Skywalker Couloir

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This is a really cool line. Best to ski it in Spring/Summer.

The road from Eldora to Fourth of July is not plowed.

If you didn't climb up the couloir, you can find it by heading west and south from the summit of South Arapahoe.

There are several exits one could ski into. The upper part of the couloir is probably around 55 degrees and a fall here would be bad. The "Princess Leia" variation at the top is steeper. The couloir begins to mellow after a couple hundred feet but it is still very steep and sustained. The line is enclosed in rock walls for maybe 1,500'.

Facing SW, it comes into sun a bit later. We waited on top for a while for snow to soften. Watch out for the shady spot ~ halfway down.

Skywalker will be obvious once you get to the mine area if you're approaching from Fourth of July on the Arapahoe Pass trail. Crampons and at least one axe would be prudent to climb the route. If you're roping up, your pro would be pickets or possibly some rock gear. It takes around an hour to get from trailhead to the base of the couloir.

In early June, 2014, we found firm snow conditions and a large runnel down the middle.