Utah’s Most Dangerous Ski Run: Snowbird Pipeline Couloir

[@SnowghostFilms]

One day you’re uploading a video on a first timers experience, the next you’re tackling one of the hardest runs in the country! Love it

[@airflaka]

that explains his intermediate ski skills.

[@John-oe5nb]

I have skied in these resorts all my life and this is the first time I have heard of the Pipeline. Too bad I did not know about it 20 years ago. I started out in the 50's when a day pass was $3.75. Now that part of my life is in the past. Take the time in your youth to do things like this. Youth does not last as long as you would like it to. One day you wake up old, but still enjoy watching videos like this one. I was there with these guys in my memories.

[@camaronmorgan5915]

I was in the group right in front of you guys, nice to have this footage so I can show people how it was when they ask me about the down climb!

[@jonjonsshreds3312]

I talked to a patroller who was there for 40 years and he said opening it more then 2 days a season is a blessing

[@apet1572]

but why can it only be done 2 days

[@noahpaynenoahgayne7309]

@@apet1572 At 11,000 feet, you have consistent high winds, low visibility (fog) avalanche risks, ice risks etc... Video hardly gives us full perspective of just how high, steep, narrow and scary that climb is. High winds or fog would almost make both the climb and the decent a death sentence. Then the snow has to be just right to ride down that chute. It can't be too icy as full edge control is crucial going down that steep. And there can't be too much snow due to avi danger. Quite a few stars literally need line up perfectly for Pipe to be open, hence why it's only open a couple/few times per season.

[@alexx12545]

@@noahpaynenoahgayne7309 and I bet having too many peeople go makes it super dangerous.

[@gculligan55]

It’s best skied in July when the resort closes. There are much harder and more dangerous runs nearby on peaks outside of the resort boundary. The resort doesn’t trust the average person to go when there is .1% danger because they don’t want to be sued. In Europe runs like these are open year round because they won’t get sued into bankruptcy like here in the US

[@zachopie9167]

I've done Pipeline once about 10 yrs ago and your video reminds me just how scetchy that down climb really was...Next time I am definitely going to bring a ice axe or at least a whippit. Someone got stuck on the down climb when I was did it and ski patrol had to come rescue them. That down climb was definitely the gnarliest and most memorable part. I made a lil video when I did it too but you guys did a much better job capturing the full experience!

[@paulbellas8797]

I havn't skied in 20 years but hearing you guys say Gnarly brought a big smile to my face. Thinking glad they still use this word for a cool run...

[@michaelcrowley1172]

Been 30yr ago for me,east coast, WICKED GOOD/GNARLY, etc., memories backcountry out west,old man smiling now,GODBLESS 😊.

[@TheGweedMan]

I was lucky enough to be attend the PSIA instructors College at Snowbird in 1983. It was a great week! I remember looking to the right from the top of the tram and I saw the pipeline. It looked very skiable, but as I was training with members of the PSIA Demonstration Team, there was no time to get to it. I didn't realize how difficult it is to get to the top of the run.. Great job guys for all your effort and for sharing this amazing run with us!

[@bigbub6476]

1983 was my first season there. Miss it, but not the crowds

[@FlipsTheTrips]

back to back uploads from PeakRankings? Christmas came early.

[@khunopie9159]

Merry xmas Flip!

[@texan_2ocho965]

Congratulations on a great ski achievement. Y’all got bragging rights for sure.

[@DeeveOnYT]

I'm too old for this "nonsense" now, but can recall a time when this might have been right for me. Thanks for shooting and sharing.

[@bryantleech1696]

ha we were the two in purple and red jacket on the tram with you that day... *doink* is right haha you guys were troopers with alpine soled boots that day!

[@PeakRankings]

Glad you found this vid!

[@psjasker]

I did not intend to watch this .. but got totally invested in the success of you two miscreants. Great footage!

[@BadTakesGuy]

I agree that the downclimb is sketchy for non mountaineers but if you have any winter mountaineering experience that is a very simple descent

[@daveamirault]

Exactly.

[@irideaduck939]

@@daveamirault Agreed Oz!

