Stephen Koch

Mark Newcomb and I skied and snowboarded much of the Black Ice Couloir on the Grand Teton in the middle 1990′s. We used a rope to belay the first 200′ because it felt like the right thing to do. I think Mark would have preferred to not have used the rope but acquiesced because I wanted it. There was an odd rain crust on top of the snow and black ice lurking underneath the snow.  Newc uncovered some on his second turn! Mark “Newc” Newcomb is a supreme skier and climber who I am honored to have made some really fun and wild descents with, both in the Tetons and around the world. He is a quarky lad whose strength to weight ration rivals many 14 year old girls. He is nearly half my size and carries packs as large, if not larger, than I do. He is a quiet guywith much going on behind his kind eyes. He recently was married to Allison Von Maur, a former therapist, skier, climber and all around woman whose family owns and runs the Von Maur stores in the mid-west. I wish them a happy life together!