.
Game On
“The first turn is a bit firm but once you’re in it’s perfect!” I gulped and ratcheted into my splitboard. I then pressed my radio and said, “Dropping in 3.” I pointed my splitboard and dropped into the tight rocky chute. As he stated, the first turn was firm, but I kept my composure. I timidly rode my toe-side and then leaned into a heel-side turn.
Breaking Through The Wall
And with that one turn, the snow immediately went from firm wind-buff to condensed powder. I immediately bounced back to a toe. Then to another heel. I couldn’t hold myself back and screamed with absolute delight. It felt as if I was but a co-pilot as turns came easily. I bounced from turn to turn on the steepest line of my life cleanly riding it to the bottom. I looked up. I couldn’t believe it. I had just broken through one of the toughest mental walls of my life. As my partner rolled up to me from his run, we gave each other well-deserved high-fives.
He yelled, “Now THAT’s what I’m talking about!”
If you’re curious to know how the first attempt went, be sure to read our article: Getting A Big Slice Of Humble Pie Backcountry Skiing – Group Dynamics In Sport
Corbett’s- don’t need to say anymore. Nice job Alex, good planning makes for a good outcome.