The POLAR STAR - Full FILM - Ski Mountaineering in an Arctic Land of Giants - The FIFTY 45/50

The most remote classic of The FIFTY, The Polar Star is an iconic ski line. Set on the Arctic island of Baffin, the Polar Star Couloir is aesthetic, breath-taking couloir set among an island of ice, Polar Bears and towering granite walls. Joining up with Cody Townsend on his attempt to ski "The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America" is one of the world's best ski mountaineers and steep skiers, Vivian Bruchez. Though the goal of the journey is to ski The Polar Star, a plethora of steep, challenging and beautiful ski lines await in Baffin...and a lesson in just what makes Vivian one of the world's best, comes to light.
Film Length 48:00
Co-Starring: Bjarne Salen & Vivian Bruchez
Edited by: Matt Sheridan - Team Thirteen
Cinematography by: Bjarne Salen
Intro VFX by: Blair Richmond
Maps by OnX: James Lee & Katie Scott
Music from: Artlist.io License 4023308
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ROUTE Info:
Want to use the maps used to guide The FIFTY, here is 14 day Free Trial and 20% discount to OnX Backcountry App: www.onxmaps.com/backcountry/r...
WEATHER:
Track incoming storms and compare 10-day snow forecasts for your favorite mountains with a free 30-day trial to OpenSnow: opsw.co/thefifty30
GEAR Used in Episode:
Salomon QST 106 Echo bit.ly/40BXwf4
Salomon MTN 96 bit.ly/40Ebzkq
Salomon MTN Summit Pro bit.ly/3QV6Lny
Salomon MTN Pure
MTN Carbon S3bit.ly/40BXC6q
Swatch BioCeramic Watch bit.ly/3gQhCzo
YETI Hotshot: bit.ly/3u936tc
YETI Camino: bit.ly/3aeF29D
YETI Panga 100: bit.ly/477BN14
Smith Summit Helmet bit.ly/3socZmB
Smith Squad Mag bit.ly/478heSn
Smith Pursuit Glacier Glasses bit.ly/40GoPVB
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Crux 40L Pack bit.ly/3Qr8SPw
LeBent Cody Townsend Pro Zero Cushion Sock bit.ly/3MCAf6T
LeBent Base Layershttps bit.ly/3QBqCGU
Arcade Capture Belt www.evo.com/shop/arcade bit.ly/3QX6Xl9
Mammut Carbon 280 Probe
Mammut Alugatror Pro Light
Mammut Barryvox S bit.ly/40AAFAK
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Skins bit.ly/3QWESvh
Evo x Promoca Pro Glide bit.ly/3Qzu19f
Thule Chasm 90L
Thule Chasm 40L bit.ly/3QE8ThX
Honey Stinger: bit.ly/3sPpX9g
TINCUP Mountain Whiskey: bit.ly/3FvbSpb
SlingFin Tents: www.slingfin.com
Good-To-Go Dehydrated Meals: goodto-go.com
Western Mountaineering Puma -25 Sleeping Bag Bag: bit.ly/3QH9uQ2
Sea to Summit Ether Insulated Pad: bit.ly/3sESQZh

[@Nikolai_Schirmer]

Looks like a world class couloir with world class skiers! Excited to watch

[@IrishDougal]

@@rikardtvedby3206I’d second that maybe Cody could come and do some Norwegian stuff once North America’s 50 have been ticked off!!!

[@connorhansen3226]

The collab we all know would be insane

[@samsinite100]

Pretty much watch every video from you and Cody. Would be awesome to see yourself, Cody, and Krister climb and ski/snowboard some stuff together.

[@kriskopa]

@@samsinite100 That would be sick!

[@sethfish8889]

new 50 and top side boys in the same day!

[@christopherorman5769]

I love that the objective was done 9 minutes in on a 44 minute video. Thanks Cody for bringing so much stoke to the skiing community.

[@CodyTownsend]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JGCook5]

Vivian'a one-liners are the best: "better one more piton than one less alpinist" and "we climb because we want to be at the top" - I'd love to hear more gems like this which didn't make the cut!

[@CodyTownsend]

There are a few other ski lines that didn’t even make the cut

[@robingremaud8966]

The first quote is from Georges Livanos

[@bethb7734]

we want all the outtakes!@@CodyTownsend

[@peaceinpowder]

Impossible not to have a huge smile by the end of this. Viv stole the show and really showcased how much each touring partner's personality affects the group morale especially when things get sketchy. So many creative anchors that are beyond mix climbing. What a pleasure to watch you all master so many unique features and be so incredibly calm while doing so. Big shouts to Bjarne for filming in such steep and at times dangerous conditions. A masterclass in short.

