View of the V Couloir from the top of the Apocalypse
There is little talk about this beautiful line hidden on Prospectors Peak. I’ve heard whispers of it for years, but I’ve never really gotten a good look at it. The best view I had had was the top half of the couloir from Albright. As we asceneded the NE ridge of Prospectors en route to the Apocalypse last week this line came into view. WOW. It was stunning. I knew some or all of us would be back real soon.
You never regret an early start
Jon, Jim and I were walking down the moose wilson rd at 5am. We “found” Phelps lake in the dark. The ice was too thin to instil confidence. We saw numerous holes and big cracks. We viered closer to shore for safety and Jim wound up breaking through a bit. Didn’t seem to phase him.
Followed this guy up for a while
The skinning was firm and challenging. On a long side hilling section I could not get enough grip to feel stable and feared I could slide into Open Canyon. Jim had ski crampons which helped him a lot. Jon seemed to do just fine traversing to the base of the couloir. I removed my skins and skated across the slope to the base of the couloir. Here we geared up for booting.
Ready to start booting
The ascent went well in the bottom section with Jon leading the way in consolidated dry powder.
Jon ascends the V Couloir
The snow felt great the whole way. Settled, sheltered, north facing powder.
Jon and Jim lead the way
It became apparent as we climbed higher that we were going to have sustained, steep powder turns in a beautiful alpine setting.
Stunning rock walls
At the crux, we surmounted a small ice and rock step that put us in the upper bowl of the V Couloir.
Through the crux
The small bowl above the crux had terrible snow. A stout breakable sun crust on top of powder. We chose to head down. We looked for some anchors to rappel the crux and didn’t see much. Jon searched around to the North and found a short downclimb back into the couloir. Jim found a spot for a small nut and we set up a handline rappel for added safety.
Jim and I at the small anchor to re-enter the couloir
Jim downclimbs with a handline into the V Couloir
We all regrouped in the couloir and got ready to ski. It seemed steep.
Jon in the V Couloir
Jim skis just below the crux
Jon lower down in the V Couloir
The skiing was spectacular. Some of the most sustained steep powder skiing I have had to date. It felt like 55 deg for the first 100 ft, then 50 deg mellowing to 45 for 1500 vertical. Just awesome. Another 2000 vert of smooth corn to the bottom Open Canyon. We had to traverse skiers left for a bit to arrive back at Phelps Lake. The low elevation, South facing aspect near the canyon bottom had melted out.
Jim in the sheltered V Couloir
Jon makes a steep turn in the V Couloir
A final look
Awesome photos man.
A bit confused here. The couloir is North facing yet you mention fearing you would slide into Open Canyon on the approach, which is South of Prospectors. You also, mention skiing the couloir into Open Canyon and skiing left to Phelps. Am I missing something here?
The Couloir is north facing, yet on the south side of Prospectors. It is at the head of the drainage just east of the Banana Couloir that drains into Open Canyon. You approach the V Couloir as if you were going to ski the Apocolypse Couloir “top down”. Hope that helps.