Maroon Peak W Face couloir?

[Doug Shaw]

clemsonmtneer recently posted a trip report for Snowmass from last summer. Lots of cool pics, but the one the really jumped out at me was this one.

Anybody know anything about that skinny couloir on Maroon's West Face? That's quite a sensuous line, almost enough to make me forget about the insane rockfall danger to which it is probably exposed.

[Pivvay]

Looks great. Wonder if it ices up?

[Prairie Native]

I remember reading somewhere that its been skied I believe. Im sure climbed too, but it looks rather intense.

[Carl]

Isn't that the southwest couloir into Favert basin? Gets skied quite a bit I think (i.e. at least a few times a year). I haven't done it. Tempting, but access, or at least getting out, is a little more involved. There is a least one TR on this site. Awesome looking line, that's for sure.

edit: never mind, I think i'm wrong

[Dorje1018]

Trip Report:

http://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepor ... ki=Include

[lodgling]

No, that trip report is from doumall's ski of the SW couloir into Fravert Basin. I was on Maroon that day -- I set the bootpack up the Bell Chord for those guys and then sloughed them (oops) on the way out. Not the route Doug is inquiring about.

Doug, I recall that NW couloir, because when I cut thru to the NW side of the mtn at the top of Bell Chord in order to summit, I believe ended up on the top 100 ft or so of that one as part of some ascending traverses. Pretty steep, but I remember thinking it looked (barely) skiable (very narrow at the high choke), so definitely climbable. The question would be access and timing, but I'm sure you can figure that out. Also, you should be prepared for some mixed climbing at the top part of it and maybe the choke.

[Doug Shaw]

Agreed, the posted TR is not the same line (but still looks cool - I gotta learn to ski!). You can tell from the surrounding topology in the pictures, plus from the orientation of the pics and the map, this couloir faces slightly NW... and I dare say it would be an interesting ski indeed.

Whether it ices up, or is "only" snowfilled, I bet it's an interesting climb. I see at least three spots in the main "line" where it could go mixed. I probably won't be able to make it out there this year, though...

[Pivvay]

Anyone familiar with the bells want to save me some time on finding approach beta? I think I'm going to go check this one out.