Radnut Admin The shape of Cody Townsend’s life has long been defined by lines—ski lines etched across the peaks of North America. These lines are impermanent, shifting with the wind and snow, yet they have carved something enduring in Townsend’s career: a trajectory that begins in the precise discipline of ski racing and arcs into the chaotic, enthralling freedom of the backcountry.
The FIFTY was more than a project. It was a map, a list, a dream documented. Inspired by The Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America, Townsend set out to climb and ski all fifty routes cataloged in the book. The endeavor, which began in 2018, carried him across a continent, through powder and scree, bluebird skies and whiteouts. He filmed every turn, every misstep, and every triumph, creating a video series that became a touchstone for skiers and dreamers alike.
In March 2024, Townsend announced that he was putting The FIFTY to rest. He had completed 46 of the 50 lines. The final four—steep, remote, and logistically complex—would remain unconquered. For some, this might feel like unfinished business. For Townsend, it was liberation. “The project is about adventure, not perfection,” he said in an interview. “And those adventures will continue.”
From One Map to Another
In Townsend’s new project, The FIFTY+, the boundaries of the original map dissolve. The “+” signals something expansive: a departure from the confines of a fixed list and an embrace of discovery. The lines Townsend now pursues are not canonized in any book. They are chosen based on a set of criteria he developed—a system that weighs aesthetics, difficulty, and the intangible quality of allure. They are, in short, lines that might one day be called “classics.”
For Townsend, this new phase is less about completion and more about exploration. It is the act of asking, “What else is out there?”
Building a New Trailhead
Beyond the physical descents, The FIFTY+ creates new avenues for others to follow. Through the project’s website, thefiftypluspro.com, Townsend shares GPS data, route guides, and behind-the-scenes insights. While the episodes remain free on YouTube, the subscription model introduces a layer of depth for those who wish to study the maps in detail, to understand the gear, or to imagine themselves on the same ridgeline. It is a democratization of knowledge—a way to bridge the gap between professional and amateur adventurers.
The Next Turn
Townsend’s first episode of The FIFTY+, released in October 2024, begins not with a bang but with a rhythm—the cadence of steps on frozen ground, the soft slide of skis cutting into fresh snow. His storytelling retains its honesty and humor, the recognition that adventure is as much about the slog as the summit.
Where this journey leads is, by design, unknown. Townsend has no obligation to finish anything this time. There is no fixed endpoint, no book to check off. There are only the lines—temporary, glorious—and the skier tracing them.
