The Official Retail Partner of the FIFTY+ Project
Alpenglow Sports is stoked to provide our friend and longtime customer, Cody Townsend, with the gear he needs for his new project, The FIFTY+! After 6 years of climbing and skiing 46 of the 50 lines in the book “The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America”, Cody's headed back into the backcountry in pursuit of new "modern classics."
In the process of skiing the classic lines depicted in the book, Cody often found himself curious about adjacent lines and what truly constituted a classic. This new series will chronicle his attempts at these lines, and subsequent determination of whether or not they should be included as a classic, based on his personally developed scoring system.
As Cody has ventured to more remote locations and completed more challenging ascents through the FIFTY Project, he often found himself being asked about his gear choices. What gear did he choose for a specific line, and why? As a result, rather organically, he became a trusted voice for outdoor gear choices and performance, and a new aspect of the series, gear reviews, evolved. Alpenglow Sports is excited to be able to utilize his experience with the gear we carry, and are honored to add his voice to our team.
“Alpenglow represents everything that’s positive about specialty retail. Their commitment to Tahoe, public fundraising, local event development and community support is unparalleled in our industry. To me, this partnership is just representative of how supporting principled commerce can be good business."
“Cody Townsend is a visionary athlete who is pushing the boundaries of ski mountaineering. Cody has an innate storytelling capability, one which documents his adventures in an innovative, engaging and progressive fashion. We’re honored to work with one of the most well-rounded athletes alive today.”
Shop Cody's Gear
Cody curated a list of gear that he uses for ambitious ski descents and deep backcountry adventures. We break down the reasons he's chosen some of his favorite pieces.
Watch Gear Reviews
Gear reviews are central to the Alpenglow Sports ethos. We pride ourselves on using the gear we sell and are thrilled to have Cody personally review top picks for backcountry skiing.
Watch the Episodes
Our behind-the-scenes looks into the FIFTY+ makes us a great resource for the episodes and the stories behind them. We'll post all the episodes as they air and will link to more info on the FIFTY+ website.
Scroll to learn more
The FIFTY+ is a new episodic video series by Cody Townsend centered on exploring the mountains and the definition of what makes a line a classic. It’s the FIFTY, plus more mountains, more lines, more adventures and more fun. The series is all about expanding, and exploring the definition of the classics as backcountry skiing continues to evolve.
Cody developed a scoring system to evaluate the merits of a line and determine if it's a classic. He and his partners will rank lines on the following characteristics:
- Aesthetics
- Popularity
- Ski Quality
- Climb Quality
- Bragging Rights
Our favorite parts of the Fifty Project was the amazing folks that we go to know through Cody's adventures. The FIFTY+ Project continues that tradition with an exciting cast of new friends and old favorites. Keep your eyes peeled! You might even see a friend from Alpenglow Sports!
What gear did Cody choose for a specific line, and why? How did it perform? Cody is a trusted voice for outdoor gear choices and our partnership will bring more, high-quality gear reviews to both our audiences.
The FIFTY+ is a new episodic video series by Cody Townsend centered on exploring the mountains and the definition of what makes a line a classic. It’s the FIFTY, plus more mountains, more lines, more adventures and more fun. The series is all about expanding, and exploring the definition of the classics as backcountry skiing continues to evolve.
Cody developed a scoring system to evaluate the merits of a line and determine if it's a classic. He and his partners will rank lines on the following characteristics:
- Aesthetics
- Popularity
- Ski Quality
- Climb Quality
- Bragging Rights
Our favorite parts of the Fifty Project was the amazing folks that we go to know through Cody's adventures. The FIFTY+ Project continues that tradition with an exciting cast of new friends and old favorites. Keep your eyes peeled! You might even see a friend from Alpenglow Sports!
What gear did Cody choose for a specific line, and why? How did it perform? Cody is a trusted voice for outdoor gear choices and our partnership will bring more, high-quality gear reviews to both our audiences.
The Fifty+ Picks:
S/LAB Mtn Summit
Cody's Boot:
"An incredible mix of lightweight walkability and downhill ski performance. As a 200lb ex-ski racer, I’ve been amazed how well this 1,200g boot can ski. From Emerald Bay Chutes to Alaskan Expeditions, these are my go to boots."
- Cody Townsend
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
S/LAB Mtn Summit
23/23.5
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
ZipFit GFT Tour Liner
"Looking for more downhill performance out of your touring boot? Just throw in a pair of ZipFit GFT Tour’s and be amazed how much better your boot performs. The added weight is worth the extra performance."
