Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Info, conditions and gear related to skiing or riding Colorado Peaks, including the 14ers!
Forum rules
  • This is a mountaineering forum, so please keep your posts on-topic. Posts do not all have to be related to the 14ers but should at least be mountaineering-related.
  • Personal attacks and confrontational behavior will result in removal from the forum at the discretion of the administrators.
  • Do not use this forum to advertise, sell photos or other products or promote a commercial website.
  • Posts will be removed at the discretion of the site administrator or moderator(s), including: Troll posts, posts pushing political views or religious beliefs, and posts with the purpose of instigating conflict within the forum.
For more details, please see the Terms of Use you agreed to when joining the forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
fluxrad
Posts: 25
Joined: 6/9/2007
14ers: 20 
Trip Reports (0)
 
Contact:

Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by fluxrad »

I skinned up Quandary with a buddy of mine yesterday with the intent of descending Cristo. Conditions were near perfect, but as we summited we nope'd out of it and came down the east slope. Some of it had to do with not being able to see beyond the roll-over (just below the rocks about 100'-200' below the summit). But much of it was a lack of confidence at not having done anything like it before.

I skied Sunrise Couloir about six years ago, which is apparently more difficult than Cristo. But, this was with a larger group, so there was some Kodak Courage involved. You could also see the whole line from the entrance. I'm curious about recommendations on more intermediate descents to get more comfortable skiing bigger lines — something in between the East Slopes and Cristo as far as difficulty. If you were making a list, what would you put on it? Maybe more like D5-D7?
"It is seldom liberty of any kind that is lost all at once."
-David Hume
User avatar
Goat9
Posts: 8
Joined: 4/30/2014
Trip Reports (1)
 
Contact:

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by Goat9 »

Fluxrad, I see that you are in Denver and I listed some Front Range options below. There are many great moderate lines to get your comfort level established. You can find more information on these and other routes at http://www.frontrangeskimo.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woods Mountain Watrous Bowl: This is just above I-70 from Herman Gulch and a little steep but not too long!

Mount Parnassus NE Face and North Face Drainpipe: These are quickly accessed from Ruby Gulch Trailhead. A step up in exposure and steepness from Watrous Bowl. NE Face has a complicated entry.

The chutes on Point 13,418 next to Pettingell Peak are good for couloir skiing. They are wide enough and a bit steep but not too bad. Pettingell's SE Face is easier, and you get to ski right off the summit!

The Bancroft Bowl on Mount Bancroft has a steep roll over into a big bowl.

"Bailout" on James Peak is a really fun big bowl that is a good introduction to the James Peak East Face couloirs.

A bit further in, but it is the spring classic: SE Face of Mount Toll. Ski from the summit, with a little bit of exposure. Steep but not too steep. Nice sustained pitch.

There are a lot more on the website and it includes the "D" rating system.
User avatar
BillMiddlebrook
Site Administrator
Posts: 6910
Joined: 7/25/2004
14ers: 58  46  19 
13ers: 172 44 37
Trip Reports (2)
 
Contact:

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

fluxrad, were you the tele skier we saw near the summit yesterday? The three of us were on our way over to the North Couloir.

Anyway, here are a few easier 14er skis:
Grays Peak - East Slopes
Mt. Bross - "S" Gully
Mt. Bross - "Dolly Varden Gully"
Mt. Bross - East Slopes from Moose Creek
Mt. Elbert - East Ridge proper
Mt. Lincoln - East Slopes
Mt. Sherman - South Slope

Have fun!
"When I go out, I become more alive. I just love skiing. The gravitational pull. When you ski steep terrain... you can almost get a feeling of flying." -Doug Coombs
User avatar
fluxrad
Posts: 25
Joined: 6/9/2007
14ers: 20 
Trip Reports (0)
 
Contact:

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by fluxrad »

This was on Thursday, my buddy was on a split-board and I was on an AT setup. We did meet two guys on their way up to do North Couloir, but didn't see 'em after the TH. Looked like everyone dropped into Cristo.

Really great list guys. Thank you!
"It is seldom liberty of any kind that is lost all at once."
-David Hume
User avatar
eyost11
Posts: 63
Joined: 9/26/2011
14ers: 43  2 
13ers: 9
Trip Reports (0)
 

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by eyost11 »

Lincoln east slope was in great condition yesterday, except the rotten snow/ice below the falls. I didn't ski it, but did summit and glissade about 2,000'. Very short approach if you are as lazy as I am.
You would have to pretty creative to stay on continuous snow all the way down to the falls, upper half looks worth it.
User avatar
Liquid Shadow
Posts: 262
Joined: 8/9/2011
14ers: 58  1  3 
13ers: 68 3 2
Trip Reports (4)
 

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by Liquid Shadow »

I want to thank OP for this thread, it's exactly what I've been looking for too. Also thanks to Goat9 for the last minute ideas: I went up Watrous Bowl today and it was awesome! Didn't summit Woods Mountain though because I ran out of time, did a little bit of skiing just below the bowl. Had a blast!
-OwenZ
jkillgore
Posts: 59
Joined: 6/7/2011
14ers: 30  2  2 
13ers: 68
Trip Reports (4)
 

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by jkillgore »

I still think of Cristo as being an entry level couloir. Hard to go appreciably easier, but there are certainly others in the similar class.
Good options are listed so far. Drainpipe on parnassus is a great intermediate. Only steep at the every entrance, with a bit more character at the bottom than other lines in this class.

Others front range lines that come to mind:
Tuning Fork on Torreys
North Couloir on Squaretop
SE face on Hagar
Notchtop Couloir on Notchtop
Crooked couloir on audobon
Curvaceous couloir on Paiute
User avatar
AlexeyD
Posts: 1286
Joined: 10/28/2013
14ers: 44  4  2 
Trip Reports (3)
 

Re: Putting together a list of lower-intermediate descents

Post by AlexeyD »

Great topic! I am also voraciously lurking for ideas for myself :)

A couple from someone of what sounds like similar ability to OP:

SE slopes of Coon Hill - very quick, good bang-for-your buck tour in this category (D5-6)

Squaretop, NE Slopes to Squaretop lakes (right-most gully going down to the upper lake if looking from the bottom), D6-ish.

I'll second the Tuning Fork - that's a great suggestion. There is not really much of a rollover; you see the whole line from the top, and it's LONG and fairly sustained, which is great for building confidence on longer steeper lines (at least for me).

Here are that have been on my list:

Kelso Mountain, north gully (D5)
Mt. Toll, SE Face (D7)
Paiute, Curvaceous Couloir (D7)
Silver Couloir, Buffalo Mountain (D8)
Cristo Couloir (though I could imagine bailing too, haha)
Torrey's Emperor (D10 or 11 I think? would definitely need strong partners and my big boy pants on...)
Post Reply