Peak(s):	Missouri Mountain - 14,071 feet
Date Posted:	04/26/2012
Modified:	09/12/2018
Date Climbed:	04/25/2012
Author:	USAKeller
Additional Members:	BillMiddlebrook

Missouri Mtn. Ski Descent (North Face Direct) - Missouri Gulch TH
Missouri Mtn. North Face (main) Couloir Ski Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Crew: Bill and myself Route: Northwest Ridge (standard) ascent and North Face Direct Couloir ski descent from Missouri Gulch TH Stats: 9 miles; 4,500' climbed; 2,300' skied; 9 hrs 45 min RT Overview of our routes, photo taken in 2007 (red=climb; blue=ski): Topo of the route (red=climb; blue=ski): I have to selfishly admit that I've been out climbing a lot since January, and every time I've been out, I've had awesome days - be it great weather, routes, partners (and all that goes along with that), and overnight camps. Well, yesterday was nothing short of that either. Enter prime 14er ski conditions in addition. It's no secret that Colorado has had a tough year for snowpack and backcountry ski conditions, but, wow - we found some goods! I left work Tuesday night and met Bill at the Missouri Gulch TH where we got a few hours of sleep before a 3:30am alarm. We started up trail at 4:50am and made great time up the switchbacks to the cabin and stopped for a quick break. A lot of the trail is dry to here and for the snow packed sections no flotation is necessary. We continued through Missouri Gulch basin (snow-covered) and got a better look at Missouri. The original plan was to climb the "C Couloir" (still planning to ski the main couloir) but I forgot my crampons. Even though there was boot or glissade track, we knew the safer option was to climb the standard NW ridge. Good morning, Missouri! Bill makes his way before Mt. Belford up Missouri's west slopes to our shoe stash at 12,900': The wind in the basin kept things cool - we didn't feel pressed for time. At 12,900', we cached our hiking shoes and switched to ski boots. Traversing towards Point 13,784' and the visible, summer trail, we reached the base of the slope leading to the ridge and were greeted with several rocks that kept flying down from above at high speeds. Low on the slope we started post-holing a bit and poked around in the snow to find depth hoar sandwiched between two icy layers all on top of sugar snow. So we headed climbers' right a little further and encountered minor post-holing in shallow snow. We then decided to aim for the large dirt patches in the center of the slope to reach the ridge. That option was much better. After testing some snowpack and unfavorable post-holing, it was easiest to climb the dirt patches to reach the saddle: It was warm and after attaining the saddle, a nice breeze felt great along the summit ridge. And of course, Huron Peak's East Face dominated our views. From this saddle at 13,700', we followed the standard route to the summit (snow can be avoided on most of the route). About halfway across, we took a peek down the "C Couloir" - looks like a nice mellow ski, but the entrance was not continuous. At the saddle, Huron's East Face lines look inviting - Can we ski this next please please please, Bill?! Looking down the mellow "C Couloir" from the ridge, just north of the main couloir: Looking back (north) along the Northwest Ridge: Bill walks the long ridge before reaching the summer crux: At the "crux" of the summer route, we had to traverse two short snow slopes before the final pitch to the summit. The first snow slope had previous boot tracks, but Bill made our own on the second - great snow for kicking steps. From the crux, Bill starts across a previous boot track on one of two snow slopes we crossed: I cross the second slope; Bill kicked steps and I followed: The final pitch to the summit. The entrance to the north face direct couloir is the immediate snowfield in the photo: Shortly after, we topped out on Missouri at 11:00am. If there is such a day as 'perfect', this was as close to it as it could get. We had zero wind, a pleasant temperature, blue skies, and views of some of Colorado's most beautiful snow-capped peaks. I Tebowed. My requisite fish-eye summit shot - Mt. Harvard splits us in the distance on another stunning day: After a nice hour break of food, ski-waxing, and photos, we left the summit at 12:00pm, clicked in at the highest point possible and entered the top of the main North Face Couloir. The upper portion of this couloir seemed a bit loaded, so Bill made ski-cut skiers' right side of the couloir and made a few solid jump turns to test snowpack out only to find some awesome powder on top of a solid base. Even though it was very stable, sloughing powder was the snowpack demeanor in this awesome upper 2/3 of the couloir. It was SWEET! This entrance to the couloir was a bit loaded, so Bill made a ski-cut and a few jump turns to skiers' right where we found the powder: I follow Bill's ski-cut to the first safety zone... ...and find me some wonderful blown-in powder to slice! Bill getting his blower: Bill at a safety zone, about half way down the couloir: I can't remember if I've already mentioned that we had some awesome powder in the upper 2/3 of this couloir? We did - not something you typically see on a 14er and made for near effortless turns. Bill estimated the max slope we skied was no more than 40 degrees (near the middle of the couloir), and the rest averaged mid to upper 30's. The bottom 1/3 and apron consisted of some nice spring corn - another treat and more unforced turns! I ski some nice corn in the bottom of the couloir and out towards the apron: Bill makes it look easy (as always) and exits the apron: Once we hit the couloir apron, we immediately contoured skiers' left to stay high in the upper basin to hit some short, small chutes that would drop us back at our shoe stash. Bill chose the chute on lookers' left, I chose the one on the right. Both chutes were hard-pack. A train of slough, two happy skiers, North Face shredded: Our routes down the North Face and small chutes to our shoes at 12,900': It took us 20 minutes to return to the shoes. We were all smiles and pretty thrilled to have encountered the conditions we just did. We debriefed the ski descent and concluded that we don't think we could have timed it much better and that this was one of the best backcountry days we've had this season, once again because of the great snow. Oh wait, we still had 1,100' more feet of corn skiing ahead of us! We skied very mellow terrain, and had to pop the skis off for 20 feet to enter the drainage. After more mellow corn turns, we milked the skiing as best we could until willows and rocks stopped us at 11,800' for a quick change of gear. Of course we had more post-holing and bush-whacking to reach the Belford trail, but it didn't seem to irritate us as much as it did on Challenger - I wonder why! From the cabin, it took us 45 minutes to get back to the trailhead, where we arrived at 2:30pm. It was such an all-around awesome day and even better to find great snow; I almost felt undeserving of it. Thanks again, Bill, for another excellent day and for the repeat ski - I owe you one! My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload): Login required to view this map... Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Missouri Mtn. Ski Descent (North Face Direct) - Missouri Gulch TH

