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The Notchtop Couloir is one of the better known steep ski descents of Rocky Mountain National Park and deservedly so as it lives up to it's reputation on a yearly basis; typically it's in great skiing shape from March until June. The couloir's consistent angle and dramatic location combine together for an ascent and descent that will keep you on your toes.
notchtop couloir
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Length: Approx. 1800' vertical from
12.2K to 10.5 (Two Rivers Lk.)
Avg.
Angle: 45
Steepest Angle: 50
Technicality: Generally 3rd
class when in skiable shape- no ropes needed.
Avg Tour Length: 5-7 hrs.
car to car.
Typical
Avi Danger: Many D2-3 sloughs 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 at the base of the couloir, often from large,
heat caused sloughs and this slope is large enough to do some
damage if a slab did form and release.
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(Click
on photos to enlarge)
(LEFT) Skinning
up the east face of Flattop Mountain and then traversing along the
Continental Divide and over Ptarmigan Point is one of the
favored approach
options to reach the top of the Notchtop Couloir ( green arrow). (RIGHT) The
other approach option is to ski into and up the Odessa Gorge from the
Bear Lake trailhead (9400') and then past Lake Helene and
Notchtop
Spire to the base of the couloir at approx. 11,000' and make the
climb-up from here.
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(LEFT)
A
view of the Notchtop Couloir which sits directly between Knobtop
Mountain and Ptarmigan Point on an east spur of the Continental Divide
just east of the Ptarmigan Glacier. This south-facing
aspect is in one
of the windiest valleys in the region and so lee-loading can be a
concern much of the year. (RIGHT) Eric Sparks hikes part of
the Continental Divide trail after skiing up Flattop Mountain.
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Looking
at the south face of Notchtop Mountain with the Notchtop Couloir in
red. On the east face of Ptarmigan Point is the Ptarmigan
Headwall
with a couple of nice ski lines in blue including the Ptarmigan Glacier
on far right (green) which is the lowest angle of all of these slopes
at about
32 degrees in steepness.
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(Click on
the images below to enlarge)
 
Timing
along with skiing ability are the keys to success in this "no-fall
terrain" that requires expert ability in both judging the snow
stability and it's suitability for skiing. The "corn-window"
can often
be short and in the spring- early. Reaching the top of this
couloir by
9 or 10am may be necessary for a safe and smooth descent and arriving
late is not an excuse for getting hurt or worse.
The
Notchtop Couloir
is classic ski mountaineering and with an average of a 3.5 hour
approach and 1.5
hr. descent to the car, you still have plenty of
daylight left for
your other extra-curricular activities.
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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:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call: 970.744.4898
©2008
ClimbingLife LLC, All Rights Reserved.
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