The FIFTY - Line 11/50 - Pyramid Peak, CO - The Scariest line in Colorado

The Landry Line off Pyramid Peak near Aspen, CO is considered a test piece of ski mountaineering in the Rockies. First skied by Chris Landry in 1978, it was a futuristic, world renowned and seemingly unrepeatable line. 28 years later, the second descent by Chris Davenport, Ted Mahon and Niel Biedleman ushered in a new generation of skiers and snowboarders making it the top of their bucket list. It's a line of dramatic exposure, puckering steepness and necessitates an entire package of skills to get up and down. After a historic avalanche cycle in Colorado, the conditions turned stellar and stable, leading Townsend to join up with the author of the book, "The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America" Penn Newhard and local ski mountaineer and randonee racer Pete Gaston.
This is Episode 13 and line 11 completed of The FIFTY, 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 journey's, 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 and the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.
GEAR Used Throughout The FIFTY:
Salomon QST 106: alnk.to/6bRkaUX
Salomon MTN Binding: alnk.to/dLdUm1C
Salomon Carbon S3 Poles: alnk.to/87VEXX0
Yeti Rambler 20oz: alnk.to/gzS237q
Swatch BioCeramic: bit.ly/3gQhCzo
Hyperlite Porter 5400: bit.ly/3XJVCHC
Smith Summit Helmet: alnk.to/ehYjxBD
Smith Wildcat: alnk.to/d3ySqO7
Smith Pursuit Glacier Glasses: alnk.to/7M6hfmL
Smith Squad Mag: alnk.to/hDmzW2F
LeBent Cody Pro Sock: alnk.to/cHJmtdU
LeBent Base Layer: alnk.to/58mMi9D
Arcade Capture Belt: alnk.to/4MxozAr
Mammut Carbon Probe 280: alnk.to/cHJmtfT
Mammut Alugator Pro Light: alnk.to/8iQpWSn
Mammut Barryvox S: alnk.to/2uDpzVA
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0: alnk.to/aeUKJS9
Thule Duffle: alnk.to/9IatNqU
Thule Ski Bag: alnk.to/gKMN24C
Hestra Falt Guide Glove:
Hestra Overmitt:
Hestra Merino Touchpoint Liners:
Honey Stinger Energy: bit.ly/3sPpX9g
Strainge Beast Kombucha: bit.ly/3sK6vLj
TinCup Whiskey: bit.ly/3FvbSpb

[@mofischer9432]

Respect the filmer. Salomon should give Bjarne a full sponsorship.

[@word67]

I climbed Pyramid in 1970 before it was ever skied. My stomach churned watching you guys make the first few turns. Huge respect. I still ski Mt. Washington but avoid no fall zones. This is a great series -- stay safe.

[@milostark9679]

This is Sam's favorite line in the whole world... the only one he found worth the approach. So glad you got to ski it. Thank you for dedicating this one to him.

[@bonedale65]

Love that this was dedicated to Sam!

[@CodyTownsend]

Sam and I were planning on skiing it together most of the winter but unfortunately the timing didn't work out. Really bummed on that.

[@andreasvandvik9788]

Best episode yet! love the parts with planning and decision-making in the videos! Keep up the good work :)

[@Jobother]

That'd my favorite part of the series. It'd a responsible look at this sport

[@Sirskibumsalot]

Dropping that in a broken boot ....thats a big deal .... especially the 1st turn great job and strong work !!

[@CodyTownsend]

Thanks man.

[@edwardlobb931]

No skidding, with the Gods of minimalism. As pure as fallen snow. Many thanks. The color is returning to my knuckles.

[@johnlarsen2851]

That episode was the most edge of my seat, suspenseful television I have ever viewed in my life. This series is legit and I cannot wait for each episode!

[@V211-q4g]

Wow. Pyramid was my first 14er, done in the summer in the 1980's. I've got mad respect for this endeavor, their skill set and their perseverance.

