Carruthers West Face

To get to the west face of Carruthers, you will need to ski across an exposed ridge line for about one kilometre, the ski down can often be quite enjoyable in clear conditions, with incredible views out and over the range. The western face consists of three prominent gullies, all of which can hold the snow significantly better than other western aspects on the range. In a year with complete cover, the entirety of this run can provide 600 metres of vertical (with a bit of a push along the ridge line). Whilst the face proper starts at a lower altitude, the west face plummets with a steep gradient down into Lady Northcote Canyon, and as the gullies are often shaded they not only provide a surprising amount of cover for the altitude and aspect, but also are sparsely vegetated. In an above average year, any line from the top is possible, but I would suggest heading down the gullies lower down, as vegetation can get quite dense further down. Take care as you negotiate the ridge from Carruthers, it can often be left scoured by the prevailing wind, and icy as a result. Snow conditions for this face are best when the season has a deeper base at a lower altitude, during the colder months. The best way back out of the canyon if you get to the bottom is to hike up to Lake Albina, or up and through Little Austria back to Carruthers. If you want steep over vertical keep to the left gully, beware of the rocks, meanwhile the gully to the skiers right will grant more vertical.