danhelmstadter Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 (edited) Trip: Shuksan - Crawshaw Couloir Date: 5/13/2011 Trip Report: Well I think I picked the wrong day to ski this thing. With ample POW on the White Salmon, I thought the Crawshaw Couloir would for sure be powder too! But I mostly found various icy breakable crusts on the steep upper half. I dug a snow cave near the top of the couloir and waited for several hours for the crusts to dissolve into soft snow with some NW afternoon sun exposure, but it was not meant to be, and I skied the thing in nasty crusty conditions which was quite scary at times, some sidestepping was necessary to negotiate the runnel, and I had to pack the skis and use crampons to get past a 10 foot 55 dg ice step that connected the couloir to the upper slope. This is the third time I've climbed the couloir this year, having found powder in the lower poriton twice back in January, but the steeper upper half was an ice climb. (Link to video -- ) I remmember someone saying they think Rene Crawshaw skied this couloir back in the day. view from the top Edited May 14, 2011 by danhelmstadter Quote
genepires Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 (edited) there goes that secret. From the ski area, I thought that line would be a rad and hard mixed climb....and then you ski it. Boooo. nice one. Edited May 14, 2011 by genepires Quote
sukiakiumo Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Went down the 'Hanging Glacier Headwall' yesterday. Same conditions as you. Non idyllic, for sure. Heard that you were bootpacking up to get to somethin interesting from Russel (I think thats his name). Thanks for sharing the 'secret'! Quote
dberdinka Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 (edited) So bad ass. The exposure at the top of that must have been?? !!! Edited May 16, 2011 by dberdinka Quote
Lowell_Skoog Posted May 17, 2011 Posted May 17, 2011 I emailed Rene Crawshaw and he confirmed that he skied this line "back in I believe 1997." I need to pick his brain to figure out what else has been skied on this side of the mountain. Quote
Lowell_Skoog Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 Is the NW Arayete in that photo? I believe it is the second rib to the right of the couloir. I haven't climbed it. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.