Route: Southwest Couloir

Team: Christy, Ted

Excited by a prospect of a second new descent after the route we just completed on Sunlight, we transitioned back to uphill mode and began up Windom Peak. Climbing to the side of the Widowmaker, we were up top quick, with a big decision.

The common ski line on Windom is the Widowmaker, to the northwest, which I skied in 2000. From camp though, we noticed the south side of the peak to be pretty snow filled. It was a more direct line down to camp and made it easier to get over to neighboring Jupiter Peak, a high 13er we thought about trying to ski as well. If the Dawsons Guide has the Widowmaker rated as “Extreme”, I don’t know what the south side is rated, although it was steeper in angle by almost double digits.

We actually first wondered if it was too much, but after some side slipping and poking around, we were on our way down. Scouting the line as we went, the final problem was answered with a skiers-left angled ramp that provides an exit without tackling the headwall at the bottom.

After a cruisey long schuss back to camp we broke it down and hustled to get the train that afternoon. 2:15 down the trail, with the heavy packs— it was a full day and a long drive home to Aspen that night.

The spring season was coming to a close but maybe I could still get Little Bear before putting the skis away.