The FIFTY – 43/50 – Skiing the Biggest Mountain in AB, in a total Whiteout

Mt. Columbia sits atop the hydrological apex of North America and is the highest mountain in Alberta, Canada. The difficulties of climbing and skiing it don’t come in the form of technical steeps or scary exposure, but more from the marathon of a ski tour it takes to get to its base and timing a perfect weather window in a zone known for instantaneous weather changes and blinding whiteouts.

Co-Starring: Taylor Sullivan
Cinematography by: Bjarne Salen
Photography by: Bjarne Salen
Editing by: Lou Currie
VFX Maps by: Blair Richmond
Music from: Artlist.io License 4023308
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ROUTE Info:
Want to use the maps used to guide The FIFTY, here is 14 day Free Trial and 20% discount to OnX Backcountry App: https://www.onxmaps.com/backcountry/r/fiftyproject

WEATHER:
For a 60 day trial to an All-Access subscription to OpenSnow click here: https://bit.ly/3TTZhA5

The GEAR to Get the Goods: https://bit.ly/AlpenglowAG50Plus

SALOMON Skis MTN 96, Echo 106 Skis and QST X: Depending on the length of the day, the tech of the line or the snow conditions alone, Salomon makes a ski for every kind of situation I can put myself into.https://bit.ly/SalomonSkis

SALOMON MTN Summit Boot: An incredible mix of lightweight walkability and downhill ski performance. As a 200lb ex-ski racer, I’ve been amazed how well this 1200g boot can ski. From Emerald Bay Chutes to Alaskan Expeditions, these are my go to’s. https://bit.ly/MTNSummitBootsAG50Plus

SALOMON MTN Pure Binding: Maybe the most reliable and durable tech binding of the last 20 years. Simple, strong and effective. There is a reason this binding hasn’t changed it 7+ years, it’s hard to make it better. https://bit.ly/MTNPureBindingsAG50Plus And when I’m at the resort or just beyond, the SALOMON SHIFT is my easy go to with full DIN settings and touring mode with a quick crossover. https://bit.ly/ShiftBindingsAG50Plus

SMITH Pursuit Glasses: If it’s stormy or sunny, you’re biking or hiking, ski touring and downhill shredding, the Pursuits were made for it. The all-around, go anywhere, do anything glasses. This glasses have coverage matching that of googles, breathability, moldable comfort and light changing optics. https://bit.ly/SMITHPursuitGlassesAG50Plus
And my GO-To Goggles- https://bit.ly/4DMagAG50Plus

SMITH Summit Helmet: I designed this helmet with SMITH to go light and go far. Meeting the needs of any level of technical (or not) backcountry adventure, this triple certified design meets global alpine ski certification plus international mountaineering standards. https://bit.ly/SummitHelmetAG50Plus

HESTRA Ergo Grip Active Gloves: https://bit.ly/ErgoGripGlovesAG50Plus

POMOCA Skins Free Pro2.0: https://bit.ly/FreeProSkinsAG50Plus

YETI: Keeping my coffee hot on the approach https://bit.ly/YETIRamblerAG50Plus and my coldies cold https://bit.ly/RoadieCoolerAG50Plus for the return to the rig.

LE BENT Base layers & Cody Townsend Pro Series Sock: I designed these socks with the team at Le Bent to be the ultimate backcountry go to. Super comfy and warm with a bit of silicone placed in all the right places to keep sock right where you want it and never bunched where you don’t. https://bit.ly/lebentctsock

ZipFit GFT Liner: Looking for more downhill performance out of your touring boot? Just throw in a pair of GFT’s and be amazed how much better your boot performs. The added weight is worth the extra performance. https://bit.ly/ZipFitAlpenglow

Sidas CRT Liner: When the GFT is too much, pair it down with the CRT. For it’s weight, it has strong downhill performance characteristics along with breathability and quick drying capability. My go to for big days on the East Side or Expeditions. https://bit.ly/ThermoLinersAG50Plus

ORTOVOX Litric Tour 40 Airbag Pack: It’s a nightmare traveling with canister activated Airbags. I’ve done it for years and I can’t tell you how happy I am to move on from canisters after the introduction of the best electronic inflation device there is, the Litric. https://bit.ly/litric

Hyperlite Mountain Gear- Making a collection of packs (and durable lightweight Stuff Sacks (https://bit.ly/StuffSackAG50Plus )that cross everything from a super light 27oz day pack in the Aspect 32 to a four season do everything pack in the Headwall 55. I’m personally partial to the Crux 40 specifically designed for ski mountaineering, alpine missions and steep skiing. https://bit.ly/40tVv6l

Petzl Gully: The axe that revolutionized technical ski mountaineering. Capable enough to climb water ice, light enough to never want to leave at home. The best all around axe there is. https://bit.ly/GullyAxeAG50Plus And for my crampons…https://bit.ly/IrvisCramponsAG50Plus

TINCUP Whiskey: When I am back at camp or the car, the NEW TINCUP Bourbon is my nip of choice to expedite the wind down and put me squarely into recovery mode. https://bit.ly/TINCUP

See more of the gear I use here: https://bit.ly/AlpenglowAG50Plus