Google Earth graphic of the day's objective.Since I’ve failed to get my partners motivated for a proper alpine start up here in AK, I decided to have one myself on Saturday. The season is rapidly coming to an end with temps in the 70s this weekend. But I wanted to finish the season with a grudge rematch on the line I took a fall on not too long ago.
Haven't done this in awhileSo, I set the alarm for 4am and was hiking and then skiing by 5:30. With the sun up early in these parts it didn’t feel that alpine but, hey, it’s Alaska. Who needs a headlamp? 
Mountains always look better in the morning
Still, the light was super cool, quite different than what I’ve seen most trips with the typical crack of 11am start.
Easier to see the brownies this time of yearThe first 30 minutes was on dirt and the walking easy. One problem this time of year are bears...goddamn bears! I was packing bear spray and the bushes were thin but still. I had a patient last spring that was mauled in these parts. Scares the crap out of me.
Once on snow, the frozen surface made for fast travel. I’ve sweltered on this approach most other trips so it was nice to be in the shadows. 
Still, I was in a t-shirt and, as I got closer to my objective, worried that even the shady, north-facing couloirs would be mank. 
The line sits on the sun lit buttress in the center
More Google Earth fun. Cool line, isn't it?? I thought this right up until I was booting 20 feet below the entrance to the couloir. There, the snow had a nearly winter quality to it, just what I hoped.
Up we go
Surprisingly, this time of year, the gut of the line gets some early morning sun. This melted the thin glaze on the exposed surface but also started lobbing projectiles my way from the adjacent rock walls. Most of these were ice and snow so I continued. I didn’t see anything big and the top of the line was still in shade.
At one point, I small point release took off from the wall to my right. It went by me but would have been interesting if I was lower when it went. I was beginning to think my rematch was doomed. I persisted.
My grudge match game face.The snow quality improved higher up. I topped out, had a look around, took a few pictures and transitioned. I was ready to get this monkey off my back. I had powder for the first hundred vertical. The wall shedding created a runnel or two in the mid section but there was enough space on the shoulders to make turns. I still had to be careful. I couldn’t afford any mistakes on the firmer surface.
The descent went by without incident. I collected my stuff and headed over to the second, wider couloir further east. The sun was higher now. The tops of the peaks were warming rapidly. I skinned up past the schrund and made my assessment. 
Saved for later.Lot’s of runnels on this one indicating frequent debris dumping down its course. It’s much wider so the potential for bigger problems was there. I hemmed and hawed and finally relented. This one would have to wait.
I thought about other distractions around me. Lot’s of things to ski. But the air was still and forecasted temps were near 70 down low. I figured it was better to get out while the trail out was still frozen.
I can’t remember ever having so much fun on mellow terrain. 
The valley is low angle and everything was baby butt smooth. I could basically go wherever I wanted; doing GS turns at will on the frozen corn surface. Pays to be early. I was able to skate over a couple of rises and was booting down the dirt trail in no time. Mission accomplished.