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A broad couloir that provides a shorter alternative to its neighbor's, Dragontail and Dead Elk.


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0.4

Miles

0.6

KM

Ski Line

11,032' 3,363 m

High

10,161' 3,097 m

Low

0' 0 m

Up

871' 265 m

Down

47%

Avg Slope (25°)

82%

Max Slope (39°)
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Overview

A really fun alternative if you're looking for something different from Dragontail Couloir and Dead Elk Couloir in Tyndall Gorge.

Description

From Emerald Lake, a steep and strenuous skin will bring you up the East Couloir. This is also done as a moderate snow climb in the summer and an approach to the East Ridge of Hallett Peak.

After ascending the couloir, rip skins and ski the steep entrance which mellows out into a nice 40-60ft wide couloir at roughly 35 degrees. This is definitely avalanche terrain, so skiing this in solid conditions is advised.

Once you ski out the apron, there are several fun boulders to hit, and you can choose between going skier's left into a treed area or straight into a rockslide area. Either way, you end up on Emerald Lake and can re-group there.

Shared By:

Chris Dickson

Trail Ratings

  4.6 from 7 votes

#258

Overall
  4.6 from 7 votes
5 Star
71%
4 Star
14%
3 Star
14%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Ski Line Rankings

#63

in Colorado

#258

Overall
52 Views Last Month
9,069 Since May 2, 2015
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Photos

Looking down the middle of the couloir.
May 2, 2015 near Grand Lake, CO
Looking up the East Couloir from the apron.
May 2, 2015 near Grand Lake, CO
DT Couloir on March 23, 2022 @ 2300.  Taken from Emerald Lake
Mar 26, 2022 near Grand Lake, CO
Looking up Dead Elk (left) and Dragontail (right). April 2015.
May 2, 2015 near Grand Lake, CO
04/12/2025 Halfway up climb to top of Hallet's North Couloir. Sticking to looker's left is a less sun affected ascent @11:18am
Apr 14, 2025 near Grand Lake, CO
04/12/2025 Dropping into Hallet's North couloir from the middle entrance. This is in-between the steepest entrance (looker's right [LR] entrance), and the mellowist (LL entrance). Cornice present on LL entrance. Very warm spring day ~70F @ 11:58am
Apr 14, 2025 near Grand Lake, CO

0 Comments

Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 56 days ago
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Check-Ins

May 4, 2025
P S
Apr 12, 2025
Christopher Tsz Hin Choi
Very hot day (up to ~70F) and no refreeze the night = variable snow conditions. No evidence of recent slides. Big cornice atop looker's left entrance — 1h 30m
Apr 23, 2023
Aiden Nova
Such a joy after the recent snow. Deep bootpacking, but incredible powder. 2 and a half minutes of pure bliss.
May 2, 2022
Dan Trampe
May 15, 2021
Peter S
deep snow made booting a lot of work crusty wet slide debris all over 4mi — 3h 23m
Apr 25, 2021
Tommy Queen
Apr 30, 2019
Per Waag
Apr 6, 2019
Daniel Galhardo
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