Mt Parnassus: Drainpipe Couloir

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This narrow couloir is perhaps the most sought-after descent from Mt. Parnassus.

Take the Ruby Gulch Approach skintrack into Ruby Gulch. There are several options for ascending the Parnassus/Woods bench in this basin, if you're lucky there will already be a skintrack or bootpack up one of the several low-angled north-facing slopes. Often there will already be a bootpack in the couloir as well, if you're choosing to climb what you ski.

Reminder that this line is called the Drainpipe for a reason - it slides regularly and is often filled with avalanche debris.

After approach, the line starts west of the summit. One may be tempted to drop north directly off the summit of Mt. Parnassus - this is the NE Face line - another fun descent but not the Drainpipe. Go one snowfield west of the summit and you can see the top of the drainpipe below this massive north-facing bowl.

Take a few steep turns off the top, several more lower-angled turns from here, and then you'll find yourself at the top of a narrow choke - here the couloir becomes fairly narrow and also doglegged. Make careful turns in the lower portion of this line. The high walls and tight width mean that this line has inconsistent snow most days. Skiers left will be softer snow while skiers right may still be icy and fast.

Exit the line and ski down the skintrack or climb back the saddle for more laps in this amazing basin.