The Fifty By Cody Townsend

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Cody Townsend has set out on an audacious goal to climb and ski all 50 lines chronicled in the book, "The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America". Peak Obsession is a stand alone film premiered at film festivals around the world and dives into the depths of the mindset behind the project told through the story of two of the more challenging lines in the book, Meteorite Mountain and Pontoon Peak near Valdez, Alaska. Joined by legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones, along with cameraman Bjarne Salen, they set out on an adventure rife with challenge, exhaustion and a bevy of lessons to learn along the adventure.

 

This short film made in collaboration with Teton Gravity Research and Team 13 Productions.

 

This is Episode 19 and line 17 and 18 completed for The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

http://youtu.be/xDo0mQvAvyE

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Mt. Baker is the third highest mountain in Washington state. The Watson Traverse is a tribute to the history of skiing in the Pacific Northwest and the 14 mile, 10k+ foot traverse was first accomplished by Dwight Watson in 1939. Watson completed the traverse in a single day and filmed the feat on a 16mm camera which film still exists today. In May of 2019, Cody Townsend and Bjarne Salen recreate this feat but face a rapidly melting glacier pocked marked with deadly crevasses, an impending storm and the modern day softness that makes them question the entire point of ski traverses.

This is Episode 19 and line 19 completed for The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

Mt. Baker is also known by Native Americans as: Lummi: Qwú’mə Kwəlshéːn; Nooksack: Kw’eq Smaenit or Kwelshán

 

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Τρομακτικό!

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Mt. Rainier as known as the North American training ground of mountaineering. Which is why professional big wave surfer, Ian Walsh, joins Cody on Mt. Rainier in an attempt to prepare for his goal of climbing and riding Denali, the highest mountain in North America. Rainier brings a bevy of lessons to the inexperienced Walsh and experienced Townsend as they navigate whiteouts, crevasses, altitude and the decision making on whether to continue and risk it all for a line or to turn around and call it a day.

 

This is Episode 20 for The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

Mt. Rainier is also known by Native Americans as: Tahoma, Tacoma or Ti'Swaq

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Mt. Shasta is a lot of things to a lot of people. For skiers, it's seven-thousand vertical feet of perfect corn skiing on a late spring day. For Cody and Bjarne, it represents the end of Year 1 of The FIFTY. Joined up by a bevy of Tahoe friends, the crew sets off on a perfect June morning for the lengthy climb and lengthy ski. Filled with goofing off, good friends, Hawaiian shirts and some damn fun skiing make for a fitting end to a hell of a season in North America. This episode features Scott Gaffney, Michelle Parker, Kyle O'neal, Jeff Dostie, Brennan Lagasse, Megan Michelson and Ming Poon.

 

This is Episode 21 for The FIFTY, and line 20 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

Mt. Shasta is also known as Úytaahkoo by the native Karuk people, Ako-Yet by the native Ajumawi, Bohem Puyuik by the Wintu people or also known as Waka-nunee-Tuki-wuki by the surrounding mix of native Shastan tribes.

 

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Welcome to Year 2 of The FIFTY! It's 2020, there are 20 lines down and 30 lines to go. But before Year 2 starts, here is a little update on the status of ticking off classics along with a Bonus Episode that goes into the gear Cody brings on an average day of ski touring in the backcountry. This episode is called, "What's in the Bag?" and it goes into what are a lot of the necessary items to bring on a backcountry ski tour.

 

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The Cold Fusion line off of North Timpanogos, UT can be seen from the cities of Utah miles away and thousands of feet below. Its sight alone draws in skiers like bears to honey. What drew The FIFTY crew to Cold Fusion is a potential for sunny skies and unusually stable avalanche conditions. With a last minute call from Utah locals, the crew decides to hop in the car, drive across the desert and give Cold Fusion a chance. Starring Cody Townsend, Bjarne Salen, Drew Peterson and Mali Noyes. Photography by Bjarne Salen and Ming Poon.

This is Episode 22 for The FIFTY, and line 21 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

Edited February 15, 2020 by ashbury

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On this week's episode, the crew jets off to the birthplace of backcountry skiing in the US, the motherland of the Northeast ski mountaineering; Mt. Washington, New Hampshire. Renowned for its harsh weather and world record winds, Mt. Washington is home to two classic skiing ravines, Tuckerman’s and Huntington. The two ravines are a skier’s playground of steeps, couloirs, ice and powder. Joined by a crew of devoted Mt. Washington locals, frigid temps and gale winds are met with powder turns and pure stoke. But learning the backcountry fun that can be had on Mt. Washington is just part of the story learned on The Fifty’s East Coast jaunt.

Joined by: Blake Keogh, Ryan Gibbs, Ryan Dunfee, Forrest Frizzell, Forrest Shearer, Jamie Walter & Ben Drummond.