Missouri Mtn. North Face (main) Couloir Ski

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Crew: Bill and myself
Route: Northwest Ridge (standard) ascent and North Face Direct Couloir ski descent from Missouri Gulch TH
Stats: 9 miles; 4,500' climbed; 2,300' skied; 9 hrs 45 min RT

Overview of our routes, photo taken in 2007 (red=climb; blue=ski):

Topo of the route (red=climb; blue=ski):

I have to selfishly admit that I've been out climbing a lot since January, and every time I've been out, I've had awesome days - be it great weather, routes, partners (and all that goes along with that), and overnight camps. Well, yesterday was nothing short of that either. Enter prime 14er ski conditions in addition. It's no secret that Colorado has had a tough year for snowpack and backcountry ski conditions, but, wow - we found some goods! I left work Tuesday night and met Bill at the Missouri Gulch TH where we got a few hours of sleep before a 3:30am alarm. We started up trail at 4:50am and made great time up the switchbacks to the cabin and stopped for a quick break. A lot of the trail is dry to here and for the snow packed sections no flotation is necessary. We continued through Missouri Gulch basin (snow-covered) and got a better look at Missouri. The original plan was to climb the "C Couloir" (still planning to ski the main couloir) but I forgot my crampons. Even though there was boot or glissade track, we knew the safer option was to climb the standard NW ridge.

Good morning, Missouri!

