Corbet’s Couloir Is Open and Skiers are Going Huge

Anyone who has ever edged his or her tips into the gaping maw of the entrance to Corbet’s Couloir has participated in the dream. There is simply nothing like it in North American skiing. Steep, rocky and wild, Corbet’s Couloir is where skiers go to prove their mettle (or more often, to retreat in fear).

Andrew Whiteford, Hadley Hammer, Forrest Jillson and Bryce Newcomb contemplate their options on opening day at Corbet’s Couloir.

The run is named after 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. He said, “Someday someone will ski that.”
Ski Patroller, Sparky, puts the finishing touches on the rope line.

Today, after five feet of snow in the last week, the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol opened Corbet’s Couloir. Jackson Hole athletes and Teton Gravity Research converged on Corbet’s and put on quite the show.

Forrest Jillson takes it deep into the Couloir. Going…

Going…

Gone…

Next up Hadley Hammer, filming with Teton Gravity Research, lined up and took arguably the biggest air by a female ever into Corbet’s.

Go girl.

Hadley Hammer shows us what getting shot out of a cannon looks like.

Bryce Newcomb takes the high left line.

The view from below with Andrew Whiteford jumping in with style.

Corbet’s Couloir is one of the most visible lines at Jackson Hole, with the tram passing by every 10 minutes and plenty of spectators gather to watch skiers/riders drop in. While Corbet’s is intimidating from the top, the view from below shows the great snow that usually awaits skiers once they have tackled the plunge into the Couloir.

Powder awaits those willing to take the plunge.