The Dragontail Couloir which falls from the south face of Flattop Mountain down to Emerald Lake is an exquisite ski descent and one which is often "in-shape" for much of the winter and spring season.
A November Dragontail with the option for ice climbing on the way down
One can either climb up the Dragontail Couloir from Emerald Lake or ski up the Flattop Mountain trail and enter this snowy gash from the top. Either way, it is a spectacular descent and often contains some of the best snow conditions in the Front Range.
A view of the southeast face of Flattop Peak with the approach in green, the Dragontail descent in red, the "Dead Elk Couloir" next to it in blue with the Corral Couloir and Tyndall Glacier up valley also in blue.
Ascending the Dragontail in perfect November conditions
A view of the south face of Flattop Mountain with the Dragontail Couloirs arrowed
Rappelling over the upper rock band into the Dragontail Couloir
Starting the descent just below the upper rock constriction
Looking down the upper "narrows" section of the Dragontail in perfect powder conditions
This couloir can have high avalanche danger for much of the ski season. That said, it is normally point-release type avalanches that come hammering down- on more rare occasions, slab avalanche conditions can exist and these are of course more of a problem.
A view from the west of the "Dead Elk Couloir" on the left and Dragontail Ridge with the Couloir behind
The snow-covered chockstone that delineates the bottom of the Couloir
Shane getting down in the central Dragontail Couloir
In the center of the couloir on a blue-bird mid-winter day
Rappelling through the top rock band can be an easier way to enter the couloir than downclimbing, although the climbing is in the 4th class category. In good snow seasons, the entrance can be well filled-in and no downclimbing is necessary.
The apron at the base of the Dragontail often provides great mid-winter powder conditions
Looking west at the approach from Bear Lake up Flattop Mountain and the Dragontail Couloir in red.
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