I've got to say that I didn't find anything over 35-40 degrees at the steepest in this couloir. Kinda bummed cuz I sure wanted to do something steeper. Sorry, folks - Jepson's got the steep stuff!
If I HAD to give a single number, it would be 37 degrees. I know when I hit 40 cuz I am ready to climb on all 4s. HA! Beautiful climb though, loved every huff'n puff step whilst getting snow on. :)
Hi there, you never updated the steepest pitch on Dollar couloir. I climbed it 4/14/13 for the second time, and at the top of Charlton some one asked me about the steepness and that on SP it says 50 degrees max. For the second time I measured with a clinometer and it is at the very most 40-41 degrees at the steepest parts, which are very short. The majority is around 35-36. Last year Deb and I climbed it on rather firm snow w/o crampons or ax in AT boots and approach shoes. Yeah a bit sketchy but doable if you're careful and conditions are not bullet proof.
Thanks for the comment! I updated the pitch. Turns out there were two place where I had said the couloir was 50 degrees and I had only changed one. Thanks for the feedback!
i think this is a, if not THE, perfect couloir. if it were next to a road, every skier in southern california would be on it. i skied it 4-11 and 4-21, the latter under perfect spring corn conditions, and i looked like a real skier for once in my life. i was even able to link some turns in the 25-foot narrows.
try to hit it early afternoon. booting up was a breeze on 4-21. on 4-11, i started breaking through, so i had to use skins from the midway point.
it's an exhausting day doing this, but thoroughly rewarding. i noticed a north-trending couloir on charlton which also has good potential. anybody done that one? i think charlton got more snow this year than any mountain south of shasta, and dollar couloir ought to be skiable for at least a couple more weeks to come.
there's probably about a mile of skiing from the summit, which i did with alfred on 4-21. (only did the main part of the couloir, solo, on 4-11.) there are distinct divisions--a small "micro" bowl at the top; the upper couloir, about 40 degrees; a central part of lower angle; a third section, narrower and steeper; and then the avvy runout, which goes at about 25 degrees and had wonderfully soft crud. if you cut north as soon as possible, you find some further, pleasant runs all the way to dollar lake, which is nearly dry, but had a couple of hopeful mallards in one of its puddles.
Deb - May 16, 2011 10:37 am - Voted 10/10
AngleI've got to say that I didn't find anything over 35-40 degrees at the steepest in this couloir. Kinda bummed cuz I sure wanted to do something steeper. Sorry, folks - Jepson's got the steep stuff!
Alex Wood - May 16, 2011 4:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: AngleSo what would you say the max angle you found was? Looking back, I can definitely say its not 50 degrees haha.
Deb - May 19, 2011 5:57 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: AngleIf I HAD to give a single number, it would be 37 degrees. I know when I hit 40 cuz I am ready to climb on all 4s. HA! Beautiful climb though, loved every huff'n puff step whilst getting snow on. :)
Alex Wood - May 23, 2011 3:24 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Angleokay sweet, I will update it to that. Glad you liked the route!
Elanski - Apr 15, 2013 5:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: AngleHi there, you never updated the steepest pitch on Dollar couloir. I climbed it 4/14/13 for the second time, and at the top of Charlton some one asked me about the steepness and that on SP it says 50 degrees max. For the second time I measured with a clinometer and it is at the very most 40-41 degrees at the steepest parts, which are very short. The majority is around 35-36. Last year Deb and I climbed it on rather firm snow w/o crampons or ax in AT boots and approach shoes. Yeah a bit sketchy but doable if you're careful and conditions are not bullet proof.
Alex Wood - Nov 13, 2013 5:17 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: AngleElanski,
Thanks for the comment! I updated the pitch. Turns out there were two place where I had said the couloir was 50 degrees and I had only changed one. Thanks for the feedback!
tony bird - Apr 22, 2013 4:53 pm - Hasn't voted
silly snowclimberssilly snowclimbers, couloirs are for skiing.
i think this is a, if not THE, perfect couloir. if it were next to a road, every skier in southern california would be on it. i skied it 4-11 and 4-21, the latter under perfect spring corn conditions, and i looked like a real skier for once in my life. i was even able to link some turns in the 25-foot narrows.
try to hit it early afternoon. booting up was a breeze on 4-21. on 4-11, i started breaking through, so i had to use skins from the midway point.
it's an exhausting day doing this, but thoroughly rewarding. i noticed a north-trending couloir on charlton which also has good potential. anybody done that one? i think charlton got more snow this year than any mountain south of shasta, and dollar couloir ought to be skiable for at least a couple more weeks to come.
there's probably about a mile of skiing from the summit, which i did with alfred on 4-21. (only did the main part of the couloir, solo, on 4-11.) there are distinct divisions--a small "micro" bowl at the top; the upper couloir, about 40 degrees; a central part of lower angle; a third section, narrower and steeper; and then the avvy runout, which goes at about 25 degrees and had wonderfully soft crud. if you cut north as soon as possible, you find some further, pleasant runs all the way to dollar lake, which is nearly dry, but had a couple of hopeful mallards in one of its puddles.
Alex Wood - Nov 13, 2013 5:18 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: silly snowclimbersHey thanks for the comment Tony! I have yet to ski, but maybe I can this winter! I was not a skier back then... Happy travels!