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Routes in North Face
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Access Ramp T 4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Mod. Snow |
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Caught Inside T M4 Steep Snow |
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Cowardice T M2 Mod. Snow |
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Deception T M5 Mod. Snow |
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Hobbs-Slate North Face Direct T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b |
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Learning to Walk T M2 Mod. Snow |
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North Buttress T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b A2 |
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North Buttress Direct T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c |
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Northeast Wall and Buttress T 5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b |
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Northwest Couloir T WI3-4 Mod. Snow |
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Northwest Ridge T 3rd 1- 1 I 1 M 1a |
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Psychopomp T M4+ Steep Snow |
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Torre Couloir (NW Ridge Var) T 5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a AI2-3 M2 Mod. Snow |
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| Type: | Trad, Ice, Snow, Alpine, 1600 ft, 8 pitches, Grade III |
| FA: | John D. Mendenhall - 1931 |
| Page Views: | 2,395 total · 37/month |
| Shared By: | Preston Rhea on Nov 4, 2013 |
| Admins: | Chris Owen, Lurker, M. Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer suchoski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
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Description
The Northwest Couloir goes by many names among climbers: the Mendenhall Couloir, the Y Couloir, and most famously the Death Couloir. Under the first ascent conditions there was supposedly a snow apron allowing easier access to the couloir proper. When John Mendenhall climbed this in 1931, he called it third class. Since then, the route is considered "in" when the couloir is connected to the snow apron via a WI3-4 waterfall.
The first pitch is this waterfall and is the crux of the route. Once established in the couloir, easy to moderate snow climbing leads up to the fork or "Y". Take the left branch towards the summit. Part of the way up the branch a short WI3 pitch may be encountered.
The route is a funnel of debris and has serious problems with rockfall. It is only safe when full from the very bottom to the very top with snow and some may add only when climbed before the sun hits it in the morning. Regardless, do not spend longer than you have to on route.
The first pitch is this waterfall and is the crux of the route. Once established in the couloir, easy to moderate snow climbing leads up to the fork or "Y". Take the left branch towards the summit. Part of the way up the branch a short WI3 pitch may be encountered.
The route is a funnel of debris and has serious problems with rockfall. It is only safe when full from the very bottom to the very top with snow and some may add only when climbed before the sun hits it in the morning. Regardless, do not spend longer than you have to on route.
Mammoth Lakes
Also, the actual formation only lasted from the very end of May until maybe the 16th of June in 2011. I climbed it on the 13th and found it to be melting fast. Nov 4, 2013