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Stuck in the RockiesStuck in the Rockies
  • Home
  • The Latest
    • Aspen Times Weekly Column
  • Categories
    • On Skis
      • All “On Skis”
        • 13er & 14er ski descents
        • Backcountry Skiing
        • Hut Trips
        • Inbounds
        • Nordic
        • Rando/Ski Tour
        • Ski Mountaineering
        • Skimo Race
    • On Foot
      • All “On Foot”
        • Alpine Climbing
        • 13ers & 14ers
        • Camp/Backpack
        • Hiking
        • Peakbagging
        • Roped Up
        • Running
        • Ultras
    • Everything Else
      • All “Everything Else”
        • In the Desert
        • On the Bike
        • Photography
        • Press/Media
        • Trailguide/How-to
        • Training
        • travel & destinations
        • Video
  • About Christy & Ted
    • Colorado 13er & 14er Ski Descents
    • The Global Extremes Series

Snowmass ski area

Local Lines: The Rat Tail Couloir

Local Lines: The Rat Tail Couloir

Apr 21, 2022

Skiing a prominent line called the Rat Tail Couloir in the Snowmass backcountry, and a little history of where it got its name.


Recent Posts

  • Huayna Potosi
  • Pequeño Alpamayo
  • Truro Peak
  • Sleeping Sexton
  • Pyramid Mountain – 13,054 ft.
  • Treasure Mountain
  • Bushnell Lakes

About Christy & Ted

Christy and Ted Mahon We met in Aspen in 2000 and have been happily stuck in the rockies ever since, getting out in the mountains every day we can, in every season and by all means possible. Read More

