Jeremy McGhee on the morning of his expedition to climb Bloody Couloir outside of Mammoth Lakes. A paraplegic, Jeremy had to pull himself up the steep couloir on roped rigged my his friends and fellow Drop-In teammates. Drop-In Project was born two years prior to Jeremy McGhee’s ascent of Bloody Couloir in June of 2012.

In 2001 McGhee was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle. The accident left him a paraplegic. He had been an athlete and this accident appeared to rob him of that. Not one to let life pass him by Jeremy turned what many would see as a disadvantage into an opportunity. When his friends would come back from a day in the backcountry he would think, ‘I want to do that!’. Two years ago a group of friends climbed and skied Bloody. They told Jeremy about it. This time the thoughts turned to words and Jeremy said, ‘I want to do that!’. I wasn’t there but I can imagine that there was a moment of silence and then a ‘Hell, yes!!’. And the seed had been planted. Training..planning…dreaming… All in preparation for the first ascent by a paraplegic up Bloody Couloir and the ski back down.

Bloody Couloir was recently named one of the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America and with good reason. Visible from Highway 395 Bloody Couloir is 40-45 degrees depending on the time of year and snowfall. The top is 12,533′ gained after a boot up of 2,600′ if you go up the couloir. For those who don’t want to risk the rock-fall that Bloody is famous for the top can be accessed by climbing the ridge from the east. The views are spectacular.