After a long hike you arrive at one of the best couloirs in the world for a 5,000 foot run that includes a 3,000 couloir with vertical walls that protect the snow from a lot of the sun, wind and temperature changes that occur on other partsof the mountain. Top elevation seemed to be just over 13,000 and you can see the valley floor/Highway at around 7000 feet. The Hotel Portillo sits around 9,500 feet.

Depending on the condition of the bootpack it can take you around just over an hour (if you are a machine) to over 5 hours. It took us over 4 hours. There was no bootpack visible as wind and snow filled everything in the days before. We also had to park at the midpoint before the traverse and wait for the weather to clear or turn back. Right as we were going to turn back the sun came out. The first part of the hike to the traverse is rather enjoyable. After the traverse it was one of the hardest slogs I've done. We were postholing and progress was incredibly difficult and slow with most steps set by first planting your skis or poles above you and then packing out a kneecap to carve out a next step. Credit to Jeb for breaking trail like a monster. Once you pass the traverse your only way out is up.

I left a reasonably long look at the traverse as that is the section most people had the most questions on. It is definately exposed and a fall would be consequential. The aspect of this traverse that is so unique is that the exposure is so visible. You are forced to look at it the entire way across.

Credit to Chris Davenport for the intro segment and pre-hike tips as well as all the Portillo Ski patrol and staff who provided advice. Make sure to check in with them befroe you hike.

Part 2. The next morning the Boosted Board came out for the switchbacks down to the valley floor. [ Ссылка ]

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