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GRAND CENTRAL COULOIR | NOKHU CRAGS | FRONT RANGE | COLORADO | UNITED STATES

GRAND CENTRAL COULOIR
GRAND CENTRAL COULOIR
Date Created: 03/12/2009
Last Updated: 03/12/2009
Ranking:Good
Skiable Vert:650 ft
Climbing Vert:2500 ft
Top Elevation:12000 ft
Trailhead Elevation:9500 ft
Ascent Mileage:3.5
AVG Ascent Time:3 hours
Ascent Type:Bootpack, Skin, Easy Crampon/snow axe
Trees:none
Slope Aspect:Northeast
Steepest Section:45-55 Degrees
Slope Type:Couloir
Exit:Clean
First Descent:
Nearest Town:Walden, CO
AVG Snowfall:350
Snowpack:High winds and cold dry snow make for a typically dangerous continental snowpack. Most serious routes should be attempted later in the winter and into spring when temperatures rise and the snow begins to corn.

Highlights

Grand Central Couloir is the tallest and most striking couloir in the Nokhu Crags area (the one just above the guy skinning in the picture). Because of it's northeast aspect, this descent is best done on low avy days or in spring corn. A helmet is recommended because of the chossy nature of the rock on the Crags. The "Skiable Vert" I included is from the bottom of the cirque to the top of the couloir, not car to summit.

Ascent

Cameron Pass can be reached from either Fort Collins or Walden, CO. For the Crags, the easiest way to reach the Michigan Ditch and the Nokhu Cirque is to pull off at the small unmarked pullout on the south side of the road on the west side of the pass. The Longest Run (a large avy path that doesn't often slide, but gets a lot of ski traffic) will be obvious from the road. Ski Down from the car on heinous sun-baked death crust to the bottom of the valley and skin up the Longest Run to the irrigation ditch. Go east along the ditch until you reach Michigan Ditch and go south toward the Crags. Car to cirque ascent usually takes around 2 hours. Skin up until it gets too steep and start bootpacking. A whippet or ice axe can be helpful, especially in corn conditions.

Descent

The top of the couloir is quite steep; Jump turns may be required. The angle mellows out further down to the cirque. From the cirque, you may ski back from where you came up, down the Longest Run, or traverse high to an adjacent avy path to the west. This usually has better snow, but you better be on your game as it slides more frequently. Traverse right soon after skiing off the irrigation ditch to avoid an open creek crossing at the bottom of the valley. Skin back up to your car (gotta love this at the end of a long day) where you skied down from the road.

Access/Permits

None required. No camping.

Photos

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