Bill makes his way before Mt. Belford up Missouri's west slopes to our shoe stash at 12,900':

The wind in the basin kept things cool - we didn't feel pressed for time. At 12,900', we cached our hiking shoes and switched to ski boots. Traversing towards Point 13,784' and the visible, summer trail, we reached the base of the slope leading to the ridge and were greeted with several rocks that kept flying down from above at high speeds. Low on the slope we started post-holing a bit and poked around in the snow to find depth hoar sandwiched between two icy layers all on top of sugar snow. So we headed climbers' right a little further and encountered minor post-holing in shallow snow. We then decided to aim for the large dirt patches in the center of the slope to reach the ridge. That option was much better.

After testing some snowpack and unfavorable post-holing, it was easiest to climb the dirt patches to reach the saddle:

It was warm and after attaining the saddle, a nice breeze felt great along the summit ridge. And of course, Huron Peak's East Face dominated our views. From this saddle at 13,700', we followed the standard route to the summit (snow can be avoided on most of the route). About halfway across, we took a peek down the "C Couloir" - looks like a nice mellow ski, but the entrance was not continuous.

At the saddle, Huron's East Face lines look inviting - Can we ski this next please please please, Bill?!

Looking down the mellow "C Couloir" from the ridge, just north of the main couloir:

Looking back (north) along the Northwest Ridge:

Bill walks the long ridge before reaching the summer crux:

At the "crux" of the summer route, we had to traverse two short snow slopes before the final pitch to the summit. The first snow slope had previous boot tracks, but Bill made our own on the second - great snow for kicking steps.

From the crux, Bill starts across a previous boot track on one of two snow slopes we crossed:

I cross the second slope; Bill kicked steps and I followed:

The final pitch to the summit. The entrance to the north face direct couloir is the immediate snowfield in the photo:

Shortly after, we topped out on Missouri at 11:00am. If there is such a day as 'perfect', this was as close to it as it could get. We had zero wind, a pleasant temperature, blue skies, and views of some of Colorado's most beautiful snow-capped peaks. I Tebowed.

My requisite fish-eye summit shot - Mt. Harvard splits us in the distance on another stunning day:

After a nice hour break of food, ski-waxing, and photos, we left the summit at 12:00pm, clicked in at the highest point possible and entered the top of the main North Face Couloir. The upper portion of this couloir seemed a bit loaded, so Bill made ski-cut skiers' right side of the couloir and made a few solid jump turns to test snowpack out only to find some awesome powder on top of a solid base. Even though it was very stable, sloughing powder was the snowpack demeanor in this awesome upper 2/3 of the couloir. It was SWEET!

This entrance to the couloir was a bit loaded, so Bill made a ski-cut and a few jump turns to skiers' right where we found the powder:

I follow Bill's ski-cut to the first safety zone...

...and find me some wonderful blown-in powder to slice!

Bill getting his blower:

Bill at a safety zone, about half way down the couloir:

I can't remember if I've already mentioned that we had some awesome powder in the upper 2/3 of this couloir? We did - not something you typically see on a 14er and made for near effortless turns. Bill estimated the max slope we skied was no more than 40 degrees (near the middle of the couloir), and the rest averaged mid to upper 30's. The bottom 1/3 and apron consisted of some nice spring corn - another treat and more unforced turns!

I ski some nice corn in the bottom of the couloir and out towards the apron:

Bill makes it look easy (as always) and exits the apron:

Once we hit the couloir apron, we immediately contoured skiers' left to stay high in the upper basin to hit some short, small chutes that would drop us back at our shoe stash. Bill chose the chute on lookers' left, I chose the one on the right. Both chutes were hard-pack.

A train of slough, two happy skiers, North Face shredded:

Our routes down the North Face and small chutes to our shoes at 12,900':

It took us 20 minutes to return to the shoes. We were all smiles and pretty thrilled to have encountered the conditions we just did. We debriefed the ski descent and concluded that we don't think we could have timed it much better and that this was one of the best backcountry days we've had this season, once again because of the great snow. Oh wait, we still had 1,100' more feet of corn skiing ahead of us! We skied very mellow terrain, and had to pop the skis off for 20 feet to enter the drainage. After more mellow corn turns, we milked the skiing as best we could until willows and rocks stopped us at 11,800' for a quick change of gear. Of course we had more post-holing and bush-whacking to reach the Belford trail, but it didn't seem to irritate us as much as it did on Challenger - I wonder why! From the cabin, it took us 45 minutes to get back to the trailhead, where we arrived at 2:30pm. It was such an all-around awesome day and even better to find great snow; I almost felt undeserving of it. Thanks again, Bill, for another excellent day and for the repeat ski - I owe you one!

