Vertical Drop: America's Most Dangerous Slopes

[KingM]

A fun article on msnbc.com

No ski resort in North America has a chute so legendary as Corbet's Couloir in Wyoming — a crucible where skiers go to prove their mettle (or more often, to retreat in fear). The run is named for Barry Corbet, a mountaineer who in 1960 spotted a narrow crease of snow shaped like an upside-down funnel, high up on the mountain now known as Jackson Hole. Said he: "Someday someone will ski that."

You enter the chute's narrow, flinty mouth in free fall, dropping two stories onto a 55-degree slope. Fail to execute a hard right turn immediately, and you smash into a face of Precambrian rock. Survive, and you then smear speed by executing two nervy turns, exiting down a 45-degree slope as the chute fans out.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16872921/

 

[bvibert]

Yeah, I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I'm trying stuff like that.

 

[SkiDog]

saw this yesterday over on KZone......great article...dont know if I have the stuff for Corbets, but I might take a stab at the "classes".....sounds wicked fun...

M

 

[jaywbigred]

I've seen Corbet's in the summer when I was visiting the area and got to ride the now-dead Tram to the top. It was June, and so I am assuming you couldn't get a true sense of how big the headwall can get, but it still gave me the willies.

It's been my dream to ski it since then...if only I could afford these classes.

Also, maybe I am being morbid, but I'd like to hear the extent of injuries of those people who did wipe out. Guaranteed broken bones, or just a lot of bruising?

 

[dmc]

I hope to have a helmet cam on when I do Corbettes this March.. Last time I rode it it was a 15 foot drop from the "ladies tee"

 

[2knees]

I hope to have a helmet cam on when I do Corbettes this March.. Last time I rode it it was a 15 foot drop from the "ladies tee"

damn, i'll kick in 20 bucks towards the purchase just to get a chance to watch that.

tell me where to send the check. :smile:

 

[dmc]

damn, i'll kick in 20 bucks towards the purchase just to get a chance to watch that.

tell me where to send the check. :smile:

 

[SkiDork]

I'm a wuss, no doubt.

From what I hear,. if it's a big pow day it's a cinch to drop into Corbetts.

Other than that, yer huckin skills better be honed...

BTW - Iceman's coach used to live out at JH, he said he did Corbetts for a warm up... Nasty.

 

[goldsbar]

I wussed out when I had my chance. The first person I saw dropped in without a second thought and skied away like nothing happened. This led the guy in front of me to make the attempt (we were both looking at the thing for like 5 minutes - we were gapers! - and this gave him the courage). He hit hard, lost his skis, and tumbled for a couple of hundred feet. He got the wind knocked out of him and it took him a good 5 minutes to recover but he was ok in the end. That caused me to put my tail between my legs and scamper away. I still want to do it but the last time it went it was closed.

It's a pretty big drop. Locals claim it's not big deal and is way over-rated but I doubt they said that their first time. As far as injuries, most people drop in and make it out just fine (hence the not so serious claim of the locals). I've heard stories of broken bones going through ski boots but haven't heard of any death or paralysis but I don't claim to be a record keeper on the subject.

The height and landing are different every year based on snow and wind patterns. If you hit it on a powder day it's probably pretty easy. When I went the landing was actually somewhat flat - unless you had the courage to go in with a little speed - and very hard. The rest of the chute is a little steep but really no big deal. Good luck!

 

[Catul]

I saved a couple of pictures of Corbets when I came across them online last year; looks like fun huh?

 

[Greg]

I can sleep peacefully at night knowing that I will never be trying that...

 

[Paul]

I saved a couple of pictures of Corbets when I came across them online last year; looks like fun huh?

Yikes!!! notice how yellow the snow is in the second shot! I'd prolly piss myself as well.

 

[Brettski]

Nope, not me...

I hope this ends the Helmet debate

 

[dmc]

A buddy of mine from Hunter dropping it a few years back...
http://www.aaaframe.com/videos/JacksonHole99/jh0299_0.avi

 

[kcyanks1]

I hope to have a helmet cam on when I do Corbettes this March.. Last time I rode it it was a 15 foot drop from the "ladies tee"

And you laughed when I said that posts in here can be intimidating! When I was at the top of Corbets I looked and thought no way. Hopefully I'll have the courage sometime, but I'm not too confident in that.

 

[Catul]

Yikes!!! notice how yellow the snow is in the second shot! I'd prolly piss myself as well.

LOL!! I know you're kidding; but thought I'd point out for everyone that someone illustrated that shot to show (in red) the path you drop and the yellow part where you land and make a hard right.

Here are a couple more:

 

[dmc]

LOL!! I know you're kidding; but thought I'd point out for everyone that someone illustrated that shot to show (in red) the path you drop and the yellow part where you land and make a hard right.

Which is way better then a hard left..

People run into trouble when they try too hard to check their speed... You really can't check your speed until your stable... Better just to ride it out..

 

[2knees]

There isnt enough money, women, booze, drugs you name it, in the world to get me to do that.

 

[Newpylong]

That looks nasty, no room for error.

This is the worst I've done - Sudan Couloire at Blackcomb

http://www.photoscanada.com/gallery/adventureandsports/couloir_extreme_whistler

 

[dmc]

FYI:
The chute a tuckermans is good trainig for that kinda rock lined stuff but without the cornice... For the steep entry Left Gully is a great place to learn...