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@tedmahon on Instagram

We’re grateful to have had a safe and successful We’re grateful to have had a safe and successful climb of Illimani, the tallest mountain in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real. 🇧🇴⛰️🙏 The mountain has four summits over 6000 meters, the highest of them, Pico Sur, measures in at 21,100 feet. 😳 We knew it would be a long, hard day (starting at 1am!)- the steep climbing route was as much ice as it was snow, which wasn’t easy. ⛏️ And the west-facing nature of the route meant we would be out of the warmth of the sun much later than normal sunrise. 🥶🥶🥶 Despite the conditions and shivering temps, we made the summit of Pico Sur in pretty good time, but we were so cold we only had a few minutes to take it all in before deciding it begin our descent, to warmer, lower elevations, ultimately making it all the way back to La Paz and our hotel 🏨 that night! Thank you Illimani and @boliviadiscovery for helping make it all happen. #1 On the 21,100 foot summit of Illimani’s South Summit ⛰️ #2 Basecamp in the valley below at 14k ⛺️ #3 @aspenchristy hiking up to high camp #4 High Camp - El Nido del Condor “The Condor’s Nest” @ 18,000 feet ⛺️ #5 A panorama view of Illimani #6 Illimani as seen from La Paz #bolivia #mountainclimbing #cordillerareal #andes @boliviadiscovery #6000meters @bolivianmountainguides @stio #lettheoutsidein
Sunrise on Tarija Peak, a 17,000 foot mountain in Sunrise on Tarija Peak, a 17,000 foot mountain in Bolivia’s Cordillera Real. From here we moved on to Pequeño Alpamayo, 17,618 ft. out in the distance. It was an incredible day- the challenge of late-season snow conditions and a long day mixed with the awe and amazement of being in an area of impressive mountains for the first time. 🇧🇴⛰️🇧🇴⛰️🇧🇴⛰️ After four days and four new summits, including the 6000m Huayna Potosi (19,975 ft.), we’re taking a break for a few days to see Lake Titicaca before heading out again to some more new mountains, and maybe even go higher. #bolivia #mountainclimbing @boliviadiscovery @aspenchristy @bolivianmountainguides #cordillerareal @stio #lettheoutsidein
Scouting ski lines. It’s not far off! ❄️⛷️👍😃 #winteriscoming #backcountry #skiseason #lettheoutsidein @aspenchristy @stio @kaestleski
An awesome mid-week fall hut trip to the Harry Gat An awesome mid-week fall hut trip to the Harry Gates Hut 🛖 with a great group of friends, incredible food, changing leaves 🍁 and super fun times around the campfire 🔥 the fact is, hut trips are always a great time, and when the opportunity comes your way, you should ALWAYS GO. @10thmtnhuts #alwaysgo #harrygateshut
Calling it a day 🥾⛰️🥱🌅⛺️💤🌙 Calling it a day 🥾⛰️🥱🌅⛺️💤🌙
The San Juan’s- I don’t think even AI could co The San Juan’s- I don’t think even AI could come up with something more postcard-perfect. 🤩 but there was nothing artificial about it, as @aspenchristy and I came upon this view while descending from a climb of San Miguel Peak, 13,752 feet, a bicentennial #13er above Lake Hope. ⛰️ The SW Face of Vermillion Peak and Pilot Knob are in the background. We camped at the lake below ⛺️ and also climbed nearby V8 and Beattie Peak, making for an awesome Labor Day Weekend outing. 🥾 So grateful to have these amazing places to visit!🙏 #sanjuanmountains #backpacking #colorado #peakbagging #alwaysgo #lettheoutsidein @stio
Sometimes taking the road less travelled isn’t a Sometimes taking the road less travelled isn’t a very good idea 😳‼️⚠️⛔️
What an unusual day up on Challenger Point and Kit What an unusual day up on Challenger Point and Kit Carson— we woke up to low clouds, lots of wind, cold temps ⛰️☁️💨 as we got higher, it only seemed to get worse. From the summit of Challenger, Kit Carson and the Crestones were completely obscured by lenticular-style clouds and the associated ripping winds (turn up volume). But as luck would have it, as we were debating our plans, the weather broke, the winds abated, the sun came out, and @aspenchristy and I ended up with a beautiful Kit Carson summit. 🌞Sometimes the early bird doesn’t get the worm! 🐛 And it always pays to just go and see, you never know what might happen #alwaysgo 😃 #14ers #peakbagging #colorado #sangredecristomountains #lettheoutsidein @stio
Tagging the top of Truro, 13,282 ft. ⛰️🤟 a Tagging the top of Truro, 13,282 ft. ⛰️🤟 a local summit that we had never stood atop. Always grateful for new backyard adventures with @aspenchristy 😃⛺️🥾🔥#alwaysgo #peakbagging #13ers #colorado #summer #lettheoutsidein @stio
Unique vantage points and less-travelled summits.⛰️ On the Sleeping Sexton 13,457ft. with @steepskiing - sometimes the best views aren’t reserved for the tallest mountains. What a fun day up high! 🥾🤟😊👍 #peakbagging #13ers #elks #maroonbellswilderness #alwaysgo
Weekend walk up in the alpine 😊 with @aspenchri Weekend walk up in the alpine 😊 with @aspenchristy ⛰️🥾🙏 this time closer to home, up on #independencepass caught some sun, rain, thunder, and tons of green and wildflowers. 🤙 #13ers #lostman #ridgehiking #alwaysgo #lettheoutsidein @stio
The birthday girl doing her thing. 🏃‍♀️🏔️🤙 HBD @aspenchristy!! 🎂🎉🎈thanks for the motivation this morning! #dawnpatrol #birthday #trailrunning #lostman #independencepass #lettheoutsidein @stio
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Recent Posts

  • Huayna Potosi
  • Pequeño Alpamayo
  • Truro Peak
  • Sleeping Sexton
  • Pyramid Mountain – 13,054 ft.
  • Treasure Mountain
  • Bushnell Lakes
  • La Plata Peak – Northwest Ridge – 6.14.23
  • East Ridge – Mount Elbert – 6.6.23