[@ericclaptonsrobotpilot7276]

Going back and watching these I just cannot understand why this series isn’t bigger and more publicized than it is. You two are literally making history.

[@DirtyOldMountainGoat]

This is such great filming. Makes my palms itch

[@CodyTownsend]

🙏🏼

[@StrikeEngine]

This series is just **begging** for an episode with "Mediocre Amateur" (assuming it hasn't happened already!)

[@burrows10011]

Im pretty sure the one thumbs down was from Cody's panicking mom. My sphincter was tight the whole episode. Nice work people!

[@CodyTownsend]

burrows10011 this is probably really true

[@mikemcintosh9933]

Geez at the start of the descent my stomach dropped a little bit. Unusual for casual viewing. Good footage and music. I felt the fear!

[@CodyTownsend]

My stomach dropped a little bit too.

[@Pk1998AMG]

Love having a view of that peak on my breaks. Working at highlands I get one of my favorite views of it for like 3 seconds driving in every morning.

[@ellen1231]

Yay Colorado, my home state. Sketchy snowpack but still very special. And it is going to be an amazing June here.

[@CodyTownsend]

It's not great often, but when it's good it's as good as it gets.

[@gregknipe8772]

on warm, full sun snow: 'someone skied it yesterday, or today, should be sluffed off'. ; ), learning a lot viewing your work here, many thanks for the 50 series & multiple views!

[@coreymclernon]

Nice one! I look at that mountain almost every day and that’s enough for me!

[@lovebordercolliez]

Just keeps getting better. Rate the mix of technical stuff, frothing, and humour.

[@benarmstrong7528]

This series is f*****g rad. So cool to see you guys skiing pucker up lines in variable conditions and not the normal ski movie perfect pow conditions. Props to the camera man for doin those moves one handed!

[@partyguytechno]

God i cant stop watching these so good

[@CodyTownsend]

Why thank you party guy

[@sba8710]

When Bjarne says “it’s pretty steep.” I started holdup NG my breath.

[@TheHowtoDad]

it really is great to see a guy like you ski conservatively. shows the rest of us that there is a way to ski epic lines without sending it full tilt and listen to the conditions. I've said it before, I know, this is good.

[@CodyTownsend]

I don't think there is any other way to ski the Landry Line!

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@CodyTownsend says the guy who pointed the crack...

[@stephenverchinski409]

Still remember this peak on a three day epic14er mountain peak bagging trip. Pyramid day 1, North and South Maroon day 2, and Longs Peak day 3. Love seeing these peaks in winter with your vids. Stay safe!

[@karliebellatrixyoung6359]

This was literally one of the best episodes we've seen of any daily action vlog. The music was masterfully applied to help tell the story, and fill in between the lines of mountaineering jargon.

[@CodyTownsend]

Why thank you. So very kind of ya to say that.

[@AlbaAdventures]

Just when we were saying your last episode was your best episode.. This is an amazing episode and that fact that you got Penn Newhard to come with you!

[@CBonesey]

This episode is so intense from beginning to end. Those first turns at 10:55 were full commitment with the falloff behind you guys. Huge props, love the series! Thank you, Bjarne and adjacent teams for the commitment to the project and documenting the full scope of it!

[@OutsideWatch]

Awesome stuff man!

[@icebergmaier]

Awesome! I've climbed this in summer. One of the more challenging 14ers in Colorado for sure.

[@adrianjfussell]

another banger! those turns off the summit have the best scenery, CO is amazing

[@joshuapalmieri1714]

So badass. You can feel the tension and then the release at the bottom. Well done all around

[@johntaber6799]

Favorite one yet. Right in my backyard too!

[@NickShelson]

Well documented climb and ski. I’m sorry for your loss

[@bradrandel1408]

Great work ...good decisions... love the dedication at the end... Love Sam Coffey...🦋🕊

[@scottybeegood]

Whoa, totally unexpected. Thought we would not get an installment this week. Happy dance.

