WATCH: The FIFTY - Summit Fever

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By Sam Collentine, Meteorologist Posted 2 years ago December 29, 2021

WATCH: The FIFTY - Summit Fever

There lie a few cruxes in Cody Townsend's goal of "The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America". A few lines that stand out as the ultimate test for skiers. Lines that have seen one, maybe two, ski descents in history. One such mountain that is on that list is Mt. St. Elias in Alaska.

Mt. St. Elias is a mythical, foreboding peak that jumps straight out of the ocean, 18,008 feet into the sky. It's renowned for violent storms that come straight off the northern pacific and slam into its icy steeps. It is unknown how many people have ever stood on the summit, but it is known that most people that try, fail.

In May of 2021, Cody Townsend, Dan Corn, Nick Russell, and cinematographer Bjarne Salen set out to climb and ski this Alaskan beast. This is the tale of their adventure.

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 journeys, 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 along with the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.

Line #1: Messner Couloir

Line #2: Mt. Superior

Line #3: Terminal Cancer

Line #4: Hypodermic Needle

Line #5: Mt. Currie

Line #6: Aemmer Couloir

Line #7: Joffre Peak

Line #8: The Sphinx

Line #9: Spearhead Traverse

Line #10: Giant Steps Couloir

Line #11: Grand Teton

Line #12: Landry Line