Easy Couloirs

[AlexeyD]

The east side couloirs on Mt. Neva are a good introduction to steeper snow climbing, being short and fairly non-committing, with a reasonably safe runout.

[Bob Kocher]

I did Boudoir last weekend. Feel free to check it out yourself, but snow was not consolidated for a fair amount of it. Just a heads up.

thanks for posting your conditions report and your comment here as well. on your CR do your pictures show up? I just see a placeholder box--not sure if the issue is on my end. i see the same issue as n a couple other recent CR too.

[Monster5]

Eh keep an eye on whatever most of the skiers are doing this time of year. All but a few ski what would be considered difficult from an up-climbing perspective.

Considering "easy" as less than 45 deg and pure snow, perhaps Boudoir, Hopeful, Missouri N, Lost Rat, Emperor, Edwardian, democrat N couly, keplingers and trough direct (scramble top out), the left options on James, and Neva. Really, most pick up on snow climbing skills fairly quick.

[TeamTayberry]

For my own level set, what would Dragon's Tail in RMNP be considered? In somewhat good spring conditions.

Thx!

[SchralpTheGnar]

Most people consider dragons tail a couloir.

[Monster5]

Dragon's Tail is a reasonable beginner-intermediate couloir for climbing in early spring conditions (now), but one rock step after the junction can make things more difficult by mid to late spring.

[TeamTayberry]

Okay, thx much.

[dpage]

As a general snow climb but not a couloir, I thought Ptarmigan glacier in RMNP was a great setting with opportunities to challenge yourself on steeper terrain or bail to easier stuff if needed. I haven't been there lately though and don't know current conditions.

[Sglm14]

Thank you all for the suggestions! Everyone here is very helpful.

[Sglm14]

Eh keep an eye on whatever most of the skiers are doing this time of year. All but a few ski what would be considered difficult from an up-climbing perspective.

Considering "easy" as less than 45 deg and pure snow, perhaps Boudoir, Hopeful, Missouri N, Lost Rat, Emperor, Edwardian, democrat N couly, keplingers and trough direct (scramble top out), the left options on James, and Neva. Really, most pick up on snow climbing skills fairly quick.

Thank you! I'm fairly comfortable with my snow climbing skills having done some easy couloirs already. It's the self-arrest that I am worried about in case I fall. I guess I just need to keep practicing with ice axe. Have gone up Mary's Glacier in the past just to practice.

[Eli Boardman]

For my own level set, what would Dragon's Tail in RMNP be considered? In somewhat good spring conditions.

Thx!

Here's my trip report for Dragon's Tail from yesterday. You don't currently have to do any mixed climbing in the right branch, just snow to 50+ degrees. It seemed too icy in the morning to make self arrest viable, and there was evidence of wet avalanches from the afternoon, so the best plan is to go early and just not fall. I strongly recommend taking two ice axes.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=17707

[Sglm14]

For my own level set, what would Dragon's Tail in RMNP be considered? In somewhat good spring conditions.

Thx!

Here's my trip report for Dragon's Tail from yesterday. You don't currently have to do any mixed climbing in the right branch, just snow to 50+ degrees. It seemed too icy in the morning to make self arrest viable, and there was evidence of wet avalanches from the afternoon, so the best plan is to go early and just not fall. I strongly recommend taking two ice axes.

https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/triprepo ... trip=17707

Great trip report! Thanks for sharing!