Backcountry Skiing

Our local was enthusiastic as can be. We met him at the coffee shop, and then later at the bar. With a town of only 50 people, it’s easy find someone when you want to. With a one-tooth crooked smile, his passion was contagious. He loved Cooke City and wanted to share it with us. “We gotta figure out how you can get yourselves out to Daisy Pass tomorrow,” he said. “I gotta work tomorrow… But… Ah screw it. You can just take my sled. I’m not using it. It’s that red Yamaha in front of the Soda Butte. Just don’t take it past Daisy Pass. And only take two of you at a time. It’d be appreciated if you filled it up when you’re done.” He even took the time to introduce us to two other visitors who did have sleds, who also offered to tow Doug and Tony while Frank and I rode Big Red. That’s how it went. That’s how the world works in Cooke City. And that’s how we found ourselves in a sled caravan the next morning, on our way to Daisy Pass.

Abiathar North Couloir was easily one of the more interesting spots I’ve ever been in my ski career- simply medieval in character and a tremendous location at the top of an amazing line. Hans Saari, Kris Erickson, and Stephen Koch continued to the summit of Abiathar via the “AC traverse” from here, but the vast majority of skiers will skip that climb/downclimb/traverse and ski from the top of the couloir.