What is The FIFTY?
It started as a dream that was infecting Cody Townsend’s brain. “I couldn’t get it out of my head,” he told us recently when we had a chance to catch up with him about the project.
The idea: To ski mountaineer all of the lines chronicled in the iconic book, “Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America.”
No one’s ever done it, but Cody and his partner on the project, cinematographer Bjarne Salen, are determined to try. As of September, 2021, they’ve completed 36 of the lines, most of which are documented on The FIFTY YouTube Channel. The series is known for focusing on all the planning and preparation for each of the ski mountaineering trips, not just the skiing itself.
Starting on October 6th, Cody and Bjarne will be back to posting a new episode on YouTube every other week. Each episode will document a new line from the past winter.
The two also post “Bonus Episodes,” created during the downtime between traveling and skiing lines. In these episodes, Cody and Bjarne dive deep into some of the equipment they use. They offer these episodes to showcase the preparation that goes into tackling the lines - and also to help others choose the best gear for their own backcountry adventures.
As Cody told us, “I find all the small details the most fascinating. The days leading up to it. The planning. The research. The navigation. The trying to put the puzzle together. It’s almost more fascinating to me than the skiing itself.”
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The Faces of the FIFTY
Cody Townsend
Cody is one of the most awarded skiers in freeskiing history. He’s had a successful alpine ski racing career, done stunt skiing for Hollywood films and more. Cody’s also an evo ambassador. His connection with evo started with his first trip ever as a pro skier. He was invited to a shoot for Powder Magazine alongside evo Founder and CEO Bryce Phillips. Cody told us, “We traveled the West jumping from resort to resort, staying only in hostels along the way. I became close friends with Bryce from that moment forward.”
Bjarne Salén
Bjarne Salén is a Swedish ski mountaineer and cinematographer, based in Portland and Hood River, Oregon. He’s filmed some of the world’s greatest skiers and his work has taken him all over the globe. Bjarne has directed and produced films for companies such as Salomon, Oakley, Patagonia, and The North Face.
The Most Recent FIFTY Episode
Polar Star Couloir, Mt. Beluga, Baffin Island
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.
Co-Starring: Bjarne Salen & Vivian Bruchez
The Polar Star Couloir is line 45 of 50 completed by Cody Townsend. The FIFTY is a project following Cody Townsend as he attempts to climb and ski all fifty of the lines and mountains chronicled in the book, "The 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America." The series documents Townsend's journey's, travels, challenges and each line and mountain listed in the book. It's a journey through the most majestic mountains and ski lines in North America along with a unique insight into how skiers make decisions in the backcountry, how they plan, navigate and safely move through the mountains along with the people that dedicate their lives to the mountains.
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Some Of Our Favorite Episodes
What's in the Bag - Bonus Ep.
Not all backcountry backpacks are the same. In this bonus episode of The FIFTY, the details of Avalanche Airbag backpacks and what goes in them is discussed. This bonus episode specifically details the exact gear that was used during the filming of Line 38/50 - The Sphinx. Join Cody as he visits the evo Backcountry store in Whistler, BC to find out what is the necessary gear for climbing and skiing steep lines, in glaciated terrain with fresh powder snow!What to Wear for Backcountry Skiing - A Pro's Guide to Layering
We always here the term 'layering' in winter travel and backcountry skiing, but what is it and what's the reason for it? Well this bonus episode explains some of the science behind layering, temperature regulation, why moisture management is the most important aspect in the backcountry and why certain materials are better than others for winter travel. Additionally, some tips and tricks to belts, gloves and liners within.Join Cody as he visits the evo store in Portland to do a deep dive into all things layers-wise for a day of backcountry skiing.
"Ep. 17 Mt. Tukuhnikivatz"
Mountains are a skier's passion, but for many people in North America, they're far more than that. They're a source of life, death, spirits, ancestry and most important, it's their home. Joining with Len Necefer PHD, Diné (Navajo), the CEO of Native Outdoors and a professor of Native American Studies along with Connor Ryan, Húŋkpapȟa (Lakota), Townsend goes into the La Sal Mountains, the ancestral homelands of the; Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Diné (Navajo), and ancestral Puebloan peoples, to ski as well as talk and learn about their individual connections with the mountains and how important they are not to just skiers, but to the world.A Platform For Others
Being in control over who or what goes into each episode, Cody has used the FIFTY as a way to put the stories of others front and center. “Just me on camera for 50 episodes is not going to be entertaining, so let’s pull a bunch of different people in.” Cody admits. Whether it’s leaning on local knowledge of lines and current conditions or diving into deeper conversations on the relationship we play in our public lands, acknowledgement and equity, Cody and Bjarne have developed a deeper appreciation for the people and places they visit as they are welcomed with open arms.
While Cody and his wife, Elyse Saugstad, have very similar accomplishments and awards to their names, there is a disparity in the support they each receive. With that in mind, Cody and Bjarne have prioritized finding local women with previous knowledge of a line or interest to tackle these lines as a part of their team. Season 2 featured women in 7 of the 9 episodes including the Super Episode titled “The Mountain Why” where Michelle Parker and Cody rode their bikes from their homes in Lake Tahoe to Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainier, and Eldorado. And Cody says we should expect more women in future episodes as well.
The Completed Lines
In order of completion.
The Book: 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America
Written by Chris Davenport, Art Burroughs and Penn Newhard, this book is a compilation of aesthetic and iconic ski descents. It catalogs lines that a collection of North America’s most knowledgeable backcountry skiers and climbers deem to be ‘classics.’ This 208-page, 11” x 12” volume includes stunning photography and conversations with well-known ski mountaineers.
Cody and the FIFTY are Sponsored By:
