Lincoln Peak X Couloir
Mt. Baker AreaBest Mar–May
A rarely-skied couloir on Lincoln Peak in the Black Buttes, with only one prior documented descent.
About This Trail
Lincoln Peak rises to ninety hundred eighty feet on the southern ridge of the Black Buttes, the volcanic plug formation south of Mt. Baker. The X Couloir is a series of linked steep chutes and faces on the SW aspect, dropping nearly nineteen hundred feet from the summit area. Only one prior documented ski descent existed at the time of this trip — the line is rarely visited.
Approach uses NF 38 (Middle Fork Nooksack) up switchbacks near Rankin Creek to a parking area around thirty-one hundred feet, with a steep climbing trail up the ridge from there. High-clearance vehicle helps. Alternative access via Heliotrope Ridge is possible. Conditions on the line vary widely — firm snow, wet powder, proto-corn, slush, settled powder, and corn have all been reported on the same descent.
The summit exit is the technical commitment — narrow, icy, and exposed, requiring axe work and careful footwork rather than skiing. This is committing terrain in obscure country. Spring corn windows are the standard. Rarely skied means rarely a skin track; rarely a skin track means full route-finding judgment is yours.
Series of steep linked chutes and faces on SW aspect. ~1,870 ft of varied terrain. Mixed conditions throughout — firm to corn to slush.
No established skin track. Trail-breaking from NF 38 area up the ridge to the summit. Bootpack on the steepest entrance moves.
Seasonal Highlights
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Almost no traffic in any season. One prior documented ski descent at time of this trip report.
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- Narrow icy summit exit — axe and footwork required
- Sustained no-fall steep skiing in the chutes
- Variable snow conditions across multiple aspects — timing matters
- Spring runoff damages approach road
- Limited beta and route-finding required
Getting There
High-clearance vehicle recommended
NF 38 (Middle Fork Nooksack) parking area around 3,100 ft. Northwest Forest Pass typically required. High-clearance helps on the spring road.