| Peak(s): |
Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet |
| Date Posted: | 07/04/2015 |
| Modified: | 07/09/2015 |
| Date Climbed: | 05/07/2015 |
| Author: | moneymike |
| Peak(s): |
Pikes Peak - 14,109 feet |
| Date Posted: | 07/04/2015 |
| Modified: | 07/09/2015 |
| Date Climbed: | 05/07/2015 |
| Author: | moneymike |
| 19 Ski Descents on Pikes |
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 Spring 2015 put more snow on Pikes than I have seen since I moved to Colorado Springs in 1996. I was able to ski lines that I never even knew existed (or could exist). Seeing this peak nearly every day for the last 19 years, Pikes has held a special place in my heart. I have skied seven unique lines off the summit (not including alternate entrances to one couloir), and I have skied a continuous line from the summit down into my current hometown of Manitou Springs (7,500 vertical feet, the most vertical possible in Colorado). It was a great year and I wanted to share some of the beta from this year's descents as well as years past. Table of Contents: Y Couloir East Summit House Couloir Railroad Couloir Y Couloir Direct Y Couloir West Branches North East Face East Face South West Face Greater Than Couloir Dinosaur Couloir Dinosaur Alternate Exit The Ribbon The Wall Big Blue Three Little Pigs (The W) The Chimney Little Italy The North Face Cirque The North face, descending off of Pikes' broad summit plateau, forms a cirque with multiple couloirs descending into the "botomless pit." When the Pikes Peak highway is open to the summit, you can park your car right near the top of your line, ski down, and finish your day with an ascent of your route. If the road is not open to the summit, which was the case throughout all of May this year, you can do what I did and climb to the summit via the Crags route or from road closure (There are many trip reports on the Crags route, so I won't waste time going into detail). Once you descend into the bottomless pit, the easiest way out is via Rumdoodle ridge, which is directly across (north) from the pit. The ridge takes you back up to the highway at 13,200'. To gain the ridge, follow a 30 degree ish snow slope (it's south facing and below tree line, so it may not be holding snow. If it is, beware of wet slide potential) to the ridge crest. Once on the ridge, the route is obvious and shouldn't go over class two. Near the top of the ridge, veer left (south) to intersect the road.  Y Couloir East Entrance Unlike the Y Direct, this line is rarely in good skiing condition. Most years, most of it will be filled in, but a rock band half way down usually prevents a continuous ski. This year, it was no problem. June 2 of this year, my buddy Jesse "Body Movin" Levine and I hiked to the summit, starting from road closure at Glen Cove (11,600'). We skinned the snow covered road to the summit, skied the Y Couloir east entrance and hiked out via Rumdoodle ridge. I'm considering the Y East couloir to be a separate couloir from the Y direct since it connects to the Y Direct fairly low down (lower than the crux move on the Y Direct). On the other hand, the "Y couloir" is commonly thought to have three entrances, the direct and two western branches. This year, the Y East had no crux moves, and ranged in angle from about 40 to 45 degrees (estimated). The entrance was easy to locate since by this time I had skied all other lines on the north face. If you are unfamiliar with the north face lines, I would advise anyone to try to locate ALL of the north face couloirs so that you can be sure you are dropping into the right line (I'm also assuming you scouted the line from the road before hand to make sure it is in). Here are the pics:     Thanks for all the great pics, Body Movin' (@reelmotion) Summit House Couloir If you're on the summit and can spot the couloir closest to the summit house, that's the Summit House Couloir. Like the East Y, this is also a tricky one to get in good condition. The only difficulty is a rocky section a little bit above the junction of the Summit House and Railroad couloirs. The picture below was taken in 2009, a particularly good snow year, and you can still see the line becomes narrow.  Looking at image 2, it's clear there were no crux sections during the height of this snow season. May 29 2015, I climbed to the summit from Glen Cove, descended the summit house couloir, and climbed out via Rumdoodle ridge. The slope angle was similar to the Y East couloir, between 40 and 45 degrees.        Railroad Couloir The railroad couloir is the eastern most couloir on the north face. The entrance begins a short distance from where the cog railroad tracks end. This is probably the easiest line down the north face with a maximum slope angle of about 40 degrees. However, this is another line that is tricky to get in good condition. The entrance is usually stripped of snow by the wind. Even on great years such as 2015 and 2007, I observed the entrance to be quite boney. The most obvious way and perhaps the most reliable way to get into the couloir is to descend down the east face from the rr tracks a short distance and enter the couloir via the middle branch. This is how I skied it in 2007.  