Thumb Couloir

Name: Thumb Couloir
Rating: 5.0

5.0 ( 1 )

Trail

0.4 mile 0.7 kilometer point to point
Ski Line
Intermediate/Difficult

Elevation

Ascent: 0' 0 m
Descent: -926' -282 m
High: 8,445' 2,574 m
Low: 7,519' 2,292 m

Grade

Avg Slope: 41% (22°)
Max Slope: 69% (35°)

Driving directions Take a virtual tour

Zoom in to see details

Map Key

To-Do's
Check-Ins

Trail shared by Jake Downey

Avalanche risk for May 2, 2019: Unknown

Unknown or outdated data.

Full forecast for GNFAC: Bridger Range — Brought to you by Gallatin NF Avalanche Center

Avy tweets from @AvalancheGuys

Weather

Getting forecast...

Current ascent conditions

Unknown See History

Popular ski lines nearby

Second Meadow

0.2 mi 0.3 km • -269 ft Descent • -81.92 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 1 )

Sunrise as seen from the summit of lil ellis.

Little Ellis SE Meadow

0.6 mi 0.9 km • -395 ft Descent • -120.3 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 1 )

Mount Ellis Quick Out

3.2 mi 5.2 km • -2,630 ft Descent • -801.59 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 1 )

Dirty Little Secret

0.5 mi 0.9 km • -933 ft Descent • -284.48 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 1 )

Goose Creek - Powder Fields

1.2 mi 2.0 km • -1,248 ft Descent • -380.49 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 3 )

Looking from near the top, down the ridge run. Not Lick Creek proper.

Lick Creek Descent

0.5 mi 0.8 km • -509 ft Descent • -155.01 m Descent

Singletrack Bozeman, MT

( 2 )

Navigate on-trail with our free app

“A large, steep couloir that will usually have good snow, even days after a storm and everything else is chewed up.”

— Jake Downey

GPX File

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

Must have a beacon to access the Ridge at Bridger Bowl.

Need to Know

At the at end of the apron, traverse right (south) to get back inbounds. If you ski too far left you'll get caught on flat land and have to hike out.

Description

You can access the Thumb either from the Bridger Ridge hike or touring up The Ramp ascent line. I found that the boot pack from Bridger is my preferred route. Make sure you hike past Northwest Passage and through the OB gate. Keep hiking down until you find the thumb rock (the unmistakable rock pillar that looks like a thumb). Head north past the rock.

The first entrance is steep and technical. The second entrance is farther north and is a bit easier, but you'll need to traverse back south to the Thumb's entrance. Once inside, there is a rocky cliff in the center that you can ski around to the south or huck it. After that, it's all yours.