[@alvinclemens6167]

You can also just jump it ...

[@alexblanck]

Or if you bring crampons I suppose

[@irideaduck939]

@@alexblanck If someone thinks they need crampons, I really think that person has no business being up there! First they need to know how to attach the crampons correctly, but more so ... they need to know how to walk/stand in them! (yes there is a technique)

[@stefanb18]

Been a subscriber for awhile now. This has to be one of the funnest uploads! Really incredible skiing. Look forward to each and every video. Skilled snowboarder here and this line would definitely raise goosebumps. Hats off to ya both! Thank you for what you guys do on this channel!

[@take3077]

Honestly for your skill level this is really impressive.

[@l0newolf-33ce]

*ice crunching loudly underneath* “magnificent” 😂😂😂 lol yeah right

[@PeterRadosta]

Nice effort gents...enjoyed our chat before dropping in. Another soft snow bluebird day at the Bird...Pipeline was a bonus!!

[@colinadamsmusic]

That hike and downclimb are super gnarly!!! You guys got stones man, awesome vid

[@burninghops4449]

Awesome edit, @PeakRankings! Maybe even more impressive is these guys met us later in the morning at Brighton and skied Elevator Chute. That was an adventure! 😉😉😉

[@ucaerospace8553]

Tore my ACL on that mountain on day 1 of 5 day trip. Resort has a good pool & hot tub btw. Good times. Good times.

[@JordanKnighton]

As a lifty that does this annually there. I have to take off work when I find out it opens. Usually mid March to mid April

[@m.hoffman2889]

in europe they'd just declare this as backcountry terrain and skiing at own risk

[@03crispi]

and it'd be open everyday

[@HibooMedia]

Easy

[@PDGX]

@@03crispi It would suck up ski patrol resources, if it was always open. Too many people would get stuck on that down-climb, require high-angle rescues. That takes minimum of two patrollers and time to set up & break down. Some would fall and be seriously injured, which requires more ski patrol involvement.

[@RenoCash33]

Skied hundreds of days at the Bird and never got to ski Pipeline. Timing never worked out. Fun to watch you guys get the goods.

[@midi510]

As far as the rock descent goes, once things get technical, turn around and face the rock to downclimb. It also allows you to hold your skis horizontally above you and can act like a deadman in case your feet slip.

[@diseasedwhale496]

Hell yeah! Now it’s time to send: Broom closet, get serious #2 straightline under the log branch, forbidden zone, etc. Let’s see it!

[@CoreyGary]

Looks like type 2 fun quickly transitioned into type 3 fun and back into type 2 fun. Gnarly. As a 2x AltaBird pass-holder I’ve never skied Pipeline and I think it was only open for a few hours one day I was there. I’m glad you two skied it and made it home safe! I love the video because it gives people a tutorial of what to expect if they decide to go up there. On the other hand, if beginners see this and think (oh I can ski pipeline) to them I say: please don’t.

[@mcplaayer]

all that boot packing to go down an icy tracked out couloir. i'm happy for ya'll!!!

[@bearclaw5115]

Type II fun I guess!

[@kierancaldwell5087]

This channel is criminally underrated

[@climbingsnowboarder]

Ive done pipeline multiple times and the run with the cliff to the lookers left. Pipeline is for some reason more intimidating than the cliffed out one!

[@brycehudson4317]

The underestimation is insane

[@thesilentdj4279]

Brother you guys. I love Snowbird but you're absolutely right, I'm one of the 99.98% of the guys that wouldn't do this. I think through 90% of the video, all I had in my head was, "OH fuck that" :)

[@keith2076]

Wow. Congratulations! This has been on my bucket list for years. But seeing that sketchy rock scramble….I’m second guessing it. Yikes

[@premiertrainingFL]

Sketchy asl. Snow bird is such an epic ski resort. So many of their runs have a good bit gnarly

[@nationlessnationalist]

I miss living in SLC snowbird was my home away from home when I lived there.

[@j.thomas7128]

Same here. I was in SLC for over ten years. Best place I ever lived!