Here's a link to a 2015 trip report of the railroad couloir http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=16056&start=20&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Include Y Direct The Y Direct is what most people are referring to when they speak of the "Y Couloir." This is also the most reliably in ski line on the north face. Unfortunately, the conditions of the entrance are usually not reliably consistent. In most years, the entrance is mostly devoid of snow and requires a short down climb. I've also seen a 60 degree headwall at the entrance, and an overhanging cornice in other years. This year, the entrance couldn't have been simpler.  I skied this line in 2007 and measured most of the line to be around 40 degrees and measured a max angle at the crux to be 45 degrees. The crux is a rockband below the junction of the west branches and above the junction with the East Y couloir. 2007 was a particularly good snow year and I had to straight line a narrow snowy section to skiers right of the rock band. The straight line was only about 6 feet vertical, followed by a speed check turn below the rock band. In leaner years, I've heard of skiers having to huck the rock band. This year, I was told the crux section was significantly wider than a ski length. One good thing about the crux is that the slope angle mellows to below 40 degrees below it. It also gets an earlier sun hit, so you might have a soft landing after your huck or speed check turn. There are many trip reports on the Y Direct which you can reference for additional beta. I'll end this section with a brief video of my partners skiing the crux move in 2007. Y Couloir West Branches If the Y Direct entrance is not looking good on the year you chose to ski, another option is to take one of the west branches. The west branches are more reliably in and their angles are more mellow than the direct entrance. However, there is a price to pay for the easy entrance. The couloir becomes narrow and rocky just before the junction of the Y Direct Couloir. I, personally, have never seen this in skiable condition. I will refer the reader to another trip report. http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=9998&parmpeak=Pikes+Peak&cpgm=tripmain&ski=Only North East Face This face is subjected to wind scour and is rarely in skiable condition. I've never actually heard of anyone skiing this face or what they call it. It's actually very north facing, but I'm calling it the north east face to distinguish it from the north face cirque. I've found this face to be somewhat intriguing since you can see a side view of it from Colorado Springs. From this view, I estimated the slope to be 45 degrees. However, after skiing it I don't think it went over 40. To access this face, you ski directly off the summit house roof (otherwise it doesn't count) towards the north east ridge. From a high point on the ridge, you can view the best way to get onto the broad NE face. I skied the ridge, dropped a short distance down the east face and then wrapped around to the north. The following short video makes it pretty clear, I think. I skied this face in mid May during a window in the May snow storms, before the north cirque stabilized (I viewed more crowns from storm slab avalanches than I could count). This NE face is windswept, more exposed to the sun, and better anchored than the north cirque and can be safely skied when the cirque cannot (The north cirque couloirs have >50 deg slopes that hang above the main couloirs, but the NE face does not). You can ski this face directly down the fall line into the bottomless pit drainage a hundred feet or so below the point where you would want to start ascending Rumdoodle ridge. Another option, if there is enough snow, is to ski traverse to the left into the lower part of the railroad couloir. This is the option I took to save a hundred feet or so of climbing. This latter option requires skiing steeper slopes that could avalanche. However, near tree line the snow was better consolidated and I judged it to be safe. The East Face The east face of Pikes is the face seen from Colorado Springs. The face that nearly half a million people see every day. This is by far the easiest way to ski Pikes from the summit. Due to it's low angle, lack of wind loading, and eastern exposure to the sun, this face is of minimal avy concern (note that I did not say "no" avalanche concern). Please reference my east face trip report from last year for details on skiing this face http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=14686&cpgm=tripmine. South West Face The South West Face is skiable? Whaaaat? Well, usually it is not. Even on the best snow years, the S through W through NW sides of Pikes are completely wind scoured. It usually doesn't have any skiable snow at all. And now that I think about it, I'm wondering if this is even worth explaining as beta. Oh well, at the very least I can describe it for historical purposes. On May 20, 2015, my dog Penny Lane and I headed up from the Crags to the summit of Pikes via the Crags route/snow covered road. Once again, I skied directly off the summit house roof in order to get a proper ski descent as dictated by the Fourteeners Ethics Council (Section 14, Article 12).    