- Cody Townsend
Learn moreSidas CRT Slim Liner
"When the GFT is too much, pair it down with the Sidas CRT Slim. For it’s weight, it has strong downhill performance characteristics along with breathability and quick drying capability. My go to for big days on the East Side or Expeditions."
- Cody Townsend
learn moreCody's Bindings and How to Choose:
Salomon MTN Pure + Brake
Cody's Top Pick:
"Maybe the most reliable and durable tech binding of the last 20 years. Simple, strong and effective. There is a reason this binding hasn’t changed it 7+ years, it’s hard to make better."
- Cody Townsend
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
Salomon MTN Pure + Brake
Black / Blue / G90
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
For Ski Mountaineering:
Ride Ice Axe 45cm
Why it's Cody's Top Pick:
"The axe that revolutionized technical ski mountaineering. Capable enough to climb water ice, light enough to never want to leave at home. The best all around axe there is."
- Cody Townsend
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
Ride Ice Axe 45cm
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Protection:
Pursuit
The Essential Glasses:
"If it's stormy or sunny, you’re biking or hiking, ski touring and downhill shredding, the Pursuits were made for it. The all-around, go anywhere, do anything glasses. These glasses have coverage matching that of googles, breathability, moldable comfort and light changing optics."
- Cody Townsend
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
Pursuit
Matte Blk / CP Glac PHT Copp Gry Blue Mirr
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
Avabag Litric Tour 40
Cody's Avy Bag:
"It’s a nightmare traveling with canister activated Airbags. I’ve done it for years and I can’t tell you how happy I am to move on from canisters after the introduction of the best electronic inflation device there is, the Lictric system."
- Cody Townsend
Pickup available at 415 North Lake Boulevard
Usually ready in 24 hours
Avabag Litric Tour 40
Desert Orange
415 North Lake Boulevard
415 North Lake Boulevard
Tahoe City CA 96145
United States
What's in Cody's Pack?
Tenacious Tape 3" x 20'
"Lives in my backcountry kit because I’m a klutz and put holes in my outerwear, tents, sleeping bags and more very often. Too often to admit just how much. Do not go on a ski trip without it."
- Cody Townsend
Learn moreMountain Flow Glide Wax
"A quick rub on wax that lives in my backcountry kit for extra glide when the snow is a little stickier than you thought. Plus, knowing that you’re not using traditional ski waxes which are toxic for waterways, wetlands and animal habitats, will actually make you want to use it."
- Cody Townsend
Learn MoreNutrition Picks:
Shop the FIFTY+ Picks
Fifty+ Picks
About Cody Townsend
Cody Townsend is a career professional skier based in Tahoe City, California. From award winning freeride skiing to directing, producing and starring in The FIFTY, his passion for skiing and the mountains has driven him for 20+ years.
About Alpenglow Sports
Alpenglow Sports is an original California Mountain Shop that has been providing locals and visitors with inspiration, local knowledge and the best gear to enjoy the great outdoors since 1973. Based in Tahoe City, we take pride in being community, socially and environmentally responsible to ensure Lake Tahoe stays one of the best places to play, visit, and live in California.
About Alpenglow Sports
Episode 1
The Northstar Couloir
Episode 1 is The Northstar Couloir, a line that draws your eye in from almost every corner of the small ski town at the base of Alyeska Ski Resort, Girdwood, Alaska. With a 10mi / 16k approach and 6k / 1800m of elevation gain, the couloir follows the mantra of Alaska, everything is bigger than it looks in AK. Joined by Elyse Saugstad, the crew embarks on a multi-day adventure to take Elyse on her first winter camping adventure, encounter tough decisions, touchy avalanche conditions and an obligatory sufferfest to ski an off-road Alaskan quintessential couloir.
Watch Now
Episode 2
Pioneer Peak, AK
Pioneer Peak is widely known in Alaska. Little known outside of it. As you drive north from Anchorage into the glacial flood plane known as the Matanuska Valley, there is one mountain that stands taller, looks bigger and feels more omnipresent than the thousands of other peaks on the skyline. To the Dena’ina people, it is known as Dnal’iy, or “The One That Watches Us.” It’s colonial name, Pioneer was given in 1939 after the european immigrants who created an agricultural colony on the banks of the Knik River under the slopes of the watching mountain.
It’s North facing slope is a continuous 6,500 foot face with no breaks and no flat areas. What was once a test piece of endurance and skill for Alaskan mountaineers, has now become a playground for local ski mountaineers.