[@arjunski]

Daley Spam is my freaking hero man 🫡

[@pollall2793]

4 hours until my Math midterm, here I am again watching videos about Skiing. I’m starting to think I should need to pick up this hobby.

[@tandybare]

the fact that you'd even consider going up w/o proper gear nor even had that stuff in your pack is a red flag.

[@mckayhatch6723]

Yeah... that rock scramble.... NOPE! But awesome run man. Great vid.

[@Aboard_and_Abroad]

you gotta practice kicking your toes in multiple times until you dig a solid footing

[@DaveSongayllo]

Good video! I'm totally down. Heading there this winter. I like how you pretend to not have any mountaineering skills to scare away the gapers. Well done

[@Jason-vi8ny]

Could feel the anxiety on that rock wall climb down. Can only imagine real life.

[@lukejuras8024]

I'm seriously afraid for my life and I'm just sitting here drinking coffee in my pajamas watching this. I've been on stuff 1/10 as dangerous as this and the overwhelming thought of "What if I slipped" still haunts me.

[@ronl7131]

Love Snowbird~Alta combo. Great climbing in the canyons in Summer.

[@retro_tcb]

Im ngl, every one seems so calm, but It is scary how close u are bordering the edge of death

[@irideaduck939]

I think if you fell at the top of the rocks you would more than likely slide into pipeline that go left over the cliff. The video doesn't show the contours very well. But you do have decent feeling of some exposure!

[@goodson77784]

What did we ever do right to get a YT channel like this? We're not worthy. 🙇🙇🙇

[@josephrosner905]

were so spoiled lol

[@dylankessler2668]

Awesome work taking care of each other!

[@wooltron1]

Seems like a lot of work for some icy skidded turns.

[@bigslydoc]

With regards to that down climb, any thoughts on taking a set of crampons for it? It’s been a while since I was doing anything approaching that but when I did in the Alps, we’d often take a set of crampons just to down climb sections like this.

[@referralhelper]

This is absolutely insane. So cool.

[@josephstratemeier8619]

This is, uh, not a thing I want to do. You guys have balls of steel.

[@jordanabendroth6458]

Same, I'm fine cruising blue groomers and trees.

[@cvn6555]

The risk and effort just does not seem worth the payoff. Rather get more laps in on difficult, lift-served runs.

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

hell yeah Sam D knows whats up with the Moment Wildcats.

[@cryptodnut9277]

What an incredible experience, excellent video. Love from the cascades!

[@jacksultan8146]

Outstanding story love it...the adventure is real.. I've skied all over the bird but never that run wish I did when I was younger

[@joealaska4244]

Algorithm got me here and I’m happy it did. Nice one boys. Yall did the damn thang!!

[@Newtorin]

So cool! What bag do you use to attach your skiis like that for an easier hike?

[@shell_jump]

How doable do you feel this is with (soft) snowboard boots? That downclimb looked pretty intense. Do people ever bring crampons?

[@sunsensational]

The camera angles don’t give it any justice

[@johncspine2787]

Or just how incredibly exhausting it is to simply “be” at 11,000+ feet, much less dragging all the equipment, the hike, the climbing etc etc..

[@pg_jem]

I'd recommend hiking up the couloir during the spring after the season has ended, it's much less intimidating.

[@lekinsh]

I would just bring crampons and ice tools with me. Makes the descent so much easier. :)

[@irideaduck939]

That gear is really not required. I wouldn't want to be on rock with crampons ... that sounds scary to me. Any experience rock climbing or walking on snow (mountaineering) makes it quite straight forward. I was lucky April 20, 2024 to finally tick this off with my wife!

[@patrickmcmillan8285]

@@irideaduck939 Oh wait how was it? i wanted to do pipeline this past april but 1) didn't have anyone to go with and 2) I'm scared of the scramble lol. I think I can do it, just need someone whos done it before to go too. Its one of my goals for this coming season.

[@jacobstein828]

@@patrickmcmillan8285 The scramble is the hardest part, but it’s not so bad. The first guy in this vid did it right, the second guy down almost gave me a heart attack. Don’t try and climb down the rocks. As far as a partner: go to ski patrols office in the morning if it’s open with your gear (beacon probe shovel) and you’ll find a partner. They tend to close the gate by 10-10:30 in the spring. The best time to do pipeline is in late spring (late April/early may). They almost always open it if there’s a hard freeze overnight (~28 degrees f) and a regular spring day ahead.