[@Dan-hn1lx]

This is just an awesome series into the life of some amazing skiers just living to the fullest!!!!

[@scuddryvr8784]

As someone approaching the nickle mark, I was excited to see that you can still hit it hard after 50. Then 7:54......reality check. Big props for the attempt tho.

[@skate5930]

yeah he looks so old and he almost made it to the top

[@midi510]

@@skate5930 I'm sixty and although there are plenty of young bucks that can kick my ass purely physically, overall I often end up waiting for 'em. There's no substitute for experience. I do admit to being less motivated to do really scary shit, though. I've got nothing left to prove to myself or anyone else.

[@matthew-hx2cw]

Wow, these get better and better!

[@kristyfoster5585]

That exposure is wild!

[@freshseeker]

What a beautiful line!

[@opotopo1]

Loving watching this series. Thanks Guys for posting. Hello from the UK.

[@scblurlt1962]

I was so relieved to see the bottom of that line , god knows how you guys felt !!! respect

[@BlindstuffMTB]

Just found your channel. As a mountain biker and occasional inbounds skier, I'd never dream of doing these lines but find it fascinating, thanks for leaving in all the attention to detail that goes into planning a safe route as well as your assessment through the climb and descent, really shows what it takes to do this instead of a marketing edited clip where everything looks so smooth and continuous. Time to binge on your other videos.

[@CodyTownsend]

Thanks man! Much appreciated.

[@BrianCarisch]

Nice work fellas. Helluva line!

[@daverainey...AK1911]

That was sic! Total legit! I totally forgot I was watching this at work! Hard core Man! Most intense Vids on KZbin...can't imagine doing that line back in 78'...serious pucker factor...when the chunks were flying past I was feeling it too! PEACE to Sam and family...

[@betsyl18]

Great video, we really appreciate how safety-oriented they were!

[@TheSuperjew123]

Another awesome video!!!

[@TB-we1we]

Made my morning!

[@Jim-be8sj]

Best footage I've seen from on Pyramid. Amazing.

[@danwincey1105]

Gnarly line guys...love these vids. Some of the lines in the vlog thus far looked skiable, but this one was a bit beyond...

[@demariajeansebastien6839]

I love so much what you did cody!in this séries its cool to see all the préparation it take to ride all this Line

[@jessicalewis3902]

Sweetness 🤘🏼

[@sarahsimon1253]

This is unbelievable! I can't even imagine the strain on your legs!

[@jamesklemmensen2807]

I'd love to see an episode getting into what your process looks like in terms of planning around avalanche conditions / safety. As a long time ski tourer getting into ski mountaineering more recently, it amazes me that you've been able to get after so many big lines in one season. Keep at it!

[@CodyTownsend]

It's all about timing, keeping a close watch on the reports and weather and local beta. Just been insanely diligent and flexible to move to where I need to at the drop of a hat.

[@adamjeffries6969]

Epic series...love it mate keep it going!

[@fernandog.aguirre2791]

this is not easy by any means! So much respect for each one taking this challenge. Its clear that Cody and the cameraman are in top shape.....but also those steep slopes requires great ski technique and big balls!!!!!!!

[@brianharder7714]

Such great snow for this one. I feel for Penn. The aging athletic back. Such a drag.

[@hydroflows]

The music is so appropriate for this mountain. Nothing but tension the entire time. I'm glad everyone made it and had a good time. I can't believe first descent was 1970s and 2nd was '06 and A DOZEN DESCENTS HAPPENED 17/18!!!

[@CodyTownsend]

Yeah and a dozen more in 18/19! It just shows how far skiing has come. It is a gnarly line for sure with high high consequence, so I too thought the music was appropriate to convey the feelings we had up there.

[@mybleachhouse]

Looked palm sweating steep on camera so can't imagine what it was like in person. Awesome run.