 

 

Mt. Washington is the ancestral home of the Wabanaki Confederacy, Abenaki and Pequawket and was known as Agiocochook, Kodaak Wadjo or Waumbik.
 

This is Episode 23 for The FIFTY, and line 22 and 23 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

https://youtu.be/eO9GtA1L-uE

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Standing watch above the Mt. Baker Ski Area in Washington state is Mt. Shuksan, a towering mountain that steals your eye and sends shivers down your spine. Its glaciated terrain is always moving, letting loose torrential avalanches at a moment's notice. Its northern faces are steep, wild and fraught with peril. It takes perfect timing along with a union of perfect conditions to ski it. After ten years of waiting for that union, the time has come. Having spotted a solid weather and stability window, the Fifty crew camps out at the legendary Mt. Baker Ski Area parking lot and is joined by fellow Salomon athletes Stan Rey and Alexi Godbout for an attempt to ski the steep and heavily exposed Northwest Couloir. While conditions seemed perfect from afar, the mission gets thrown into jeopardy by a sudden shift in winds and a whole lot of question marks.

This is Episode 24 for The FIFTY, and line 24 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

Title Screen Photo by: Jason Hummel Photography.

 

 

 

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Φανταστικό επεισόδιο!

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The FIFTY involves a lot of driving and a lot of camping. The rig that gets Cody around North America is a 2019 Ford Ranger equipped out with a GFC Camper and a bevy of storage, organization and car camping tools. In this episode, a tour of the truck is given to show how the truck was customized for chasing classics across North America. Sneak peak at cinematographer extraordinaire Bjarne's Salen's custom built Ram Promaster Van along with a guest appearance by van life connoisseur Jimmy Chin.

 

 

 

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Live call with Cody Townsend, Bjarne Salen and Ryan Dunfee, the "Give'r the beans" guy from Mt. Washington Episode. In the live chat we talk about the east coast vs. west coast, the current state of The FIFTY amid the COVID-19 pandemic and how Bjarne and Cody met and their partnership on the project.

 

 

 

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The world has suddenly changed. For most of us, it has stopped completely. In the scheme of things, skiing is suddenly not very important. Collectively, globally we're all trying to get through this age of COVID-19 and for this project, the thing I've devoted my life to, it means joining you all in staying home, not traveling and keeping this disease from continuing to spread. In this episode, the project status is told along with a really amazing story from the CEO of Arcade Belts, Tristan Queen. A story based upon fighting for your community, your employees and for the health of the world. It's a small story from a small company, but let's hope it inspires hope in a time filled with anxiety and dread.

 

 

 

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Celebrating the halfway mark of the project (in number only), this special episode goes into showing how the research, ski community and planning come together to make each line successful. Diving into the applications, websites, people and decision making process days before even arriving to a zone, the process behind the scenes is shown to highlight some of the resources necessary to make this project feasible. Joined by Tucker Patton, guide / owner of Triple Point Expeditions and photographer Ming Poon, the crew makes a blitz to Idaho and tackles an iconic couloir in the Sawtooth Mountains.

This is Episode 25 for The FIFTY, and line 25 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

 

 

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The legend of professional skiers customizing and modifying their ski boots is finally exposed. Their secrets are divulged to show you that they do in fact modify their ski boots, quite extensively in fact. In this episode, some of the thoughts behind the mods, the successes and failures, and concepts are shown behind this boot mod process as a full process of testing new concepts in a Salmon X/Alp ski boot is shown.

Disclaimer: Do not modify your boots yourself! It is dangerous, expensive and can often fail leading to injury or death. This episode is for entertainment purposes only. Again, do not try this at home.

 

 

 

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The classic line call "The Sickle" in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho is a ski line that at first sight, just begs to be skied. It's a visual beacon that draws all eyes in with its dramatic, arcing, cleave in the side of Hortsmann Peak. This steep and narrow line combined with an adventurous and arduous approach served to be the perfect line for Cody Townsend to introduce the world of ice axes, crampons and laboriously long ski tours to his award winning, world champion, professional freeride skier wife, Elyse Saugstad. Though decorated as one of the most accomplished freeskiers of all time, the world of ski mountaineering is completely new to Saugstad and served up a day in the mountains that was the ultimate test of a marriage.

This is Episode 26 for The FIFTY, and line 26 of 50 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

 

 

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At the northern tip of the Teton Mountains lies a ski line that in one continuous streak, stretches from lake to sky. The six thousand vertical foot Skillet Glacier route on Mt. Moran is a classic ski line that begs to be skied. But with a six mile lake crossing, a mandatory overnight campout and an arduous and dangerous climb to reach the summit, the barrier to entry for this classic is high. Yet even with the challenges of the line present, sometimes every detail can come together to make for what is possibly the best, most fun line of The FIFTY so far.

 

Joined by Hadley Hammer and Ming Poon.
 