@aspenchristy on Instagram

Welcome to the Isla del Sol ✨The perfect place t Welcome to the Isla del Sol ✨The perfect place to rest, recover, and soak up all the strong ☀️ energy for our next mountain climb. Located in Lake Titicaca near La Paz, the island is a sacred site believed to be where Inca civilization began and the birth place of the Sun God, Inti. Koa tea for tummies, a beautiful sunset, and island hiking proved to be just what we needed for the next adventure. Even saw an endangered Lake Titicaca Grebe 👀 #laketiticaca #copacabana #isladelsolbolivia #alwaysbirding #highaltituderecovery #incaruins #incagardens #tiwanaku #kantuta
Wow, the beauty of these Bolivian peaks in the Con Wow, the beauty of these Bolivian peaks in the Condoriri area combined with a deep connection to ancient Andean cultures is incredible! A few shots of the summit of Huayna Potosí (6,088 m) after meeting local friends and climbing to the summit of Pequeño Alpamayo (5370 m) at sunrise ✨🏔️ ☀️ Like so many mountain ranges around the world, the Condoriri’s glaciers are receding, and the lack of snow is making these peaks much more technical. Now more mixed ice and rock, not as much snow. We didn’t get to climb the Cabeza de Condor but we were able to see an Andean Condor and some Chilean Flamingos 🦩 who were our spirit animals for the climbs! The adventure continues…#bolivia🇧🇴 #andesmountains #cordillerareal #alwaysbebirding #lettheoutsidein @boliviadiscovery @bolivianmountainguides @tedmahon @stio
Pure joy to celebrate our Papa, spread his ashes, Pure joy to celebrate our Papa, spread his ashes, connect with our island family history, spend time with Great Aunt Fran, do some birthday birding, and soak up the sea 🌊 🦞 💙 @jenabear54 @lynns2000 @tedmahon #nantucket #family #northshore #history #alwaysbebirding
Fun day chasing @tedmahon up his 34th summit of on Fun day chasing @tedmahon up his 34th summit of one of our favorite local peaks! Pretty sure he’s part mountain goat 🐐 Thank you @colorado14ersinitiative for such awesome trail work! 🙏 #uphigh #elkmountains #summits #lettheoutsidein @stio @tedmahon
Scrambling in the San Juans before the sunsets on Scrambling in the San Juans before the sunsets on summer…even spied some Arctic Gentian which means winter is coming! #colorado #adventures #sanjuans #sanmigel #V8 #beattie #rosyfinches #ptarmigans #alwaysexploring #alwaysbebirding @stio @tedmahon
Sometimes it’s nice to have your head in the clo Sometimes it’s nice to have your head in the clouds ☁️ #highpeaks #colorado #sangres #14ers #13ers #rosyfinches #summits #alwaysgo #lettheoutsidein @stio @tedmahon
Pristine lakes to rugged cliffs and dramatic rock Pristine lakes to rugged cliffs and dramatic rock formations - felt that magnetic pull to the summit of a couple local peaks this weekend. Nice to see the valleys still blanketed in lush green carpet but with a slight twinge of an approaching fall season #winteriscoming #lettheoutsidein #mountainviews #adventure #mountainlovers #nature @stio @tedmahon
Two fun days commuting to Crested Butte and back v Two fun days commuting to Crested Butte and back via some wildflowers and wilderness! Town to town travel with a toothbrush is always a favorite thing to do. Especially off the beaten path. Thanks @kfranzmann for meeting us in the middle! #trainrunning #towntotown #friends #backyardadventures #freshrain #alwaysgo #lettheoutsidein @stio
Fun, afterwork proximity camp to celebrate a birth Fun, afterwork proximity camp to celebrate a birthday for @tedmahon! These simple, close to home, short adventures under the night sky are so rejuvenating! Thanks Ted for always inspiring us and keeping us laughing! #alwaysgo #nightout #bigwrap #adventurecamp #shootingstars #lettheoutsidein @stio
A good ol’ wilderness rinse for the mind, body, A good ol’ wilderness rinse for the mind, body, and spirit. Grateful for this annual spin around our majestic bells #wildernesstravel #forestbathing #trialrunning #nature #choseyouradventure #lettheoutsidein @stio #fox #pinegrosbeak #alwaysbebirding #wildernessmakesyoubetter #outdooraddict
Summer goal: Spend as much time as possible in the Summer goal: Spend as much time as possible in the high alpine ✔️ Flowers peaking, goats 🐐, summit lunches, pikas wanting snacks! #skypilots #wildflowers #wildlife #rechargingenergy #lettheoutsidein @stio @tedmahon
Summer in the high country goes fast, so you’ve Summer in the high country goes fast, so you’ve got to use every moment to pack it all in! #wildflowers #favoritevalleys #conundrum #triangle #east #maroon #lettheoutsidein @stio
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