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<span class="">Notch Top Spire <span class="">Couloir</span></span>
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Length: Approx. 1600' vertical from 12.1K to 10.5 (Lake Helene)
Avg. Angle: 45
Steepest Angle: 52
FD- Likely Tom Meiners and Chris Hinkley, April 2010
Direct variation FD likely by Thomas Armento, Barrows Worm de Geldern, and Forrest Thorniley, 2011.
Technicality: 4th class when in skiable shape- no ropes needed, but much of this is 'no-fall' terrain over cliffs.
Avg Tour Length: 6-8 hrs. car to car.
Typical Avi Danger: Many D1-2 sloughs during and after storms plus soft slab potential in upper layers are the most common hazards. Heats-up quick due to south aspect and cornices will release down this route.
The snowpack is usually 3-6 m deep and in the spring debris will pile up at the base of the couloir from small and large, heat caused sloughs. This slope is large enough to do some damage when a slab does release and the 'terrain traps' i.e. cliffs that you could be launched over would be painful.
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 The Notchtop Spire with the Spire Couloir below it's west face and the direct start done in 2011 shown. Photo courtesy of Tom Armento.
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The Notchtop Spire Couloir descent route taken by Tom Meiners and Chris Hinkley in 2010 outlined in red. Large cornices to the right of this line release regularly in the spring and create a constant afternoon avalanche hazard in the Notchtop Spire Couloir.
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 (Above) The direct entrance into the Spire Couloir. Photo courtesy of Tom Armento.
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Approach Options
#1 Skinning up the east face of Flattop Mountain and then traversing along the Continental Divide and over Ptarmigan Point is one of the favored approach options to reach the top of the Notchtop Couloirs ( green arrow).
#2 Ski into and up the Odessa Gorge from the Bear Lake trailhead (9400') and then past Lake Helene and Notchtop Spire to the base of the couloir at approx. 11,000' and make the climb-up from here.
#3 Ski into and up the Odessa Gorge from the Bear Lake trailhead (9400') and then past Lake Helene and Notchtop Couloir to the Ptarmigan Glacier and skin-up or hike-up the Ptarmigan to reach the Continental Divide and walk or ski around to the top of the descent route.
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Looking at the south face of Notchtop Mountain with the Notchtop Spire Couloir in red, the Notchtop Couloir in yellow, and the approach route to the Ptarmigan Glacier in green.
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(Above) Looking up the Spire Couloir. Photo courtesy of Tom Armento.
The upper half of the Spire Couloir, Notchtop Mountain. Photo courtesy of Tom Armento.
Timing along with sliding ability are the keys to success in this "no-fall terrain" that requires expert ability in both judging the snow stability and it's suitability for skiing. The "corn-window" can often be short and in the spring- early. Reaching the top of this couloir by 9 or 10am may be necessary for a safe and smooth descent and arriving late is not an excuse for getting hurt or worse.
The Notchtop Spire Couloir is classic ski mountaineering and with an average of a 4 hour approach and 2 hr. descent to the car, you still have plenty of daylight left for your other extra-curricular activities.
Tom Meiners and Chris Hinkley on the FD of the Notchtop Spire Couloir (west variation) in Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.
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Contact ClimbingLife Guides for more information about guided ski descents and backcountry skiing in the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park or Alaska at:
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or call: 970.744.4898
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