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04-17-2006, 01:00 PM #1
TR: Dragons Tail Couloir, RMNP 4.17.06
RMNP holds some really amazing lines that typically don't come into ski condition until late spring. For the past month we've been eyeing and wanting to get up on the Dragon's Tail couloir off the southern flank of Flattop Mountain (12,324'). On our first attempt we had to back down off the route after stability and weather took a turn for the worse. Access can't get much easier for this route, as it's only a 2 mile skin from the Bear Lake parking lot and another 1,600' vertical up the couloir. Sunday looked to be a good day to get back on this one as conditions were setting up to be prime for a nice spring descent. A quick storm system blew through during the day on Saturday dropping around 8" of dense snow up in the park. Temperatures dipped down well below freezing the day before, which helped lock up the snowpack and provided a nice and stable base. The forecast was calling for some warming and clearing early Sunday morning, so we made the plan to head out early and get after it.
Met up with mtnbikerskierchick in Lyons and we headed up to Bear Lake. We were on the trail and well on our way to the couloir by 7:30AM. We reached Emerald Lake to high winds and some lingering clouds. The tail end of the storm was just blowing out, so we weren't too concerned.
mbsc battling the wind on the lower apron:
The base of the couloir was setup really nice as we skinned up the first section. The new snow had bonded really well to the frozen layer underneath. The snow was nice and dense making for an easy bootpack further up the couloir.
Up, up, up:
About halfway up the couloir the winds died and the sky cleared, making for a nice climb up the 5th class step near the end of the route. We used a rope to get up and over the step.
mbsc past the step:
Nearing the top:
Checking out the views up top:
The ski down was fun. Smooth and creamy late season pow made for some easy turns down the couloir.
Upper section:
Approaching the rock step:
In the choke:
Things beginning to open up a bit:
mbsc exiting the choke:
Enjoying the late season pow:
Not bad for a half day out in the mountains. I was back home and pulling weeds in the backyard by 1:30 PM.
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04-17-2006, 01:04 PM #2
killin' it as usual, Dave. Nice work.
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04-17-2006, 01:05 PM #3
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04-17-2006, 01:06 PM #4out
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Location
- retired
- Posts
- 586
Sweet!
Way to get after it.
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04-17-2006, 01:06 PM #5
Way to scratch that itch.
"It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
- A. Solzhenitsyn
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04-17-2006, 01:21 PM #6Squatch Guest
i find it really heartening how close such sweet terrain there is.
Thanks for making my day.
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04-17-2006, 01:24 PM #7
Awh yeah! It was a fantastic day! Honestly, a day of touring doesn't get much better than that day!
Do I look Easter-festive enough? Thought I'd break out the Easter colors and look like and Easter bunny to celebrate the day-
14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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04-17-2006, 01:27 PM #8Originally Posted by mtnbikerskierchick"It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
- A. Solzhenitsyn
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04-17-2006, 01:28 PM #9
great line guys, I cant wait until the snowpack turns to corn, so I can get the balls to do some of this stuff. Excellent
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04-17-2006, 01:31 PM #10Originally Posted by lemon boy-
14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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04-17-2006, 01:33 PM #11Mike Pow
- Join Date
- Apr 2005
- Location
- Between a rock and a soft place. Aberdare and The Brecon Beacons, Wales
- Posts
- 3,208
Great shots
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04-17-2006, 01:40 PM #12
How long did it take for the bootpack up to the top?
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04-17-2006, 01:41 PM #13Originally Posted by Lloyd Christmas-
14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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04-17-2006, 01:44 PM #14
as always, well done, ladies and gents...
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04-17-2006, 01:46 PM #15
I'm having a hard time getting behind this otherwise sweet TR without the obligatory point into the distance.
Originally Posted by iskibc
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04-17-2006, 01:52 PM #16
sweet stuff.
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04-17-2006, 01:53 PM #17mental projection
- Join Date
- Feb 2004
- Location
- 208 State
- Posts
- 2,577
once again, what can I say, nice work. Always looking forward to reading your TR's. Sounds like there's going to be plenty of skiing up high for a while yet in your area too.
where is the Dragon's Tail Couloir in relation to the Ouzel/Bluebird? Lake area in RMNP?
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04-17-2006, 01:58 PM #18
Nice work. How long do you think that line is gonna stay prime for?
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04-17-2006, 02:03 PM #19
Another asthetic couloir. Nice pics!
Dynafit convert.
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04-17-2006, 02:25 PM #20Originally Posted by berko
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04-17-2006, 02:35 PM #21
Wierd...looks like the lady's sporting a goatie in this pic:
mbsc, Love all the pink parts.
peace,
D."There's a truth that sanity denies...." --Sprung Monkey
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04-17-2006, 03:06 PM #22
yeah! good shit!
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04-17-2006, 03:11 PM #23Originally Posted by Bodhi
Last edited by mtnbikerskierchick; 04-17-2006 at 03:14 PM.
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14erskiers.com
"Don't be afraid of the spaces between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle"--Albert Einstein
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04-17-2006, 03:12 PM #24
NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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04-17-2006, 03:17 PM #25
Beautiful pictures, very nice as always.
Which one is the left fork and which one is the right fork?Last edited by Ireallyliketoski; 04-17-2006 at 03:38 PM.
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