When it comes to conquering iconic North American ski trails, Corbet’s Couloir at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort sits at the top of most lists.
Consider by man as the hardest ski run in North America, Corbet’s requires absolute commitment as you drop into its mandatory 20 foot drop with a 50° pitch. It can be intimidating for the best of skiers but if you break it down step by step, its dizzying steepness becomes more manageable.
If you are considering taking on Corbet’s for the first time or want a little brush up on best practices, check out this video that includes everything you need to know to ski Corbet’s like a pro, from the best time to attempt it to easiest way down to tips for navigating the couloir’s most treacherous sections.
Here’s some additional advice from Jackson Hole local skier Owen Leeper:
For those ready to drop into Corbet’s Couloir for the first time, I have a few tips:
Even though it looks like you will instantly catch an edge and tomahawk all the way down, it’s actually quite doable, conditions permitting. It definitely takes some skill, so make sure you’re capable of skiing steep double black terrain before attempting it and, more importantly, wait for some new snow.
While my favorite way into Corbet’s is to backflip off the nose of the cornice, I don’t recommend that for your first drop into the couloir! When you’re ready and the snow is soft, head to Corbet’s from the top of the tram and watch a few people drop in first to see how they do it.
The key is to approach the edge slowly and locate the goat path, which is the easiest way in and where everyone will be standing. Slide as far as you can into the couloir sideways without losing your edge so you don’t come in with too much speed.
Slowly creep your skies down sideways until you can see the path headed under the cornice to the skiers’ right. Once you get down low enough and you can see the turn, slowly rotate your tips downhill and into the couloir.
This is where most people go wrong – they lean back and turn uphill as soon as possible, trying to stop, but that puts their weight on the tails of their skis and they lose control, sliding the whole way down on their back.
To avoid that, as soon as you drop in, keep your weight forward and over the front of your boots and instead of trying to stop right away, make the right turn toward the wall and then turn left, using that turn to slow down and regain control.
THIS IS HOW OWEN LIKES TO SKI CORBET’S:
