Island Couloir

This is the upper section of the couloir, obviously. I took the shot from inside the narrow neck in the middle of the climb and above the "island." This view shows the easy escape options along the upper left side. The snow does not really form cornices up top (well, not when I was there) but instead becomes a sheer wall that is not too high but just high enough to be unsafe for most climbers. From the exposed rocks in the center, I traversed left and angled upward until I could climb a very short snow wall to reach the true top of the couloir. I did not use the dirt and rock on the left side at all, but that area appeared to be just Class 2, though on what essentially looked like mud. This dirt section likely would not be exposed from mid-fall through early summer. Snowy Range, WY-- July 2007