Circus and Crooked Couloirs

As Tim and I drove up to the Pass, we discussed options for the day. Tim had thrown out Kaleetan, Kendall area or Circus Couloir. After seeing the stable conditions and zero wind effect during my tour on Guye Peak East Couloir, I felt good about getting up high and skiing something steep. We ultimately decided on Circus Couloir as it was really rare for the upper part of the Crooked to have good snow and stability and Tim had laid a skin track on Mount Snoqualmie the previous day while going to the Slot.

There were a couple of cars in the parking lot when we pulled in, with one group gearing up. We were able to get on our gear in Tim’s van and stay warm - not sure the exact temperature, but it was still cold, at least for Seattle. Following the existing skin track, we made good time and took a quick break after exiting the trees around 5,200ft.

Skinning up below the Phantom slide path

Beatiful day for a ski tour

Tim skinning up Mount Snoqualmie

There was a group of two ahead of us, and they broke off the main skin track and opted to ski down the front side of Mount Snoqualmie. We eventually reached the end of the ski track near the top of Snoqualmie, and picked our way through trees to reach the summit, and then a quick traverse over to find an entrance to the Crooked. I have typically gone farther East along the ridge to get into the top bowl, however with the amazing conditions we were able to find a closer entrance.

Top bowl of the Crooked Couloir

I dropped in first, and did a quick ski cut. Finding stable conditions as expected, I skied the top part and then pulled over to the side to let Tim ski by and grab a couple of photos. We re-grouped at the bottom of the bowl and then skied the next section, stopping where the trees pop up in the middle of the run.

Tim skiing the top bowl of the Crooked Couloir

Our tracks down the top of the Crooked

Lovely snow

We had some discussion on traversing over to the Circus Couloir. Both Tim and I had skied the Circus for the first and only time a couple of years ago, and we traversed over too low and had to bootpack up. We began our traverse, trying to maintain a high as line as possible, but we ultimately ended up in the same place we had a couple of years ago - looking into a chute that looked skiable, but ends up above a large cliff.

Slot Couloir with lots of tracks

The snow was way too deep to bootpack up, so we threw on our skins and headed back the way we came, and then a couple of kick turns and veggie belays later, we were high enough. Looking back towards the Crooked, I’m not sure how you can actually traverse over, unless as Tim joked, it’s possible once it snows 2,000 inches. We skinned across one at a time the top of a small bowl perched above a cliff, and arrived at the top of the Circus Couloir.

Tim skinning to the start of the Circus Couloir

Tim dropped in first and after giving him ample time to get down the run, I followed. The skiing was fantastic with light snow and a nice sustained fall line. I stopped once during the run to snap a couple of photos, and rest my legs, while Tim skied it in one shot.

Tim skiing the top of the Circus Couloir

We transitioned to skin mode and started laying a track back up into Thunder Creek basin. Breaking trail wasn’t too bad in the forest, but it was slow going out in the open with copious amounts of fresh snow. Fortunately, I knew this was the last of the trail breaking we would have to do. We then hooked up with the existing skin trail and made our way to the exit notch. Tim had mentioned they had laid a skin track all the way up to the top; however there must have been a marauding band of bootpackers pillaging Mount Snoqualmie, as the skin track was destroyed near the top of the exit.

Skinning up to Thunder Creek Basin

Heading up to the exit notch

Back on the South side of Mount Snoqualmie, it was decision time : ski down to the car, head up the skin track for more vert and then ski down to the car, or do a full lap on the Crooked Couloir. I was starting to get tired, but knew skiing the Crooked in these conditions was something that rarely ever happened. That little voice in my head told me it’s not something I should pass up and the best way to get into ski touring shape is to have a huge day. I think Tim was relieved to hear I was up for another lap, as he is half machine and never seems to tire.

Mount Rainier towering above the clouds

We made quick work of the skin track and were back at the top of the Crooked Couloir. Tim dropped in first and we had another amazing ski down the Crooked, and this time didn’t have to mess around with trying to get into the Circus. I’m on the fence about the best way to get into the Circus - it might be better to just ski the Crooked and continue down to the bottom of the Circus and then skin up versus having to throw skins on and make your way over to the top.

Second lap in the Crooked Couloir

The ice bulge in the choke of the Crooked was still pretty pronounced, but it was easy to ski around it and come in from the side. We jumped back on the skin track and made our way up to the exit notch - the bootpackers had struck again, tearing up more of the skin track. The ski down to the car was great, we were able to find some nice lines that hadn’t been chewed up and the snow was still in great condition.

Ice bulge in the Crooked Couloir

Our tracks out of the Crooked Couloir

What a day and a great way to wind down a tough 2021! It’s hard to believe we were able to ski all those aspects on Mount Snoqualmie on a sunny day, with zero wind effect and amazing snow.