Triple Couloirs Ski Via the N. Face 3/20/2010
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:17 am
Will Terrano told me about Ski Sickness, and its emphasis on descents, so I thought I'd contribute our jaunt up and down the Triple Couloirs of Dragontail. I already posted a TR here http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthr ... Post948170 so I'll try not to reinvent the wheel, but I don't like cross-posting links only. This is cool to have a site dedicated to descents.
Will and I chose the north face variation, as described by the Nelson guide after I had been scoping it all season. So technically, we skied the double couloirs?? We climbed up to the top of the hidden couloir, which deposits one on the north face. From there, it was easy cruising up the face to a small rock headwall. A mixed pitch led by Kyle Flick put us a couple hundred feet from the top of the 3rd couloir. We followed bucket steps up to the summit.
Dan Helmstadtler apparently had the same idea about the TC's, so we joined forces and skied the north face version. The turns from the top of the 3rd couloir were quite good. We fixed an anchor and rapped into the north face. The snow was not so good, and caution was called for. Looking down the length of the hidden couloir was intimidating. From what Will and I remembered climbing it earlier in the morning, the snow quality left a lot to be desired. However, with a conservative approach we managed to make it out into the open without taking a big ride over the exit cliffs.
Will at the top of the north face.
Busting up the north face.
Dragontail summit.
Dan on the descent, 3rd couloir.
Dan and our rap to the north face.
Dan about to slide into the business, the hidden couloir.
Will looking for the hidden exit.
Great day out Will and Dan. Thanks!
Will and I chose the north face variation, as described by the Nelson guide after I had been scoping it all season. So technically, we skied the double couloirs?? We climbed up to the top of the hidden couloir, which deposits one on the north face. From there, it was easy cruising up the face to a small rock headwall. A mixed pitch led by Kyle Flick put us a couple hundred feet from the top of the 3rd couloir. We followed bucket steps up to the summit.
Dan Helmstadtler apparently had the same idea about the TC's, so we joined forces and skied the north face version. The turns from the top of the 3rd couloir were quite good. We fixed an anchor and rapped into the north face. The snow was not so good, and caution was called for. Looking down the length of the hidden couloir was intimidating. From what Will and I remembered climbing it earlier in the morning, the snow quality left a lot to be desired. However, with a conservative approach we managed to make it out into the open without taking a big ride over the exit cliffs.
Will at the top of the north face.
Busting up the north face.
Dragontail summit.
Dan on the descent, 3rd couloir.
Dan and our rap to the north face.
Dan about to slide into the business, the hidden couloir.
Will looking for the hidden exit.
Great day out Will and Dan. Thanks!