Just above tree line I curved to the right (west) and descended a brief steep section that descends into a basin where the two reservoirs are. As soon as I got onto the steep section, I realized the wet avalanche potential of that slope. The slope was short, and judging by the amount of softening, I was confident I could ski out of any possible slides that I could trigger. Unfortunately, I wasn't confident about Penny's ability to avoid getting caught. Realizing Penny was right behind me and seconds from following me onto the avy slope, I made one big jump turn and landed on the snow pack hard. As intended, I triggered a small soft slab avalanche that took me for a short ride before skiing out of it. A second later, and none the wiser, Penny followed me out onto the slope.  My route can be seen in the image below. Ascent in red and descent in blue.  I found this to be a moderate ski tour. But I suppose without flotation, it can be considered an exhausting tour...  Non Summit Ski Descents Greater Than Couloir From the bottomless pit, if you look up and to the west, you get this view.  Can you spot a couloir on the right that looks like a "greater than" symbol? No? What about now?  I'm actually not sure what the proper name of this couloir is, or if it already has a name. So for now, let's just call it what it looks like. I spotted this gem as I was climbing Rumdoodle ridge on my way out from the NE face descent. I knew right then that I had to ski it. May 25, 2015, I did just that. Here are the pics:       I didn't measure the slope angle but if I had to take a wild guess, I'd say 45-50 degrees (I could be off). A few weeks after skiing this line, I was stuck at a road block on the Pikes Peak highway after a motorcycle racer had crashed and died. While I waited, I spoke with a Pikes Peak ice climbing guide. He told me that this couloir has been climbed at least once before but that he had never heard of anyone skiing it before. His friend who climbed it, described an ice bulge crux at the dog leg. It didn't sound like it was skiable, when that climber climbed it. I've never noticed this couloir before, so I cannot say how frequently this line is actually skiable. If I had to guess, I'd say not frequent. Here's a short pov video: Dinosaur Couloir This one is probably my favorite. It's super easy to access and has a nice fun pitch of 40-45 degrees. At the top of the switchbacks above Glen Cove, continue up the highway a short distance. The road will curve to the left (east) and around the curve you will notice a pull off that has a stone wall, protecting you from driving off an east facing cliff. Looking north from the wall, you will get a perfect view of the Dinosaur couloir.  To actually get to the top of the couloir, drive back to the top of the switchbacks and park in the lot. Hike eastward to the top of the ridge, following the easiest possible path. At the top of the ridge, you should be able to get a good view of Colorado Springs, and notice a snowy slope that descends below you. If you are viewing rocky, cliffy, or corniced terrain, you might be in the wrong place. If you have a 30-40 degree ish slope below you, take a descending traverse to the right (south). To your right will be a rocky ridge with a notch in it. Go to the notch and look to your right (southward). Do you have a south facing snow slope beneath you, and can you see the "wall" when you look directly south? If yes, then you are at the top of the Dinosaur couloir. Descend this slope until you reach tree line (or wherever you want to stop). About two thirds of the way down, if you notice a couloir to your left and think you can probably descend that way, think again. It's probably not in. Just keep going straight towards the wall. When you are done with your ski, you can then climb back up your descent route. Here are some pics of me skiing and climbing the Dinosaur couloir back in 2009. 2009 had an above average spring snow pack, but less than 2015. These pics are more representative of the conditions you can expect to find in a typical spring. The pics were shot with a 400mm zoom lens from the wall.    The last image shows a rocky exit to the couloir. Some years, this is filled in completely. Dinosaur Couloir Alternate Exit Remember how in the previous section I said to not take the exit to the left? Well, if Pikes ever gets another spring season like 2015, you might be able to ski that alternate exit. Climbing Rumdoodle ridge, this year, I got a good view of the the alternate exit and saw that it was in.  Here are the pics from the top of the dinosaur couloir, to the bottom of the alternate exit.          Small air   The Ribbon Remember the east facing snow slope that I said you have to descend to get to the top of the Dinosaur couloir? Well, if you keep descending that slope, you will be descending what is known as "The Ribbon." Here's what it looks like from Colorado Springs.  