[@CodyTownsend]

It was an incredible team and was honored to learn so much and be so inspired by Vivian

[@bjarnebuilds]

Such a great experience to learn from Viv. He is a good person all around and one of the most skilled person in the mountains I personally met.

[@stevenette4738]

Do you know the name of that removable anchor they used? I have done similar in slot canyons, but not like this.

[@1519Spring]

​@stevenette4738 "Beal Escaper" is the name of that product.

[@SchmidtymeTimbers]

​@@CodyTownsendEpic lines, inspiring teamwork and incredible learning / good nuggets to carry forward as always. Love it! The climbing that looked full on was great to see too. Amazing leading by Viv - nice to see each of your in the moment reactions to the conditions. Quick glove question. I keep seeing y'all use the Hestra ergo - any particular model you prefer for touring conditions around Tahoe? So many varieties from active ergo to the much warmer incline, czone insert waterproof or not... 😵‍💫 Tough to decide on the right balance of dexterity and warmth

[@trippissocool]

I'm surprised that Cody and Bjarne haven't received some added recognition for their efforts, whether in the context of the athleticism or videography. The series finds a way to continually improve.

[@CodyTownsend]

We sort of have here and there, but ultimately I haven’t chased too many film festivals and award stuff with the Fifty. Just trying to make stories I want to tell and put them out to the world.

[@inqurious]

@@CodyTownsend maybe even the best way to make a lasting impression, since you’ve already got enough attention as far as I can tell. Eg this episode has an experimental narrative structure w the bait/switch of “oh hey we got the objective early, now what?” As a good show-not-tell about how mountain adventures aren’t objective driven but dialogues with whatever nature puts in front of you, that you may not have seen coming, either way.

[@stevenette4738]

@@inqurious I loved that they just busted out Polar Star in the first few minutes, then ski ridiculous 6ft wide shit for the rest. Time well spent.

[@puglet64]

I would add that Vivian deserves massive accolades. He is a legend in Cham, and across the Alps. I hope this collab brings him exposure in the Americas, so thank you @CodyTownsend and Bjarne for setting that up. I also hope he takes you down the Couloir Mallory some time…

[@CodyTownsend]

Thanks for noticing all that BD. It was so creative and unique storytelling we tried to pull off. It's two movies and two storylines in one so was a tough one to accomplish.

[@kevinmchugh1780]

That shot from the drone looking down the couloir was next level. Much respect to the entire team.

[@bjarnebuilds]

Thanks for noticing. Not easy but we been working many years together and know each other pretty well at this point to find the right moments.

[@adrianjfussell]

This was such a cool shot!!!

[@dhrracer]

As the drone crossed the top then peering down was top notch.

[@jonas__784]

yeah that shot was breathtaking, so unbelievably steep! managed to capture that unlike any other movie i’ve seen

[@SimonJArthur]

@@bjarnebuilds That must have been one of the best cinematic shots I've ever seen. Beautiful filming!

[@abigailhost75]

The Matriarch, wow! what a line, what a tribute! You guys are something else, it's beautiful to see the respect and wonder you have for all these places and the people you've skied alongside.

[@CodyTownsend]

Thank you

[@theswissroadtocrypto]

masterclass in skiing, alpinisme, ski mountaineering and film making. best film in the '50' series

[@TheGreatKrystoff]

Absolutely magnificent, the best Fifty episode yet! "I feel like Ueli Steck!" and "The Matriarch" hit me right in the feels, didn't expect that but that's a beautiful tribute. As always gorgeous cinematography from Bjarne, especially that last shot of the three of you looking up as the drone flies away from you. Really fantastic stuff! I've wanted to see more Baffin Island content for years ever since I saw some folks wingsuit base jumping in this area on veeerrry early youtube, and this delivers so hard

[@bjarnebuilds]

Thank you very much. Glad you like it and noticing the extra camera work, means a lot.

[@tgbuckley482]

Loving Cody's unintentional French accent imitation

[@TheJDoyle42]

Bjarne I don't tihnk I've seen you have more fun than when you went through that extreme little tunnel @@bjarnebuilds

[@rollinrat4850]

This really was the best episode yet. I'm stunned. The athletes, the filming, your friendships, the terrain, the intensity, but especially all your cool heads. The list goes on and on. Thanks so much for bringing us along!

