The Fifty Project: Polar Star Couloir
In year five of Cody Townsend’s “The Fifty Project,” we’re showcasing his lines and route descriptions in onX Backcountry. Go deeper on The Fifty Project and get the beta from Cody on how he plans, executes, and conquers these 50 descents.
View Cody’s Line in onX Backcountry
Below is an interactive map of Cody’s line for The Polar Star Couloir. Use Control + Drag to rotate in 3D on desktop or two fingers to pinch, zoom and rotate on mobile. Login or create an account to gain full functionality.
The Fifty Project Guidebook: Polar Star Couloir
onX Backcountry has partnered with Cody Townsend to bring you guidebook quality descriptions of routes in The Fifty Project from Cody himself. Read his beta on The Polar Star Couloir. Start your free trial of onX Backcountry today to view these lines and descriptions in the App.
Overview
Possibly one of the most beautiful and perfect couloirs in the world. It’s a 3,700 ft chute of ever steepening pitch set deep in ancient granite. Everything about the couloir draws you into it and as a skier, it begs to be skied. The hardest challenge is getting there.
Ascent
The ascent starts by stepping over the ice bulges and floes that crack and break on the junction of the frozen ocean and the shore. Once in the lower pitches of the couloir, it’s 3,700ft of boot packing straight up the middle. Make sure your quads are ready, because it’s a no-nonsense, physical climb. Climbing plates and crampons are potentially necessary for the boot pack and as you near the top of the couloir, the pitch steepens from 45° to the 50°-53° range. The last 500 feet are the steepest and permanent ice can be exposed or dangerously hidden below a couple inches of snow. Ice climbing gear and protection may be required to ascend and descent through the final pitch. The col has a great rest area and is wide enough to comfortably hang out and put your gear on for the descent.
Descent
The descent starts steep and the potential for blue ice in the first 300-500 feet is high. Slough from the first upper pitch must be factored on descent. After that, the pitch gradually mellows to a “fun steep” 45° for almost 2k vertical feet. Wide enough for GS turns, 3k falls that collect snow like a lint trap, it’s as perfect of a couloir as it gets
Photo: @the.fifty.project
Hazards
The main hazard is avalanche hazard from above while climbing with few safe spots to hide from the overhead exposure while climbing up. Caution must be prioritized when it comes to the sometimes tricky Arctic snowpack. Rockfall from above is also a possibility so climb in the shade and utilize overhangs for rest points on the way up. The top 300-500 feet can have icy neve or blue ice, so crampons and ice axes are imperative and the potential for ropes and ice protection along with ice climbing skills should be considered.
Exit Description
Ski to the ocean, walk or snowmobile back to camp
Access Description
Getting to Baffin Island is the hard part. Flights, logistics and rides out to Sam Ford Fjord are extremely difficult, expensive and frustrating.
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Enter The Ski With Cody Giveaway
Enter to win the ski trip of a lifetime. One lucky winner and three of their friends will win a guided backcountry ski trip with Cody Townsend. But that’s not all, your crew will stay 3 nights at the Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe and win some awesome gear from our friends at Salomon, Mammut, and Rocky Talkie. Winners will be drawn on Dec 7, 2023.