Mail Slot Couloir

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

We rapped in because of icy conditions and unknown terrain below us. Next time, I would do these lines later in the day in the spring (if time wasn't an issue). Anyway, the upper apron in skiable and accessible from the summit in deeper snow years. There's a tight choke with a crawl-through mail slot about a third of the way down (not featured in the 2010 video).

Parking was sketchy. We drove as far in as we could without blocking the road from the Truchas side. I've climbed the falls on West Truchas and was familiar with this access, so I was biased up SR 75 to FR 667. Follow the roads into the wilderness boundary and into the Truchas Cirque. Some think the Tramps Lakes approach is better?

In the spring, the snow melts quickly, so you'll be walking in mud for a mile or so on the way out if it heats up. We had a 15km approach or so.

Great location for a snow pit, etc. or maybe a good place to stash a big tent earlier in the season if one were to be so inspired.

We skinned up between Peak 12,696 and Peak 12,381, roughly along the Trampas Ridge, then followed towards North Truchas Peak to gain access to this technical line.

Loads of people have skied in here: Bob Lee, Jesse Reins, more... Don't know if they did this line for sure or not.