STS Couloir

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

A steep, north facing couloir with a short & easy approach. The approach is physically easy, but very dangerous as it passes through complex avalanche terrain. A short rappel into the slope is required unless you're a sponsored Red Bull daredevil. The initial turns are steep but it soon mellows to as cruisy 45 degrees. Fairly straightforward approach & descent.

Bathrooms are available at the Visitor Center at the trailhead. Extreme caution is advised approaching via the Connaught Valley drainage - complex avalanche terrain that is exposed to multiple, large, south facing avalanche paths. Ski crampons, crampons, 2x30m ropes, helmets & harnesses are required to ski many of the routes accessed via this ridge. Be sure of avalanche conditions before attempting any of the routes on Mt Cheops. An avalanche triggered in this couloir could easily threaten other skiers travelling through the valley bottom - use extreme caution! Consider using a guide if you are unfamiliar with the Roger's Pass area.

From the Visitor Center, follow the ascent as described for The Shelf - Mt Cheops. At an elevation of 2350m, you'll find a rappel anchor around a short, stubby tree. A short 30m rappel into the line is appropriate but it has been skied from the top. A small cornice may need to be dealt with. The slope is very steep here, 60 degrees but it eases fairly quickly to around 45 degrees for the remainder of its length. A 60m rappel would get you past the really steep section onto more reasonable slopes. A straightforward descent to the valley bottom. This is a fairly short objective & is often combined with another descent in the area, often Nicci's Notch or North Bowl (North Cheops #5).

Labelled on Parks Canada maps as North Cheops #4, this couloir has become known as the STS couloir since 2003. That year, an outing of students form the Strathcona Tweedsmuir School, from nearby Calgary, were travelling beneath the chute when it released naturally & killed 7 of the students. It has become one of the most easily accessed of the Roger's Pass Classic couloirs & a first big north face descent for many aspiring adventure skiers.