[@irideaduck939]

@@jacobstein828 I think they both showed a very novice ability for snow travel. Sitting on your butt on a steep slope ... that was scary to watch.

[@irideaduck939]

@@patrickmcmillan8285 bring a ski tie or two, this really helps keep your skis and/or poles together when you hand them down. Last season I talked to a father of a teenager that aired over the rocks ... that would be crazy to watch. I too have dreamed of skiing this line for many years, and for one thing or another it didn't come together until this past season. The day prior my wife and I we arrived at the tram summit without our gear and had to return the next day with hopes of making it happen, which it did.

[@cherrydrums]

That was awesome! I wonder what you would think about the hike + ski of Hells Roaring on the headwaters of Big Sky. One key difference is Pipeline is definitely a rarer opening opportunity.

[@PeakRankings]

This was 10x harder when including the rock scramble

[@gsantos1974]

Great Video!

[@brucecooley4170]

Too old for that scramble stuff, but Snowbird/Alta have all kinds of lift accessible steep stuff without hiking if thats your jam. Weekends however are a madhouse. This looks midweek.

[@MH-sp2ol]

The down climb is tame. I recently did it with old 32 boots with an EVA sole, very little grip. With ski boots or snowboard boots with a stiff sole like Vibram its chill.

[@kboyle1127]

👏never 👏down👏 climb 👏 facing 👏 down 👏 hill 👏

[@counterfit5]

That's not what his guide on Mont Blanc said

[@MichaelBrandon-t7k]

The guy you met on the tram and passed you on the hike up appears to be Owen Leaper. You should look him up he’s pretty awesome!

[@cooler9479]

Mountain climbing in ski boots? I'm not that brave. These people have guts.

[@craigiannucci9914]

After watching this I have so much more respect for everyone at peak rankings

[@makalu877]

Have climbed it many times starting in the mid 70's, I had my wooden shafted (hickory) Chouinard ice axe, didn't really need my crampons.

[@austyfrosty94]

great video. Lucky day at the bird!

[@Shorty747]

Just found out my state has one of the most dangerous ski runs in the country :D

[@scarface548]

this was gut wrenching. great job

[@anthonyg8174]

😮 amazing 🤩 Question 🙋‍♂️ this most be hard for a snowboarder 🏂?

[@edcohen1980]

What's funny is there here in Europe you can ski stuff just like this on any good powder day, you dont need to sign in with ski patrol - while it's obviously common sense to have a transceiver, shovel and probe, no one will check you do or prevent you skiing if you don't - and it's the same with having insurance - it's essentially your call. In Europe you'll find literally hundreds of people all over the resort hiking up to terrain like this and it's considered standard for advanced skiers when there has been fresh snow to go ski a steep couloir with your buddies. Totally different mentality and culture

[@walkawalka4ni9]

The run itself does not look too bad at all. Accessing it does look sketchy but i imagine having proper equipment it couls be made a lot safer

[@leegriffin4501]

8:25 dudes leaving a leak 🤣

[@DarkTenka]

LMFAO ... you can't unsee it

[@dr.a006]

I love the views from over 11,000’ I love skiing the Bird.

[@andynoel7484]

Sking looked like fun, getting there no sooner much!

[@blkcoupequattro]

Palmyra Peak at Telluride similar hike, almost the same exposure going up as going down in your video, did that hike the first year they opened it at Telluride in 2006-2007 highest in-bounds hike to terrain in North America 13,320ft, at the time I had no idea that it was the very first year for them to open it as 'Inbounds'.....

[@ruhhhhh]

excited for the new season! hopefully i can catch it

[@greencell1968]

Sweating watching this.

[@mikedobinson1388]

Does this mean the next PeakRankings video will be hiking up a mountain in Norway with Nikolai Schirmer?

[@mattelfesso]

I think I would’ve wanted some crampons for that climb. 😂

[@speedyboi2576]

please make another vid on big sky!! they've made tons of upgrades in the past few years!!

