Mt Lincoln: North Couloir

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

This is a continuously steep, aesthetic line that drops from just below the summit straight to the valley floor. It can get pretty steep depending on the line, has a few nice choke points you can rip through, and has a small cliff towards the bottom to keep you on your toes.

This couloir is the big one you see to the north as you ski the ridge northeast from the summit. It will be the big gaping maw on your left just as you drop off the summit area.

There are a few ways you can enter. You could just ski the drainage, but for the best snow, you may want to aim for the ridge on skier's left of the couloir and ski it for about 1,000 vertical feet until you see a nice, steep, clean drop down into the bottom of the couloir. This drop is the steepest part of the descent.

Once in the main drainage, ski down, negotiating a constriction that at first looks like it might be a small cliff. It can be previewed from skier's left, which also offers a way through this as does going straight through. A little below this is a rocky constriction that is fun to blast through.

After that, it opens up a little for great turns down to the next rocky area which is in fact a cliff blocking the exit to the apron below. Easily circumvent this on skier's left with a short scramble (may be skiable in some conditions?). Strap your skis back on for some more great turns to the base of the drainage and follow it out to your car at Montgomery Reservoir.