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The Corral Couloir is a south facing gash on the south side of Flattop Mountain very near the Continental Divide. Due to it's compact design and warm aspect, this couloir often has only MODERATE avalanche conditions in mid-winter and along with the steep entrance into the couloir, the "money pitch" of this descent is the deep powder typically encountered lower down in the Tyndall Gorge.
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Entering the Corral Couloir on a Thanksgiving run
Approaching the Corral Couloir is most easily done from the top by skiing up the Flattop Mountain trail from the Bear Lake trailhead (9450'). Staying north on the above treeline flanks of Flattop often connects the snow better in this particularly wind-blasted area. Just before reaching the Continental Divide and the nondescript 12,200' summit of Flattop, there is a park-service built triangular hitching post which signifies the furthest a horse can be taken legally up this trail system. This is the obvious top of the south-facing Corral Couloir.
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Skinning up Flattop Mountain looking north into the Ptarmagin Valley
Changing over from uphill to downhill mode at the top of the Corral Couloir.
The cornice which forms regularly on the western side of the entrance into the Couloir is primarily a concern in the spring when this warm aspect is getting too much heat and the cornice is at it's most unstable period. In these conditions, skiing the entire couloir in a pitch and getting out of it quick or taking breaks on the far-left skier's side on the descent should keep one out of the way of a partial cornice collapse.
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Dropping into the Corral Couloir on a May, 2007 descent with the cornice near it's maximum instability.
Dropping in to the couloir in January with almost no cornice formation yet
The average angle of the Corral is around 45 degrees with some slightly 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 time for snow stability in this couloir although it's south-facing aspect keeps the snow a bit more bonded than other nearby areas and it is often wind-scoured. But slabs do form in this tight terrain and the runout from an avalanche to the bottom is into a boulder field could be a painful if not deadly way to descend.
Typical mid-winter conditions in the Corral Couloir
Looking up into the couloir from the Tyndall Gorge
Although the couloir in itself is a super-fun descent, it is only about 500' vertical to the bottom and it is really the skiing down the Tyndall Gorge that is usually the highlight of this tour. Skiing either down the center of the Canyon on mostly 30 degree slopes or less is the safest and most cruiser choice.
Often, veering hard skier's right towards the North Buttress of Hallet's is where the best powder is to be found, especially directly below the imposing cliffs of Hallet's second and third buttresses which often hold deep, untouched powder with some avalanche risk. These slopes are in the 35 degree angle range and prone to soft-slab formation and release, so good group management through this terrain is critical as is proper assessment before committing to a tour down this canyon.
Skiing the Tyndall Gorge below the Second Buttress of Hallett Peak in mid winter conditions
The Corral can be prone to heat-related avalanches and so early morning starts during the corn cycle are key and if the cornice is too much of a threat, the nearby Tyndall Glacier is the best alternative way to enter the Tyndall Gorge. In typical winter and early spring conditions, the Tyndall Glacier is very prone to slab avalanche conditions and there are regularly fresh crowns and avalanche debri on all sides of this cirque.
The approach to the Corral Couloir up Flattop Mountain in blue with the couloir and descent down the Tyndall Gorge in green.
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