The Couloir Collection: November 2008

What is this blog?

Designed to be an unofficial guide to ski mountaineering in Canterbury, the idea of this blog is that anyone who has skied a peak or a couloir in the region can post photos and information here to inspire and inform others. If you have something to contribute, send photos and a description of the route to:

thecouloircollection@gmail.com

and we will post them up. We will also start a list of contributors so credit can be given where due. If everyone gets out into the backcountry and remembers to take photos, a guide of sorts will form.
To standardise the guide as much as possible we will grade any routes using the "D" system. Details of this system can be found at:

www.wildsnow.com

Routes will also be marked with a green line for the ascent and a red line for the descent.
This guide will only work if the regions skiers take time to contribute and we are really keen to see what everyone is skiing so send us an email.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Cheeseman Ski Area

Craigieburn Range
Skiing couloirs and Mt Cheeseman ski area generally don't go together, but there are some fun short shots to be had.

Gun Barrel (D4, I, R1)
This is the big obvious one as you get into the car park. Access is easy, the entrance is between tower 3 and 4of the main T-bar and a short traverse brings you back to the car park.

No need for a red line to mark this one out.

The A-Basin Chutes (D5/6, I, R2)
These are a little more interesting. The entrance is reached with a high traverse above A-Basin. From here two main descent options are on offer, with skiers right couloir being the pick of the two. There are a few more variations for those who are creative and enjoy kick turns and stepping over rocks.

A-basin chutes in a snow storm?

Chutes start top right of the photo (Photo from David Poulsen)

These two little guys can introduce a newbie to the narrow stuff and give some good opportunities to work on some skills especially for those without touring bindings/skins and the avalanche know how to be in the backcountry.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Avalanche Peak

Arthurs Pass National Park.
Skied 12 October 2008, Duncan Sherratt, Kathy Conlan and Tim Ensor.
"D" System Rating: D4, II, R1
Avalanche Peak is accessed right out of Arthurs Pass village. If it didn't involve a couple of hours of walking in beech forest to get to the snow it would have quite a European feel.
Walk north out of the village and follow Scott's Track up the ridge until you reach the snow. From there ski and climb the ridge to Avalanche Peak at 1833 metres.

On this trip there was good skiing into the east and south east drainages but with more snow there would be lots of options.
Descend via Scott's Track.