The Lambslide Couloir is the permanent icefield which makes a huge gash directly below the east face of Longs Peak on its 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.
lambslide coulior
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Length: Approx. 1500' vertical from
13.2K to 11.8k - Chasm Lk.)
Avg.
Angle: 40
Steepest Angle: 45
Technicality: Generally 3rd
class when in skiable shape- no ropes needed.
Avg Tour Length: 7-10 hrs.
car to car.
Typical
Avi Danger: Many D2-3 sluffs during and
after storms plus soft slab potential in upper layers are the
most common hazards.
Snowpack is typically deep (4-7 m) and in the spring debris
can pile up on the Mills Glacier from large, heat caused
sluffs and this slope is large enough to do some damage if a slab did
form and release.
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(Click on photo above to enlarge)
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Tracks
from a mid- June descent of the Lambslide with Eric Sparks.
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 and
tennies from the parking lot to the lake. There was enough
ice on the lake to safely ski across and then very quickly back on the
descent of the Lambslide Couloir.
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Approaching
the
Lambslide Couloir is typically done by hiking or
skiing to Chasm Lk. via the Longs Peak Trailhead (3.7
miles). Skiing and climbing directly up the Couloir from
Chasm Lk
to the top cab be a 1-2 hr. climb depending on snow conditions and
fitness.
This hidden slope can also be accessed
from the top by climbing to the Loft (saddle between
Mt. Meeker and Longs Peak) from it's east side and then easily
traversing into and dropping in
from above. There is often avalanche danger in this terrain
so no ascent or descent should be done without the adequate
preparations.
I generally prefer the bottom-up approach as it allows one
to assess and locate the best skiing conditions on this slope before
committing to a descent.
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(Click on photos below to enlarge)
 
Chasm Lake and the final approach to the Lambslide
Couloir-- putting down tracks in the steepest part of the couloir.
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.
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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.
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Contact
ClimbingLife Guides for more information about guided ski descents and
backcountry skiing in the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park at:
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or call 970.744.4898
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ClimbingLife LLC, All Rights Reserved.
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