UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Today a crew of us set out and skied the San Joaquin Couloir. This awesome line has been on the top of our “to do list” this season and today turned out to be a perfect day to check it off. The San Joaquin is one of the most aesthetically beautiful and “perfect” couloirs in the San Juans and honestly, probably anywhere. This thing would look more at home in the Alps than the Rockies! It rises to 13,460 feet, is around 50 degrees and is pretty much a straight, narrow shot for around 1,000 vertical feet. It is one of the crown jewels of the San Juan Mountains and something Brian and I have been eying since we first saw this beauty when we got to Telluride.

After a tough skin up to the summit of the San Joaquin Peak, we were treated to stunning views and awesome conditions despite the fact we were the second crew of 4 up their today. Dropping in was exhilarating and super fun. The snow was blown into the couloir and was deep and sluffy. Taking our time,we jump turned and slashed our way through the long chute, loving it the whole way down. Exiting the couloir into the apron below, I felt a rush of excitement and satisfaction skiing such a special line. Even though we may not get the most snow in the San Juans, the terrain here is simply AMAZING and it’s lines like these that make this area so unique! Enjoy the photo gallery below from today’s action…

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Skin track up to the San Joaquin Peak

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Our skin track, the backside of Palmyra Peak, and Utah’s La Sal Mountains in the distance

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Final stretch to the summit…

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Brian dropping into the couloir

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

And making his way into the first choke

Yours truly skiing through the first choke

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Striker taking a breather in the “safe zone”

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Brian eying Tommy approach the second choke and apron

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Lower apron pow turns

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

The San Joaquin has unofficially been “checked off”

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

Striker ripping some pow turns down the apron

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Telluride skiing, Telluride powder, San Joaquin Couloir, Telluride, CO, San Joaquin, San Joaquin Couloir Telluride, Couloir, Chute, Backcountry, Backcountry skiing, Telluride Backcountry Skiing, Telluride Couloir, Telluride Chute

The San Joaquin nicely tagged up!

Photos by Jared Vincent & Brian Horton

Unofficial Networks Newsletter

Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox.

Hidden
Newsletters
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

4 replies on “Skiing the San Joaquin Couloir – March, 23, 2011”