[@withoutwroeirs]

Legs must have been burning just with hike. The scary part is defo not having anything to arrest your fall. Concentration to max setting.

[@redpandaz5146]

I get the argument of "It should be difficult to get to extreme runs" but I feel that that argument only applies when it's something that if you can't pass, it just means you can't get up to the run. For something like that rock scramble they should probably install stairs or remove the rocks somehow.

[@patrickmcmillan8285]

I dont know about stairs or removing the rocks, but snowbird has ropes in other areas like one of the get serious chutes that they could put on the scramble. that'd make me feel more comfortable, at least. I guess the question there would be where to anchor since the get serious chute anchor is a tree. But they could put in a bolt or something. idk

[@KirbeyAlt]

i think they would've put something like that in there if it weren't for the fact that that run opens maybe twice a year. It's probably just not worth it to them to put in any work up there, and also a simple case of too many people would be upset about it to outweigh the amount of money it would take/how much it would get used.

[@lintemann1029]

Not totally sure that pipeline is even considered in bounds. Nonetheless the rock step is the crux of the ski line and for sure not easy given its with mixed class 3-4 scrambling with exposure and often time rotten snow, but doing any alteration would dilute it as a ski mountaineering objective. It can be made pretty casual with preparation of bringing ice tools

[@andrewhope9358]

this is more of an in-bounds ski mountaineering line, the wild aspect of it is part of the appeal. furthermore, what would you attach a rope to? there isn’t a good place to put bolts on the run before the scramble. i’m mainly surprised that ice axes are not mandatory on the run, if you brought one, it would make the crux much more manageable

[@erikkrause4874]

Pipeline has been skied by young kids - Terje Tornado - and senior citizens - Junior Bounous.

[@leafylinnea2074]

It’s strange when getting to the run is harder than the actual run.

[@Big_Pickle]

There’s a magical run waiting to be ski’d but it only awaits those willing to brave a potentially life threatening little down climb. Well? I’m waiting!

[@jackshittle]

I give you guys credit, this is way too much of a rigamarole for myself. I get off the tram, go to the right and pick a spot to drop in on my board.

[@cirquemagic]

This looks equivalent to Highland Bowl at Aspen Highlands. Similar hike, although no down climb. As far as terrain, Corbets appears much more difficult- at least on the day I did it.

[@stevewitman]

Nice! Way to make it happen!

[@scarface548]

how good are the ski patrol in this resort to rescue from here 😮

[@TarBoysWorldWide]

Let’s not forget to mention that the elevation is over 10,000 feet and there is very little breathable air at that height. Hiking from your bed to the bathroom takes effort!

[@vermontsownboy6957]

13:50 - rock band is tricky, yeah, but it would be so much easier if you turned around to face the slope, then down-climb backwards. This is the same climbing principle you would use if you were ascending the rock band, right? Only you're doing it in reverse, getting toe holds in the snow or rock with the boot. I'm no "armchair mountaineer", I've been out there doing it, skiing it, sending it. I'd have approached this problem the same way I described.

[@lukehotty257]

I genuinely want to know why snowbirds ski patrol HQ needs to be redacted😂😂

[@yoyoyo3335]

I’m a simple man. I see moment skis, I press like:)

[@StefanKolmodin]

Dangerous because of unsufficient gear (crampons and an axe) at the rock scramble section, first attempt even w/o T.S.P... no powder left so super safe and hence open.

[@climbinbrian]

How can you show up to a step couloir with no avalanche gear? If my friends didn't have this gear on an average day, I'd refuse to ski with them!

[@durjoymaitra3840]

Watching this video was like watching "Free Solo"

[@edjack1993]

Well done for making the effort. But imho it really doesn’t look like it is worth the effort and risk.

[@endercrafters1501]

honestly with the right equipment the rock scramble wouldnt have been hard. I would have went with horizontal point crampons, a mountaineering ax and it would have been fine. A 50 Meter rope would have been helpful too.

[@Eastonwasatch]

U don’t need rope for this short down climb lol. People literally jump over it instead of climbing down