[@Cragdognamedbear]

I climbed this mountain in the summer of 2013. Exposure was definitely real even in summer. Absolutely gorgeous.

[@CodyTownsend]

Yes it was!

[@Gabagool93]

Awesome episode! Love the Dumb and Dumber reference btw haha

[@CodyTownsend]

Best ski movie of all time.

[@mikedouglas_]

Nice work, boys!

[@deniskalenchuk7051]

Glad you did it!

[@PaulBeiser]

Wow, congrats and great footage as always, got a good sense how STEEP and exposed it is.. maybe time to do a traverse again? :-)

[@CodyTownsend]

Meh...I'll take steep and exposed over traverses any day!

[@antoinem.5813]

well i'm following your vlog from France, and it looks awesome ! If you ever plan to extend your (stee)playground to Europe, be sure to check the Ecrins massif : tons of steep lines, remoteness and most important : not as crowded as Chamonix !

[@jeremyutz2260]

Best vid yet! Much love

[@andrewtuthill8299]

fantastic work fellas

[@miles9294]

Hey Cody love the series

[@showze21]

incredible ski descent,

[@booger5514]

Jonesing for the new episode! Hard enough to wait two weeks (but totally understandable), but adding extra days is hard on my productivity - cuz instead of working, I’m hitting refresh on your KZbin Channel every 30 minutes 😀

[@kirkhwaltz]

So gnarly! So cool!

[@susanappleby2414]

This is great. I wonder if you could talk sometime on your video with someone from CAIC - they are brilliant at avalanche reporting and research and they are good on camera. (Colorado avalanche information center)

[@booooompower]

Always thought the rockys were kind of characterless compared to lines in the alps.. Changed my mind! Nice tourplanning and talking; that is missing in most skivlogs. Definitly will buy the book and hope to ski some lines next year in merica.

[@nonobegone2135]

Jo Bach you have not seen the elk mountains my friend

[@huskerhank6231]

I certainly admire your courage & skill and as a back country skier in Colorado I am awe struck by what you were able to do. However I think a note of caution should be made. There is no area like "snow science" that is so full of dead experts.. The story that comes to mind is the incident where the entire La Sals (Utah) ski rescue team was killed while actually digging snow pits. Very stupid? Very sloppy? Very Unlucky? And it was about 30 years ago so everything is different now. Perhaps..I am inclined to believe that mountains can be very beautiful and inspiring but worthy of GREAT caution and respect. Have fun..I'm ready to stick to the local golf course and thank God for not killing me no matter how much I tempted Him.

[@JesperJohannesson]

That is now gnarly stuff. Amazing episode!

[@AKtoTok]

Inspirational!

[@1chuckied10]

Good one !

[@MurCurieux]

Appreciate you leaving the equipment break in the video - even though it is a Salomon sponsored project. Honestly - this project has gotten me stoked on Salomon gear - solid.

[@CodyTownsend]

Well in all fairness...it was my modification that broke the boot and failed. Hence why I don't share my mods with people cause it can lead to stuff like that, being on top of a no-fall line with a broken boot. Otherwise, thanks man.

[@MurCurieux]

Cody Townsend Great project - I have been listening to your featured podcasts in addition to the videos. Priceless knowledge about recreating in the backcountry - Super huge thanks for doing this project - in the proximity to reality method! Stoked for more videos - have fun out there

[@NoProDad]

man, this was a good one!

[@WesternSpiritCyclingMoab]

Sick birdy bird! :)

[@Thenomadicbrewer]

I was sweating big time when y’all were approaching the peak.

[@TheUndergroundbeats]

Really digging your pursuits, keep the dream alive. #skiordie

[@natedavidson4509]

respect for not hiding the broken boot issue, shit happens.

[@aeriegrove]

Where the beer flows like wine hahaha

[@FELiPES101]

How do I super-like this episode?