This is Episode 27 for The FIFTY, and line 27 of 50 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains along with the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

 

 

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The FIFTY involves a lot of driving and the customized adventure rigs are at the heart of the project. Cinematographer and ski mountaineer Bjarne Salen hand built this custom interior of a Dodge Promaster van to live off the grid, sleep in cold environments and to work, charge camera gear and rest for the big days in the mountains ahead. If you want to know how to build a van for skiing, this is it.

 

 

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The FIFTY continues...But with a twist.

The goal was simple, ride bikes, loaded down with 100 pounds of climbing, skiing and camping equipment, over 1000 miles to ski three of The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America. A tiring adventure and a sufferfest of course, but in the context of an ongoing global pandemic, a nation divided by chaos and a populace on the brink, a simple adventure throws the simple act of adventure into question. Why purposely suffer? Why selfishly pursue adventure? Why go into the mountains at all? All questions that a month long adventure begins to throw into your mind. Starring Cody Townsend and Michelle Parker, "The Mountain Why" is a ski adventure unlike any normal escape to the wild.

This is a short film in The FIFTY series and line 28, 29, and 30 completed for The FIFTY, a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

 

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by ashbury

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The FIFTY all started with a book. A book that pays tribute to the most aesthetic, boldest, most iconic and most 'classic' backcountry ski lines of North America. In a first ever interview with all the authors of the book, "Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America", Penn Newhard, Chris Davenport and Art Burrows divulge how they picked the lines they did, what went into the creation of the book and how it's standing the test of time. To pick up your own copy go to: http://www.50classicskidescents.com

In addition to the interview, Cody gives an update to the happenings of The FIFTY in 2021.

 

 

[ΓΡΗΓΟΡΗΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ 2,730]

Από το Θερινό ηλιοστάσιο, ξεκινάει η νύχτα να μεγαλώνει => winter is coming λέει ο kody...... δροσιστικό ακούγεται αυτήν την καυτή βραδιά :-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MAC 1,026]

On 6/24/2021 at 11:03 PM, ΓΡΗΓΟΡΗΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ said:

Από την Θερινή ισημερία, ξεκινάει η νύχτα να μεγαλώνει => winter is coming λέει ο kody...... δροσιστικό ακούγεται αυτήν την καυτή βραδιά ?
 

Επέτρεψε μου μια σημαντική διόρθωση σε ένα λάθος που βλέπω να γίνεται από πάρα πολύ κόσμο:
Δεν υπάρχει "θερινή ισημερία" αλλά θερινό ηλιοστάσιο.
Και ο Kody άλλωστε το αναφέρει σωστά ως summer solistice και όχι "summer equinox".
Ισημερίες είναι μόνο η εαρινή και η φθινοπωρινή.
Κατ' αναλογία υπάρχει και χειμερινό ηλιοστάσιο, καθότι και τότε δεν είναι ισημερία.

Edited June 27, 2021 by MAC

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A tour of the newest tool of The FIFTY, built by Alpine Vans LLC. This van was designed to handle the harsh cold of winter, the remote trailheads of The FIFTY and the thousands of miles spent chasing 'The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America'. See what it takes to build a van to survive winter on the road, the new technology made to insulate and build a lightweight van and what accessories are necessary for a van. Take a look inside and see what makes this van, the "Ultimate Winter Van".
 

 

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In the NW corner of Montana, a ten-thousand foot mountain rises out straight out of the thick forest. Mt. Stimson dominates the skyline like a giant shark tooth turned upside down. The SW Face of Stimson, first skied by Pete Costain and Andy Zimet in 1997, is a five-thousand foot, steep, exposed and sustained face that guards all falls with a three-hundred foot cliff at the bottom. It's a challenging ski line to begin with, but guarding the mountain is a nine miles approach filled with thousands of deadfall trees, thick forests and nearly impenetrable willows. Add in a narrow canyon, a slick cobblestoned creek that must be crossed hundreds of times and no defined trail and you have the single hardest approach for any ski line so far in The FIFTY series. Joined by snowboarded Nick Russell, Cody Townsend and cameraman Bjarne Salen embark on a three day sufferfest of epic proportions.

This is Episode 28 for The FIFTY, and line 31 of 50 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains along with the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

https://youtu.be/Yov6FzlAuoQ

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On the heels of a massive sufferfest in Montana, Cody Townsend and cinematographer Bjarne Salen, hurry down to Idaho to catch a favorable avalanche and weather cycle to attempt a line deep in the Idaho wilderness north of Sun Valley. Armed with a borrowed snowmobile, enough equipment to survive a week in the woods, some bad beta and the desire to check the line of the list, Bjarne and Cody go out on a mission filled with good vibes, great laughs and some damn fun turns.

This is Episode 29 for The FIFTY, and line 32 of 50 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains along with the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.