[@bjarnebuilds]

@@TheJDoyle42 It felt like being a little kid again

[@nickdayton1777]

Loved the Matriarch surprise. Viv is scary good at ski mountaineering. Best episode by far

[@CodyTownsend]

Ridiculously good. I’m so inspired by him

[@dFrame06]

And that side hit / air ... I need to see this on a big screen

[@KMF451]

Absolutely one of the best ski films I've ever seen. From Cody's endless stoke to Bjarne's amazing camera work and Vivian's knowledge, energy and passion. Truly the best ski film of the year and 110% the best 50 episode. Cannot wait to see more from this incredible team. Bravo!

[@CodyTownsend]

Wow, thank you.

[@bethb7734]

110% best of the Fifty episodes yet. The commentary at the end about who Vivian is brought a lump to my throat as I watched him teach skiing to a newbie...huge grins and all! Kudos, Biarne and Cody.

[@angelbori]

'let's go have a look' proceeds to climb and ski the raddest stuff on earth. bravo gents!

[@CodyTownsend]

Merci my friend.

[@bubbastard]

Man, you just blew your carbon footprint allotment for the decade. Great vid as always.

[@steveberthel7685]

Wow Cody! This episode was so freaking good...I've been waiting for this line for the duration of these episodes! I am blown away by your total lack of ego and your lessons to all ski tourers and mountaineers that it's okay to turn around and come back another time. Bjarne is probably the most underrated alpinist in the world. He has been a stabilizing factor in every episode, he is an amazing camera man, and Swedish, like me. 5 more episodes., I can't wait!!

[@meditateandcontemplate7425]

He is

[@kieranpower5964]

Best one yet. What an awesome experience.

[@CodyTownsend]

Thank you..🙏🏼

[@mke98765]

Too often climbing, skiing and misc. mountaineering content gets lost in slightly cringy attempts to provide some pretentious narrative frame. This episode goes for the angle beyond the immediate action - and nails it! What an excellent work of content this is. Cody, Bjarne and team succeed in treating and presenting alpinism better than most alpinism films. When they dabble in the personal interest angle - they do it better than most articles or biopics. This short epsiode gave me more added value on a mountain celebrity than did Herzog's documentary with Reinhold Messner. Bravo, and most of all thank you.

[@CodyTownsend]

Well thank you for taking the time to write out that incredibly kind commentary. So very appreciated.

[@TheRieft]

I've watched almost the whole FIFTY with my kids. My 4 year old son always asks, "he skis, why do we snowboard?" and "is that OUR mountain?". Which leads to funny conversations around growing up in California in the 90s and these not taking place at our now local mountain, Brighton. My 2 year old daughter absolutely loves the hiking/climbing parts and takes naps during skiing and monologues. So to Cody and the whole team, thanks for giving me a great off-season way to bond around winter sports with my family, all the while avoiding more Cocomelon and Bluey.

[@Arkticzug]

Hey Cody! Can we get a dream episode with you and Nikolay Schirmer skiing some Lyngen (Norway) classics, that would be the best of the best of ski movies.

[@davidsmart3338]

I’ve watched this ep 3 times so far and I’m not done yet. My favorite ski movie. I love the technicality, the playfulness, the mastery, and the intrigue. Let’s go have a look. I’m 55, on the cusp of retiring, and I know exactly what I want to do in my remaining years…

[@CodyTownsend]

Thank you David. So very appreciated your kind words on the film.

[@RadicalEarth]

Channeling Mr. Warren Miller on this one Cody, nice. Great story. That place looks epic.

[@pauljanssen3177]

That was your best yet Cody! To hear you screaming like a little girl with excitement brought a smile to my face. To hear Bjarne's solemn and humble request to the mountain in the Fiesta, brought tears to my eyes. Cheers!

[@kirkhwaltz]

So epic! I can’t wait for the Fifty’s err…Les cinquante I mean….special episode in Chamonix…

[@CodyTownsend]

A boy can dream. (that boy is me)

[@kieranpower5964]

3am in Australia…. No better time to take a break from sleeping and watch this.

[@ianholl9100]

Matt Sheridan crushed the edit! So much fun to watch.

[@allieliebgott9853]

Amazing trip Cody. Thanks for sharing. I can't explain the fear you feel when you're really exposed on a mountain and the canons start firing. There's just NOTHING you can do but hunt for what little cover is available.

[@Wieber84]

Air Canada losing your luggage finally a fifty episode I can relate to

[@mikemcintosh9933]

A guide who teaches guides, whose family has lived in the Chamonix valley since the 1600s. Sounds like a hero from a work of fiction. Once had a rock the size of a microwave oven appear silently out of the fog bounding down the Inter Glacier on Mt. Rainier straight at my rope team. Still gives me chills. There was absolutely nothing any of us could have done if it was our time in that moment.

