The FIFTY – Line 24/50 – Mt. Shuksan, WA – “Pucker Factor 100”.

Standing watch above the Mt. Baker Ski Area in Washington state is Mt. Shuksan, a towering mountain that steals your eye and sends shivers down your spine. Its glaciated terrain is always moving, letting loose torrential avalanches at a moment’s notice. Its northern faces are steep, wild and fraught with peril. It takes perfect timing along with a union of perfect conditions to ski it. After ten years of waiting for that union, the time has come. Having spotted a solid weather and stability window, the Fifty crew camps out at the legendary Mt. Baker Ski Area parking lot and is joined by fellow Salomon athletes Stan Rey and Alexi Godbout for an attempt to ski the steep and heavily exposed Northwest Couloir. While conditions seemed perfect from afar, the mission gets thrown into jeopardy by a sudden shift in winds and a whole lot of question marks.

This is Episode 24 for The FIFTY, and line 24 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, “The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America.” The series documents Townsend’s journey’s, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It’s a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

Title Screen Photo by: Jason Hummel Photography.

GEAR Used Throughout The FIFTY:

Salomon QST 106: https://alnk.to/6bRkaUX
Salomon MTN Binding: https://alnk.to/dLdUm1C
Salomon Carbon S3 Poles: https://alnk.to/87VEXX0
Yeti Rambler 20oz: https://alnk.to/gzS237q
Swatch BioCeramic: https://bit.ly/3gQhCzo
Hyperlite Porter 5400: http://bit.ly/3XJVCHC
Smith Summit Helmet: https://alnk.to/ehYjxBD
Smith Wildcat: https://alnk.to/d3ySqO7
Smith Pursuit Glacier Glasses: https://alnk.to/7M6hfmL
Smith Squad Mag: https://alnk.to/hDmzW2F
LeBent Cody Pro Sock: https://alnk.to/cHJmtdU
LeBent Base Layer: https://alnk.to/58mMi9D
Arcade Capture Belt: https://alnk.to/4MxozAr
Mammut Carbon Probe 280: https://alnk.to/cHJmtfT
Mammut Alugator Pro Light: https://alnk.to/8iQpWSn
Mammut Barryvox S: https://alnk.to/2uDpzVA
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0: https://alnk.to/aeUKJS9
Thule Duffle: https://alnk.to/9IatNqU
Thule Ski Bag: https://alnk.to/gKMN24C
Hestra Falt Guide Glove: https://alnk.to/gKMVh4f
Hestra Overmitt:https://alnk.to/gKMVh4f
Hestra Merino Touchpoint Liners: https://alnk.to/gKMVh4f
Honey Stinger Energy: https://bit.ly/3sPpX9g
Strainge Beast Kombucha: https://bit.ly/3sK6vLj
TinCup Whiskey: https://bit.ly/3FvbSpb