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Argenta - W Couloir

Salt Lake City

Wasatch Backcountry

A big fun run off of Kessler Peak with some great chute and trees skiing involved.

Ski Touring Difficult

Distance
3.5 km
Ascent
18 m
Descent
1.1 km
Duration
0-1 hrs
Low Point
2 km
High Point
3.2 km
Gradient
41˚
Argenta - W Couloir Map

Park at the Argenta pull-out on the S side, 7.1 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Cross the creek and skin up the huge Argenta slide path trending to the right. In the upper bowl head towards the W and gain the ridge, then follow this to the summit.

Description

Off the top of Kessler Peak sneak down the NE ridge past some rocks and trees and then cut back to the S and this will put you in the upper treed bowl of the W Couloir. This is a hanging bowl that holds plenty of snow to avalanche big so make sure conditions are good. This is a very bad place to take a big ride and it has killed at least one rider. Enjoy the upper turns through the trees that funnel into a mellow chute with plenty of room for turning, this run opens up and closes down a few more times until it hits an ice cliff. This can be skirted and skied or downclimbed to the right. In big years it fills in and may not be an issue. From here you'll work though some small aspens on a really mellow aspect. This spits you out lower down in Mineral Fork. From here cross the river and onto the jeep road. Ski this out to the road and hitchhike back up to your car.

Difficulty

Difficult

Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between January and May

Features

  • Cliffs

Equipment required

  • Skins

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area