[@CodyTownsend]

Seriously. It’s almost too good to be true. But it is!

[@geoffharris3005]

Soo awesome, the adventure, the narration, amd of the camera work. This is whats missing in ski movies today. They dont all need to be hucking and loud music.

When I first learned one of the lines was in Baffin, I was so excited to see how you guys would pull it off, and I was not disappointed! With Viv's mountaineering skills, Bjarne's cinematography skills, and Cody's storytelling skills, the 3 of you made a pefect team. Thanks for showcasing these lines and the stunning beauty of Baffin!

[@sbutler66]

Was waiting for Nikolai to turn up, would love to see you guys team up on an adventure

[@charlessawyer836]

Amazing video

[@user-tu1sm3sg2k]

Well done,Cody, Bjarne, and sick French dude! I've watched all of The 50 episodes and while, oddly, it took months to get to this one, I gotta say it's the best. Excellent job, and keep them coming.

[@InyoandWorm]

Vivian is the man, nothing beats hop turns on 50 degree + terrain. Another great watch, Thanks Cody!

[@Jay__EL]

Cody is the GOAT 🐐 🙌

[@vanvittles8651]

Anyone else almost feel bad watching such incredible adventure for free???? Still looking for the triple like button

[@smkjumpr]

Thanks for mentioning Hilary she was a great friend.

[@user-if8uh9yd1r]

One of the greatest ski films of all time?

[@matthewtraver2895]

There will never be a more convincing commercial showcasing the performance for the Petzel Gully than this video right here. lol Rad film. Love the Fifty Project. "We climb because we want to go to the top."

[@michaell3790]

Guys, that was unreal! Thank you for sharing!! Bjarne @ 28:04: "I'd be like... fuck this..." so good. 🤣🤣

[@Rook2424]

Kinda nice seeing a trip that despite some issues wasn't a total sufferfest. Who knew the bigwigs at the Fifty HQ allowed Cody to ski decent snow

[@CodyTownsend]

My bosses (me) finally decided to give me a break and let me enjoy some good skiing for once. Thanks boss!

[@GoldenPoopD]

vail can’t reach that far north to place facets

[@ZonDog]

That was epic Cody and Bjarne ! Thanks for amazing vidio!👍😎🇺🇸 Viviean was awsome.

[@user-vc4gs7ty9n]

I believe the best episode so far! Really enjoyed it - congratulations!

[@CodyTownsend]

Yay, thank you!

[@ghotio1927]

thanks Cody and Bjarne , another banger , !!!

[@JasonSchmidt]

Such great content!!!! The hard work for the payoff! So intense....this is some of ya'lls best filming and skiing I've seen. AWESOMENESS!!! How great it must feel to reach the top and take a deep breath........

[@dougschelmay2484]

30 minutes in is just nuts, bro. The whole video is unreal, but while i know this isn't the first time you guys have been in real danger in this FIFTY series, it was the first time as a viewer i REALLY felt nervous for you all.

[@ADAMJWAITE]

Every new episode seems to surpass the last.

[@hassebir]

Cant wait!

[@cesuntbanii]

As a former climber I was always impressed by how the lead climber managed to pass a crux and then my lead climber, when he was second, was always impressed by me leading another crux. The conclusion: when you lead you are more focused and you find solutions. When you come second you are relaxed and your brain is lazy. :)

[@CodyTownsend]

That’s definitely a great analysis of the mentality of leading versus seconding.

[@svenball5384]

Rad lines with a rad team. Absolute champions league

[@theinbetweenisours]

I think this is my favourite episode so far. Perhaps because my brother used to live on Baffin Island and worked in Nanasivik. When I heard his stories of brutal storms and winters I never imagined incredible ski lines. What an adventure, thanks for taking us there.

[@kylecockell165]

A masterclass video and journey. Bravo

[@jimgooch3704]

"I completely understand. And that's a really, really, beautiful name." Yes.

[@SnoodyMcFlude]

Now there's a guy that loves to ski, and in a purely infectious way.

[@tomllewellyn1018]

Yet again Cody and Bjorne and their amazing group of friends have not yet only set the standard of ski mountaineering in the America’s but the whole ski world! How f***ing radical is that! I take my hat off to you all!

[@toml6192]

Allez les gars!!

[@Ca_milo_G]

BRAVO !!!

