Visible straight from the A82, this extremely aesthetic couloir gives a great day long mission within Glencoe.

Statistics

4 - 5

hrs

993

m

994

m

48

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Severe

Description

Start by attaching your skis and boots onto your pack and take the summer path that rises steeply from the A82, up through the Coire Nan Lochain.

Depending on the time of year and snow depth season, you most likely won’t be able to skin until you reach the section of the coire where it begins to flatten out a little. Once you do finally manage to put your skis on your feet, you’ll find that you can ascend steeply by following the north west ridge of Stop Coire nan Lochain up towards to top of Broad Gully.

If you do choose to take the ridge ascent, as opposed to booting up the couloir itself, then make sure you know what kind of conditions you expect to find in the couloir, to avoid any surprises. The couloir itself is poker straight yet doesn’t follow the fall-line straight down, it instead trends slightly skier’s right with large walls either side guiding you down.

It’s a pretty steep couloir so one not to be underestimated, particularly in icy conditions, which you will more than likely find it in. Climbers also regularly use this couloir to climb up/down so always be considerate of who is above/below you when skiing, being cautious not to knock anything down onto anyone. Once down on the Coire floor, you can head back up for another route, using the easy ascent path that you set earlier, or retrace your footsteps back down the Coire Nan Lochain to reach the A82.