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The Minturn Couloir is one of those lines that that I have wanted to ski for the last 10 years. Some years it's not that filled in, other years it slips the mind or conditions deteriorate quickly due to its low elevation. There are also a few other unique below tree line couloirs that fill in on good years in this area. I love below tree line couli's! Minturn Couloir
The area received a good amount of snow from the storm on Saturday; even the Minturn Couloir got it!
We parked a car at the second switchback, right at the exit of our intended line. It was very cold for March, 6 Degrees. Driving further up the road we parked at our ascent point. We chose to ascend the next drainage up the road. There is a pipe line trail on top of this 10er that provided very nice low angle pow. The pipeline trail leads right to the top of the couloir. (This can be seen on a map, as the trail cuts skiers right the couloir entrance is in the woods if you continue straight ahead) Brian
The skiing up top was great, a bit sloughy but powder conditions are always welcome. The run opens up a bit part way down before constricting to a series of ice falls Anchor
There is a nice tree anchor that we and others have used. My 70m had a little rope left but im not sure if a 60 would cut it. We chose to toss in a snow anchor for the second ice fall as there just wasent much to sling, allthough it could be hucked depending on conditions. the third icefall we skied around to the right on a little ledge traverse. first ice fall around the bend first and second ice falls
Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):
1st pics I've seen of anyone skiing the Minturn Coolie! J and I climbed this guy a year ago or so (last winter/spring), but didn't ski it - descended the old road bed. Nice work, man!
Brandon-Ascending this must have been a treat in itself. Rope up for the final ice pitch?
That slough can pack a punch of caught on the wrong side of it which is one of the reasons we decided not to hike up it this day. No
shortage of slough in the mtns last weekend...
This run should be in good shape for the next few days with all the new snow
Well, Elliot, we actually traversed on exposed ledges looker's left (skier's right) for the top ice pitch. I remember 3 cruxes. For some unknown reason, we didn't bring ice tools, just an ice axe. The 2nd pitch was more of a rock pitch which we roped up for as well.
There was three ice falls, the last of which, we skied around on ledges, I saw where you could avoid the largest icefall by hitting those ledges to the climbers left as you guys did!
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