[@moldpirate8113]

That was fucking sick

[@03Forester]

A tow had to be CLUTCH for that approach! I’ve skinned into there before. The avy damage from the 2019 cycle in that zone in particular was on such a grand scale , that it’s hard to believe. Did you notice the way it “splashed” up the other side of the valley?(note: by splash I mean the avalanche ran hundreds of feet uphill on the other side of the valley knocking down trees with 5-6 foot diameters along the way) 😬

[@Royalties500]

Sweating profusely just watching, that snowpack would've scared the hell out of me.

[@ryanevans4783]

Dude........😮😮 Man Ive skied some pretty steep lines at Silverton and around Telluride but watching this short video of you guys climbing this literally made me almost kind of queasy 🤢 and notice I said climbing. Then there was that one turn where if you f&cked up at all then you could’ve slid off to your death 😮 I never realized how just gnarly this peak really is. For awhile there while going to school at CMC I was summiting (hiking only) as many 14ers as I could. I would say Capitol Peak, which is right next to you guys here, was the gnarliest 14er Ive summited and Sunlight Peak. Sometimes some of these gnarly peaks you want some snow on them to make the climb more feasible and sometimes the snow can make it super sketchy. Either way Hell Yeah to you guys climbing Pyramid, in ski boots and then skiing down the mofo 👍😎

[@chriskutlina5743]

Great episode Cody, man that bootpack was steep. Glad to see that the snow skied pretty nice on the way down. That avalanche path was serious. So how did your broken boot hold up on the way down? Did a buckle fall off?

[@CodyTownsend]

Boot broke cause of a miscalculation on my part rebuilding them, hence why I don't like to share how I modify my boots. If it goes wrong it can be super dangerous.

[@cameronunks6439]

Cody my man! I'm seeing in the background during your discussion of the terrain with Mr. Newhard a couple of Edward Curtis photographs in the living room. My dad produces, in the original method, almost the entire Curtis portfolio! Possibly even those prints. In the off chance you see this, was wondering if you might reach out and see if the Newhards would be interested in a VIP experience with the production of the photographs. Peace brotha!

[@pavolumes39]

Mad respect, that one looked like a real butt clencher. Rip Sam

[@Gordeaux]

Scary 🤙🏼

[@friedrichvolkmer6834]

he's more a friend than a race horse???? love it

[@friedrichvolkmer6834]

more fed? what does he say 1:18?

[@dannyho6786]

good work

[@me.1475]

this vlog is fucking rad, I love it! cant wait to see more!!

[@kstark2298]

I love watching this, for the 5th time, right before an investor call! Curious if Salomon is considering putting a beefier spring in their pin toe piece? There are days I have a brief thought about missing my old frame and other earlier AT bindings and I have some ongoing doubts about pin toe pieces and their ability to keep fat guys like me in on the down. Never had a release after 10 years on tech bindings but always wonder...

[@JD-ms7xw]

Were those Salomon boots that broke? My new Salomon QST 130 boots broke last season. Took Salomon a year to replace them.

[@roeske]

So freaking cool! What skis were you using, and how long? Incredibly well-shot series man!!

[@andrewa9700]

Still good snow out there currently. Go get north maroon or silver!!!

[@CodyTownsend]

Already gotten

[@evandean3944]

Hey, Cody, I'm curious, do you run up & bag the summit of peaks like this, off-camera, when time & weather permit? A lot of these lines start near but not on the summits, and bagging lines is not bagging peaks, I know. For some, the summit might seem irrelevant and for others irresistible. (I personally love CO peaks. Being so close on a 14er I'd never climbed before, well...I'd find myself in the second category for sure.)

[@CodyTownsend]

I'm a skier first, climber second, so bagging peaks is pretty unimportant to me. If the ski line naturally starts from the summit (like Pyramid) then of course, if the ski line starts lower down well then I just make a call regarding time and safety to go for the summit or not. Usually I will but sometimes definitely not.