Mountains can have a certain energy to them and mountain called Split, located in the High Sierra Mountain Range in eastern California, has an energy with a dark side. Split Mountain is a 14,000 foot peak with a perfect couloir dividing two prominent summits. Visually, it’s a line that begs to be skied yet is guarded by a series of icefalls, rock steps and blue ice patches that make it extremely challenging. On top of that, the towering walls of the couloir present significant rockfall hazard along with an upper basin that can create dangerous avalanche conditions. It’s a line that requires patience, perfect timing…and many many attempts. Over the last 4 years, Cody Townsend, Nick Russell and cinematographer Bjarne Salén have been waiting, trying, scoping and learning about the history of this line, its moods, its conditions and its energy to successfully, and safely, ski it.
Full Circle
2023
6
Snow Birds
1932
6
The Collective
2019
8
Getting There
2002
5
Extreme Ops
2002
4
Streif: One Hell of a Ride
2014
6
O Cangaceiro
1953
6
Canada Vertical
2023
0
La Roche
2024
7
Manaslu - Berg der Seelen
2018
8
Sunny
2012
2
Super Frenchie
2021
0
Future Retro
2020
6
Tight Loose
2016
0
The Sky Piercer
2018
7
Set Your Sights
2011
9
Area 51
1999
0
High Fly Summits
2005
0
Big Mountain Soul: Ski Africa
10
Tanner Hall Forever
2020
0