Shuksan Northwest Couloir

The Northwest Couloir drops 4,000 feet off Mount Shuksan's northwest face in one continuous line, with the upper 3,000 feet holding a steep, consistent pitch. The approach climbs from the Mt. Baker ski resort parking lot up the White Salmon Glacier and traverses the Hanging Glacier to reach the couloir entrance. A 200-foot exposed traverse above cliffs guards the drop-in point, the defining crux of the route, where fall consequences are severe and an ice axe is mandatory for self-arrest positioning.

Once committed to the line, riders descend one at a time through sustained steep terrain. Snow conditions must be dialed: wind-sheltered surfaces with adequate depth and stability. The full tour runs as a long single-day push that demands maximized daylight hours.

This is a serious mountaineering ski descent. The White Salmon Glacier approach carries standard crevasse hazard, the Hanging Glacier requires careful rope team spacing, and the couloir entrance traverse has zero margin for error. Avalanche assessment skills, splitboard or ski mountaineering setup, ice axe proficiency, and strong fitness for the long day are all baseline requirements.