Starting from the summit of one of the most prestigious peaks in the Alps, this 1000 meter line reigns supreme in the Argentiere Basin and is a popular means of ascending the Aiguille Verte for alpinists. The early history of skiing on Couturier was marred in controversy over who actually made the 'true' first descent. Serge Cachat-Rosset skied from the summit via a helicopter drop in August of 1973. Four days later, Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant skied the couloir from just underneath the final icecap after having climbed it. Although the press at the time celebrated Cachat-Rosset's descent and claimed Baud's and Vallencant's wasn't valid, many have later agreed Baud and Vallencant can claim the first real descent by 'fair means'. Another victim of climate change, the Couturier is likely to never again be skiable without an abseil in the lower 60 degree ice. The last known descent without abseil was made by Dave Rosenbarger and Arne Backtrom in June 2009 when they caused a stir at the time for making huge gs style turns down the length of the couloir in perfect powder conditions. It is possible to bypass the unskiable section of the Couturier via the 'Z' route opened up by Vivian Bruchez in April 2013. This takes a delicate and exposed line through the rocks to looker's right of the actual Couturier.