Northwest Couloir Mt Shuksan (conditions)

Ryan, I am not sure what you are referring to as the "NorthWest Couloir".  If you mean the line on lookers right of the Hanging Glacier, that is the White Salmon Glacier.  It looks filled in enough to ski, although you would have scant to no cover at the bottom and therefore a long, ugly scramble out. Best to give it several weeks to build a base. (The picture is from March, 2001)

OTOH, if you mean the line to the looker's left of the hanging Glacier, it is nowhere near ready.  There is a section of 50 degree ice covered rock halfway down, and the narrow opening gully needs considerable snow more to fill. Best give that one several more years!

Tim-

I'm referring to what Beckey calls the Northwest Couloir- climber's left of the hanging glacier. And from what I saw, the entrance gully looked possible and the 50 degree section you mentioned also seemd to have a way thru. Of course, I may be completely wrong. I was just passing on what I saw for those who might be interested.

hmm, maybe it does go.  I also mused over that face, while lounging on chair 8 on Saturday.  I don't think skykilo is around to find out for us, so I guess you have nominated yourself ;D.

ya, i would guess there is a big difference between skiing at the area and actually being in a gigantic north facing coulior after a week of high pressure and a then a small dump of snow. at first glance i thought this was a post from someone who was actually on the mountain itself. shuksan does look like it has some great ski mountaineering lines...

hey username...i saw a snowboarder biking towards the bottom of baker over the weekend...any chance that was you?

I believe it has been skiied by John Adams at the Glacier Ski Shop and Patrick O'Neill

cool.  It's hard to believe that something that you can stare at from the ski area would not have been skied by now.  I bet it would be awesome in the right conditions.

A snowboard descent of the NW couloir was reported by George St. James in 1993. He was accompanied by George Dobis on foot. The Bellingham Herald had an article about it on 6/24/93.

So... can we get a lift up there?  :D (ducking)

I'm not sure that its seen a complete descent from the Hanging Glacier, as in including the final very narrow stretch.  George St James as well as a couple patrollers 5+ years ago all stopped somewhere near the top of the wide open section.  Don't know anything about other descents of the couloir.