Terminal Cancer Couloir, Nevada
Difficulty: Intermediate, 25-40 degrees, 4 meters / 14 feet wide in narrowest point
Location: Bottom of the couloir, parking (March 17, 2021), winter parking (gate)
In mid-March, I was lucky enough to be passing through Nevada in a car on my way from California to Nevada, with enough of time to kill no particular goal. I remembered some videos from The Fifty and Mediocre Amateur channels about skiing this epic line in the Ruby Mountains. So after some brief research, I did not hesitate for long and drove into the beautiful Lamoille canyon.
I arrived at the parking spot at about midnight the night before after some long driving from California with a full intention to wake up at 6am the next day and be the first in the line. Honestly, I did not expect that many people here on a March Thursday with low snow conditions.
I arrived the night before to be sure to enjoy the 5 inches of fresh powder as the first one. I woke up just as the first car arrived only to find out that I left my key in the ignition and the battery died. The key was half way turned, so I could not even pull it out and leave the car. Three hours later the fourth car passing had working jumper cables (mine were cracked 🤦♂️) and I could get going.
Entrance into the couloir. This places can get avalanches from the rocks on the around as well as from the couloir when the risk is higher
The way up the couloir was fast and straightforward. Some 100 vertical feet below the entrance I took of skis and strapped them on my backpack and ascended without crampons using the steps from six or so people who went there that day before me.
Looking up the couloir after a few minutes in it. The couple that woke me up skied it already, the track would be getting progressively worse
Reaching the top is somewhat unimpressive as there is no peak, or 360 view. Looking further into the freshly powdered Lamoille canyon was stunning. There were some old tracks leading further south to the 10k peek, but since it was already so late in the day, and this was the first skiing of the season for me (I spent winter in Mexikc and Hawaii), I decided to keep it simpler.
Six people skied the line that day before me, so no powder that day, but just as I was chilling on top, enjoying the views, the sun started shining right down the couloir exactly at 12:05 for some 10 minutes, softening the hard icy slope for my downhill. I strapped on the skis right-away and headed down
My feet started hurting rightaway after some 9 months of no skiing, so I stopped some 3-4 times on the way down, but it was a lot of fun nonetheless. The couloir is not a prime ride, but you’ll be looking hard for a line that’s visually as perfect as this one.
If you have some time to spare, you can either do more skiing in the Rubies. If you want to treat yourself to some hot springs, there are options in both directions:
12 Mile hot springs when heading east to Utah - some of the best hot springs I’ve seen in the US so far
Dry Suzie / Hot Suplhur / Greenhorn hot springs near Carlin when heading west
