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Youngest Extreme Skiers in Colorado do Holy Cross Couloir (Post date July 7, 2005)

Bookmark and Share            By Lou
Christian Kloser
in Holy Cross Couloir.

On July 1st, the Kloser family of Vail made a high camp below Mount
of the Holy Cross, a Colorado 14er known for its easterly cross shaped
feature consisting of a couloir and horizontal snowfield.

The next day, Mike Kloser and his progeny, Heidi,
age 12, and Christian, age 11, climbed and backcountry skied the
Cross couloir, one of Colorado’s most well known extreme ski routes
(IV
D11 R3). Even at their early age, Mike’s well prepared team
had years of practice under their boots. They’d previously climbed
numerous 14ers, were well versed in snow climbing techniques such
as self-arrest, and as ski-town residents have the requisite downhill
skills for just about any descent. While skiing such terrain is
not for everyone (or every family), it’s gratifying to see the
practice and preparation that led up to the Kloser’s descent.
I’ve always advocated taking a careful and serious approach to
our Colorado 14ers, nice to see the Klosers doing the same — and
reaping the rewards.

Mike Kloser is one of Colorado’s most gifted athletes,
he’s known for his success in endurance sports and is a member
of the Mountain
Bike Hall of Fame.

According to Kloser’s wife Emily, who was
also along on the trip (but didn’t ski):

On Friday evening July 1st, we hiked in
and camped at tree line just below Bowl of Tears. Heidi, age 12, and Christian,
age 11, carried all their own equipment in on the sometimes tedious and mosquito
ridden climb. We set out at 6 am July 2nd for the Cross. Two teams
were ahead of us but Mike picked a great route and we were now leading
the groups. At 7:42 we arrived at the bottom of the Cross Couloir.
Mike rigged some safety ropes across the couloir. Two climbers set
out at 7:55, then Mike, Heidi and Christian and two other climbers
began the ascent at 8:05. The kids, with their skis on their backs,
crampons on boots and ice axes in hand, passed the climbers ahead
and climbed out of the couloir right at 9:00am. I waited at the ski
out since I recently had ACL surgery (and was relieved that I had
an excuse not to ski the Cross.)

Skiing Mount of the Holy Cross, Cross Couloir
Heidi and Christian Kloser
skiing Cross Couloir.

With the snow condition as close
to perfect as they get for this time of year, the three clicked in
to their bindings and began the ski. After stopping several times
so dad could get more photos, they were back down to my location
in the couloir. The first words from Heidi were, "Let’s go do
it again!"

On a serious note: This was
not a whim. Mike had carefully planned this for years. The kids have
practiced their "self-arrest" skills
on steep snow fields for years. They have climbed 30 of the 14eers.
They know how to move quickly and efficiently on talus and steep
slopes. They are both very solid and accomplished skiers. And most
importantly, it was something they wanted to do.

Mount of the Holy Cross backcountry skiing.
Mount of the Holy Cross, Cross Couloir is the vertical slot, lower cliff portion is not usually skied though it fills in during some years. Image from Dawson’s
Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners.

Posted by Lou on July 7, 2005 | Filed Under Fourteeners, Trip Reports 

previous post: Castle Peak Backcountry Skiing — Guest Blog (July 6, 2005)
next post: Back to the Colorado San Juan Mountains (July 8, 2005)

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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