[@TheAffeMaria]

Wonderful!!!!

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Incredible!!

[@sandrobreu]

WOW! That was amazing to watch - even for a dedicated Snowboarder...

[@user-nd5uy7he2i]

Amazing! Had high anxiety watching - so good!

[@deroux]

Fabulous.

[@ColinNoel]

top 10 videos of all time thanks !

[@johngeronimo8172]

Fantastic!!!

[@flonp9694]

The shot at 9:20 is one of the only shots I've seen convey steepness so dramatically, that couloir is absolutely wild.

[@alexsanchezch]

I had to watch it 3 times - scary, wild, steep, inspiring!

[@condoti]

The movie Free Solo had a similar shot. It's the perfect way to reveal steepness. Each episode keeps upping the cinematic bar. Selfishly, i never want it to end.

[@cseher]

Wept openly when Bjarne thanked the mountain and made it safely. Thank you for sharing the stoke, and the sacred.

[@ronbUtube]

All caught up, Cody! Been benge watching most night this 2023/2024 season. I'm only skiing the easier trade lines in San Juans and Wasatch so far. And at 69, the two to four miles in and out that I manage are adventures enough. So thanks for chronicling The Fifty, your fifty, for all of us to do such big objectives vicariously, having an inkling of what it takes to take them on. And great fliming, Bjarne.

[@ryanvanhorne5837]

So good, thank you.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

Just watched the movie of Elyse and Jackie... Good laughs in there and great skiing! As a Swiss, definitely need to remember the dad-joke from the credits: "The money here is the most honest... - It's very frank..." ^^

[@joemaxie4468]

That was amazing, what an adventure. SO GOOD, YOU ALL ARE BEASTS 😊 and Thank You..

[@cedricbertin7861]

Awesome guys!!

[@EdmOil83]

Bjarne truly is the real hero of the fifty

[@michaelpfarley]

Best yet. Fantastic.

[@briansimmons1512]

Let's go 'av a luke. Legend!

[@domesticterrorist483]

Magnificent. Didn't want the video to end. Dream colab would be to see you see ski with Nikolai Schirmer.

[@DrewNorthup]

Calling these short films is absolutely 300% correct. It isn't simple ski porn, nor a thrasher flick on boards-this is truly an art form both of the wilds and the mind.

[@ellen1231]

Loved it.

[@RetroRutt]

Fantastic

[@olivier4667]

Cet épisode est sublime, une super team, des images tellement belles, bravo à Cody d'avoir crée cette chaine sur les 50 sommets à faire à ski. Cerise sur le gâteau il y a notre trésor national français Vivian Bruchez, tellement sage, tellement inspirant, tellement fort ! Bravo épisode magnifique.

[@TomAbbottsWorld]

Brilliant as always guys.

[@michaeloneill5824]

That was fantastic. Thank you

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

Now that’s a rad adventure!!

[@coolflippers]

From the day I saw you point that couloir back when ski flicks were the annual thing to now, your videos have been a pleasure to watch. Thank you for sticking with it.

[@astaglenda]

Best one yet!

[@johnlittleton8279]

Bravo!

[@bensutton522]

When I started watching the fifty I was blown away but this is the next level. Amazing to see viv, those flicked jump turns are so controlled. The cinematography is A thing of beauty. Thank you bjarne cody and viv.

[@TheForrest76]

Amazing! What a ride! 🤩

[@loganbraun3261]

so good

[@paulbartholic3866]

Inspirational. Thank you!

[@chrissegal4949]

I love watching something that quite literally moves me to tears of happiness and a little jealousy if I'm being honest. U guys are a true inspiration!!!

[@CodyTownsend]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@thomasgappmaier8421]

So amazing guys!!!! ❤

[@tyw12345able]

Best yet! Amazing film

[@Steegwolf]

This is so incredible.

[@dimdropoff]

The storytelling is as beautiful as the images ❤

[@sartian]

This was amazing ! Main objective looked incredible and it was done in the first few minutes of the video... World class ski alpinism all along. Great to see Vivian there too, he's a legend ! And Bjarne is on another level, we don't see him much on those videos but he keeps going up and down those lines while filming with you, incredible

[@ryankalmanovitch1309]

Amazing stuff!! Thanks for sharing this adventure!

[@brianwalker4011]

Super rad episode! Looks like a badass trip! Glad it all worked out!

[@cartereckl4680]

YOOOOO. THIS WAS SICK

[@vaguelyaware67]

amazing work guys

[@crazybeardjones]

Epic, absolutely epic!