By: randosteve|Posted on: April 13, 2010|Posted in: Middle Teton, The Tetons | 21 comments

Note: This route isn’t in the guidebook and I wonder if it has been skied before.

Click photos for larger images.

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I have been eyeing the Southeast Face on the Middle Teton for a few years now and after one busted solo attempt, I got out with telemarker Chris Onufer this weekend and scored pretty good conditions for an exciting descent. The line sits looker’s left of the Chouinard Couloir. Here are some photos and a few tid-bits about the day. Enjoy! –Steve

chris-onufer-hike-in-front-of-nez-perce-in-garnet-canyon
Chris hikes up the South Fork of Garnet Canyon.
After scoping out the route from below, we decided to climb the Southwest Couloir
and look for an entrance into the top of the Southeast Face.

chris-onufer-hikes-past-sustrugi-on-the-middle-teton
Chris makes his way past some sustrugi towards the Southwest Couloir.

chris-onufer-boots-up-the-middle-teton
Chris heads towards the Southwest Couloir.

steve-romeo-on-searching-for-the-entrance-on-the-middle-teton
On the way up, I searched around for an entrance to the face…this wasn’t it.

steve-romeo-hiking-back-towards-teh-summit-of-the-midle-teton
Randosteve heads back into the Southwest Couloir.

chris-onufer-thinks-its-time-to-ski-the-middle-teton
On the summit of the Middle Teton, Chris thinks it time…to SKI!!!

chris-onufer-skis-the-southwest-clouloir-of-the-middle-teton
Chris skis the Southwest Couloir.
As usual…the skiing sucked here.

steve-romeo-skis-the-upper-southest-face-on-the-middle-teton
After poking around some more…we find the top of our line.
Randosteve skis the top of the Southeast Face of the Middle Teton.

steve-romeo-skiing-the-upper-southest-face-on-the-middle-teton
On the way to the crux of the route. The snow was good here.

steve-romeo-skis-the-southest-face-on-the-middle-teton-miniature
Randosteve skis the Southeast Face of the Middle Teton.

steve-romeo-skis-the-crux-of-the-southest-face-on-the-middle-teton
It was pretty steep with exposure and consequences as we moved through
the crux, and I linked turns where I could.

chris-onufer-skis-the-upper-southeast-face-of-the-middle-teton
Chris skis through the crux zone of the upper Southeast Face.
This area was a little icy and we both side-slipped and stepped our way through.

chris-onufer-the-southeast-face-of-the-middle-teton
Chris finds good snow on the main section of the Southeast Face.
The pitch mellowed here, but it was more loaded with snow…and little unnerving.

steve-romeo-skis-the-lower-southeast-face-of-the-middle-teton
Randosteve skiing lower on the face.

chris-onufer-teles-the-lower-southeast-face-of-the-middle-teton
Chris throws a tele turn low on the face.
The East Hourglass Couloir on Nez Perce in the background.

chris-onufer-skiing-the-lower-southeast-face-of-the-middle-teton
Picking his way through rockbands, Chris finds a way
through some cliffs at the bottom of the route.

Chris skis the Cave Couloir.