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The East Couloir, Hallett Peak

 5.0 (2)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. Rocky Mountain National Park
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0.4 Miles 0.6 Kilometers


Ski Line

0' 0 m

Ascent

-871' -265 m

Descent

47%

Avg Slope (25°)

82%

Max Slope (39°)

11,032' 3,363 m

High

10,161' 3,097 m

Low

Shared By Chris Dickson

Conditions

Unknown
History
Getting forecast...

Avalanche risk for Mar 17, 2019: Moderate

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-triggered avalanches possible.

Full forecast for CAIC: Front Range Zone — Brought to you by CO Avalanche Information Center

Avy tweets from @CAICfrontrange

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

— Chris Dickson
Driving DirectionsGPX File
Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

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.

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

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Check-Ins

May 5, 2017
Justin Palm
6:30 start, got to the top around 10:30. already warming up quite a lot, Dragon's Tail had a large wet slide at the base of it that had scoured off...
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Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 2 votes

#2

in Rocky Mountain National Park

#16

Overall
  5.0 from 2 votes
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in Colorado

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Photos

Looking down the middle of the couloir.
Looking down the middle of the couloir.
 9
Looking up the East Couloir from the apron.
Looking up the East Couloir from the apron.
 5
Looking up Dead Elk (left) and Dragontail (right). April 2015.
Looking up Dead Elk (left) and Dragontail (righ…
 4

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