My GPS Tracks on Google Maps (made from a .GPX file upload):

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

RJansen77	Nice work! 4/26/2012 8:06pm Looks like a fantastic day for you guys, love image #22!
bergsteigen	Jealous of 14er Pow! 4/26/2012 8:20pm I see the moratorium on ski photos is lifted Glad there are still good lines out there to be had!
Rainier_Wolfcastle	Great Report! 4/26/2012 9:23pm See now you are just showing off This weekend warrior is certainly jealous!
lordhelmut	Not too shabby 4/26/2012 10:22pm Nice work Bill and Caroline, looking better than expected, glad you found the cream of corn.
primary332	Huron 4/27/2012 3:11am Nice. I might have to try Huron soon...
BillMiddlebrook	Great day 4/27/2012 3:25am After a low-snow winter, it's so nice to have a day like this. When we stepped onto the summit, the wind stopped and it was like a June summit. Nice! Finding powder in the couloir - super nice! Caroline, thanks again for a great day!
benners	Nice Job You Two! 4/27/2012 1:30pm I skied this line in a whiteout with lots of crust and ice to boot. Looks like you hit it better than I did! Nice job!
Fred Moore	What a spring! 4/27/2012 3:03pm Great job Sug (and Bill), you have had a tremendous spring above treeline! Great trip reports for all the climbs.
gdthomas	TGFNFS 4/27/2012 4:03pm Thank God For North Facing Slopes - Good job!
BillMiddlebrook	Snow 4/27/2012 5:13pm Thanks, Fred! Greg, you're not kidding. BTW, we never even put on skins, so you could have hiked to the summit with alpine gear on your back.
USAKeller	Thank you! 4/27/2012 7:55pm RJansen77: #22 is a nice powder shot indeed! Effortless turns. Otina: I told Bill on several occasions that I put a ban on people taking my ski shots until further notice, but it clearly went over his head. I'm somewhat glad though, because they turned out slightly better. So I guess Bill automatically lifted my own ban for me. And - moratorium - thanks for the new vocab word! Rainier_Wolfcastle: my partner was the one showing off on the ski, not me! I have an abundance of vacation time to use, so a mid-week ski was needed. Brian: Thank you! I kept thinking about our conversation the previous day saying that we missed a sweet day on Torreys with you; well, as I was writing this TR, I was going to tell you the same thing! primary332: Go get after Huron! Bill: I'm the one who should be thanking you for the repeat 14er ski! Legit day in my book! Ben: Thank you! We really do need to ski before this season ends. Dad: As always, thank you for your support! It has undeniably been a killer year above treeline so far - I feel Mom's presence with me every trip. Greg: What Bill said! I'll even supply you with some Propylene Glycol to stick in your ski boots to make sure your toes don't freeze!
mw1000	Access 4/29/2012 5:29pm Hey KellerUSA! Question. We are going to ski either Missouri or maybe Huron Monday and was wondering if the road to the Missouri trailhead is accessible with a Subaru? Thanks for the great post! Hopefully your turns filled in!
USAKeller	re: Access 4/29/2012 5:46pm Hey! Yes, the road to the Missouri TH is completely clear of all snow and you should have no problem in a Subaru - it's just the typical washboard-ed out! Also, make sure you check this thread out if you haven't already: Hope you get some good conditions on which ever peak you decide on!
scramble	Thanks! 5/28/2012 3:59pm For taking the time to put this together. It was really helpful. Way to find the goods!

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Missouri Mtn. North Face (main) Couloir Ski

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