To recap, park at the top of the switchbacks and hike up the ridge to the east. Take the easiest path to the ridge. Once you spot a 30-40 degree snow slope descending to the east, you have found the Ribbon. Descend this line down to tree line and make a descending traverse to the left (north) whenever convenient. You will cross a couple avy slopes, so be aware. To get out, you need to find your way up to "Elk Park." This is a parking spot near the bottom of the switchbacks, slightly below tree line. You don't have far to go, but bring (or study before hand) a topographic map.  Me on the Ribbon, back in 2007. The Wall As I've described previously, a short distance up the road from the switchbacks is a pull out with a small stone wall. The snow slopes below the wall are known as "The Wall" (go figure). To your right, you can find 45 degree ish slopes and to your left, you can find slopes over 50 degrees. Ski down and climb up. That's all the beta you need. Just follow the fall line and you will eventually find yourself on mellow slopes at tree line or above. The wall can be seen to lookers left of the ribbon in the photo of the ribbon in the previous section.  The Wall in center of photograph. Viewed from the top of the Dinosaur couloir. Devil's Playground  Devil's Playground seen from HWY 24, west of Woodland Park. June 2007. In the previous photograph, the snow bowl on the left and to the right of the switchbacks is known as Big Blue (I assume they call it that because it's big and easy like a blue run). The three couloirs to the right of Big Blue that form a W shape is known as The W or The Three Little Pigs. The three couloirs can be distinguished as the east pig (left couloir), the middle pig, and the west pig. The couloir to the right of the W is The Chimney, and to the right of that is Little Italy. Devil's Playground is the most popular place to ski on Pikes. It's obvious to see why this is the case from the previous photograph...the access couldn't be easier. Drive or hitch a ride to the top of the switchbacks, walk a short distance to the top of your line and ski directly back down to the road. Big Blue This is the easiest ski line in Devil's Playground. Easy to access and easy to ski. The slope angle is right around 30 degrees. This one is a no brainer. The W or Three Little Pigs  The difficulty of these three couloirs increase from lookers left to lookers right (from east to west). The east pig is easy to get into and easy to get out. From the top of the switch backs, you can ski a descending traverse into the couloir, or hike the ridge a short distance until you are above the line and drop down. You may encounter a short section of 45 degree snow, but otherwise the angles are much lower. The middle pig has a maximum angle of 45 degrees and sustained steep slopes. It also has a narrow section that is likely to hang up your tips and tails, even on great snow years. This line doesn't come in every year. In all years other than 2015, the middle pig requires a mandatory 10 foot plus air to exit the couloir (or downclimb or climb into the east pig). 2015 is the only time I've seen this line without an air (actually I did have an air, a whopping 30 cm). Locating the entrance to this couloir can be tricky. Be sure to study your photos and correctly orient yourself at the top. Here are some photos of me skiing the middle pig in 2007 (the second best spring snow season for Pikes in probably twenty years).   Narrow crux section  Contemplating a 15 foot air The west pig is the most difficult of the three pigs. Other than this year, I have never seen it in skiable condition. There always seems to be two rock bands that block passage. This year it was skiable with no down climbs or airs. It was a touch steeper and considerably narrower than the middle pig (the middle pig was wide open this year).  Middle and west pigs. 2015.  West pig entrance   The Chimney The Chimney is around 30-35 degrees in slope angle and is thus quite moderate. It usually takes a good snow year to fill it in. Otherwise it tends to be windswept and rocky. To locate this line, hike the ridge from the top of the switchbacks and try to locate Little Italy (Little Italy is probably the easiest to spot from above). If you've located Little Italy, the next couloir to the east is the Chimney (at least one person has skied over a cliff to his death after misidentifying the correct entrance to the Chimney). At the bottom of this line (as well as the W and Little Italy) I have found it best to make a descending traverse to skiers right, staying as high as possible. This can allow you to ski directly to the road. Otherwise you might have a short up hill climb. The following are photos of me in the Chimney shot by SnowAlien in late April 2015   Little Italy Finally, we have Little Italy. Aside from Big Blue, this is the most popular line on Pikes Peak. The angle is between 30 and 35 degrees and fairly consistent. Little Italy comes into skiing condition every year.  Little Italy 2007  Can you spot the skier? Follow the tracks, I'm as tall as a tree at tree line. Photo by SnowAlien. 2015 Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow): 
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