Leg Lake Couloir

Leg Lake Couloir
Southern Wind River Range, Popo Agie Wilderness, Shoshone NF
June 9th, 2007

Leg Lake Couloir and the Roaring Fork Cirque as seen from the highway heading into Lander from Riverton.

The couloir and cirque are pretty outstanding features in the southern end of the range. A few years back I took crew up there and we attempted to ski it. The first guy was successful, but the rest of had to bail due to wet slides he triggered as he was reaching the top. Back then I was kind of new to couloirs. I've always wondered maybe if we gave up to early that day. It's a thought that has hounded me every time I'd look up there. This weekend, after a hefty June snow storm that dumped as much as eight inches in the backcountry, I decided to pack my pack and pay another visit to Leg Lake. I was determined to take another shot at the couloir.

An absolute beheamoth of a pack. 75 pounds plus! My wife, shook her head and said, "Why would anyone do that to their body?" The she corrected herself and said, "I know, I know, it must have something to do with a Koooolar! God save the almighty Koooolar." Ha! I had to go heavy though, the weather conditions were still iffy, and I was traveling solo. Like it or not, the monstrous pack would have to do for the 3 to 4 mile, 1500 foot bushwack into the base camp area I was shooting for. I left the trailhead about 6pm, in rain that was turning to snow.

About a mile in I discovered that my pack might not be the only thing around to keep me company. I sang a few verses of the "Hey bear!" song. Never did see it though.

The next morning I got up early, saddled up and started the approach. Today was all about the coulior. I was camped about a mile from it. I'd reached the spot around 9pm the previous night. In between snow squalls I had just enough time to set up my tent before it got too dark. Thankfully, the weather did like the forecast had predicted- it was stellar, a perfect day for a couloir.

Looking across the Roaring Fork Drainage at a nameless lake, about a half hour into the approach.

Finally, Leg Lake Coulior comes into view, from across Leg Lake.

Had to stop for a water break. Also had to put on my helmet. The rocks exploding as they crashed down the granite walls pretty much commanded it.

Setting my sights, looking up Leg Lake couloir.

About halfway up it, I noticed this little couloir. It turned out that this one went all the way too. Guess I'll have a reason to visit again some day.

Looking down the couloir from about two-thirds of the way up. You can see a significant slide on looker's right that had to have occured the previous day- it was all of the new snow. It had me a little concerned about the stability of the new snow that still covered the top third of the couloir. I chose my route up carefully- short pitches to safe spots all the way.

It was looking pretty good. Things still felt solid.

Looking down from a little closer to the top. I had to break out my ice axe for the last stretch.

A wind scalped area below the cornice that made up the headwall of the coulior. It was cake now!

Up on top I noticed some Forget-Me-Nots that had begun to bloom already- now covered in June snow.

A look at what's on top, above and beyond the couloir. Awesome country! I was super glad I made it this time.

Aiming my skis down the couloir, the edge of Leg Lake visible below.

A ski's-eye view of the Wind River Valley from the top of Leg Lake Couloir.

Bombs away!

Looking down on fresh snow, for the top third. Really good stuff. Too hot to be powder anymore- but it made fantastic virgin corn!

Every few turns I pulled up to let the sluff pass. It was heavy enough, I didn't want to chance riding in it until I was further down. Figured it's best to play it safe while flying solo.

Terrific spring skiing! Great fun!

A look back at one super fun run down Leg Lake Couloir.

A look out across Leg Lake from the base of the couloir.

I hiked back up the couloir a ways to snag another few hundred feet of corn, that went in the direction I wanted to go. It was 10am when I dropped this line, and it was beggining to get too hot.

Couloir conquered, temp rising, it was time to head back to camp.

My last bit of excitement before reaching camp- crossing Roaring Fork Creek.

Hiking in ski boots is always fun. Crossing logs over a creek in them with skis on your back is even more fun.

Whew! Back at camp around noon. Just in time for some grubs and a short nap.

I got this tent this winter. It's mostly for winter conditions, which is pretty much what I encountered the previous night. It was pretty comfy. A little on the heavy end though.

One last look back at Leg Lake couloir and cirque from the meadow I camped in. Took me an hour or so to eat, nap, strike camp and pack the monster. I began my 2 hour march back to the trailhead around 2pm. Pretty cool for an over-nighter!

Back in Lander the next day, on my way to the dump with a load of tree limbs, I get another look at the Leg Lake Couloir. This time I'm not thinking about the trip I took up there a few years ago, wishing I could have skied the whole thing. Instead, I'm thinking, "That's one amazing couloir, and I bagged it!" I was also thinking how glad I'll be not to have to pack my winter tent, skis, and boots on my next backpacking adventure. Ha!

Yaaahooo! The end.