The Lambslide Couloir is the permanent icefield which makes a huge gash directly below the east face of Longs Peak on it's way down to the Mills Glacier.  Often loaded with dangerous avalanche conditions in the winter, a spring ascent of this classic couloir is a "must-do" on the tick list of any Colorado ski mountaineer.

Approaching the Lambslide Couloir can be done from the bottom by climbing directly up the couloir from Chasm Lake.  This hidden slope can also be accessed from the top by climbing to the Loft to it's south and then dropping in from above. I generally prefer the bottom-up approach as it allows one to assess and locate the best skiing conditions on this slope.

The Lambslide is the right-hand couloir.  The "Flying Dutchman" is the couloir which joins it near the top.

Ideally one can skin all the way up from the car;  otherwise, a walk in shoes then a switch to ski's and skins can be the trick in later season.  Our June 14th ascent in these photos gave us perfect corn ski in the couloir only wearing our ski boots from the east end of Chasm Lake.

The average angle of the Lambslide is around 40 degrees with some steeper and less steep sections.  Of course this is the perfect angle for slab and loose-snow avalanches and so considerable care must be taken in the decision-making process.  Late spring conditions and early winter conditions tend to be the best and if the ice is in shape, ice climbing could be combined with a ski descent.

The top of the Couloir offers a great prepping spot for the descent with incredible views of the nearby Diamond face of Longs as well as down to Chasm Lake and across the Front Range.  When the snow is good, there are few descents in Rocky Mountain National Park that rival the Lambslide.

By late summer in most years, the Lambslide can become a cascade of falling rocks and black glacial ice as the snow of winter melts down to the base layers of ice and stone. At that point in time, crampons and ice screws are necessary as well as a cold night and early start to avoid problems.  Until then, ski's are the recommended mode of travel in this ultra-classic ski couloir.

Up and down tracks from a June 14, 2007 ascent and descent