The List

200+ of the World’s Biggest Backcountry Ski Routes

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EUROPE: The French Alps 🇫🇷

1. Aiguille du Tacul, Northwest Shoulder, Chamonix

2. Angelique Couloir, Aiguille Chanevier/Glacier Talefre, Chamonix

3. Barbey Couloir, Aiguille du Argentiere, North Face, Chamonix

4. Bellin Couloir, Le Brevent, Chamonix

5. Capucin Couloir, Col du Tacul, Chamonix

6. Chevalier Couloir, Grand Montets, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix

7. Col de l’Aiguille Verte, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix

8. Col des Courtes, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix

9. Col de Beaugeant, Aiguille Rouges, Chamonix, FR

10. Col du Belvédère, Aiguille Rouges, Chamonix, FR

11. Col des Cristaux, Aiguille Verte, Argentiere Basin, Chamonix

12. Col du Diable, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix

13. Col du Plan, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix

14. Cosmiques Couloir, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix

15. Couloir Couturier, Aiguille Verte, Chamonix

16. Diable Couloir, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix

17. East Rectilgne/Nant Blanc Glacier, Grand Montets, Chamonix

18. ENSA Couloir, Le Brevent, Chamonix

19. Eugster Diagonal, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix

20. Gervasutti Couloir, Tour Ronde, Chamonix

21. Glacier Rond/Cunningham Couloir, Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix

22. Grand Couloir, Mont Buet, West Face, Chamonix

23. Grand Envers du Plan, Chamonix

24. The Grand Gervasutti, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix

25. Jager Couloir, Mt. Blanc du Tacul, Chamonix

26. Les Courtes, NE Face, Chamonix

27. Mallory, Aiguille du Midi North Face, Chamonix

28. Mont Mallet Diagonal/Brêche Puiseux, Mont Mallet, Chamonix

29. Mont Blanc (summit), Grands Mulets Route, Chamonix

30. Mont Blanc West (summit), Chamonix

31. Petit Envers du Plan, Chamonix

32. Poubelle Couloir/Pas du Chèvre, Grand Montets, Chamonix

33. Couloir Rectiligne, Grand Montets, Chamonix

34. Southeast Couloir, Aiguille du Chardonnet, Chamonix

35. Southwest Couloir, Breche Puiseux/Glacier Periades, Chamonix

36.raverse of the Aiguille de la Noire, Chamonix

37. Vallee Blanche, Normal Route, Chamonix

38. West Couloir, Aiguille du Chardonnet, Chamonix

39. Whymper Couloir, Aiguille Verte, Chamonix

40. Y Couloir, Aiguille d’Argentiere, Chamonix

41. Le Diagonale, La Grave

42. Descente des Enfetchores/Glacier de la Meije, La Grave

43. Glacier de la Girose: Chirouze Classic, La Grave

44. Danaides Couloir/Lavancher, Val d’Isere

45. Pan de Rideau, Pointe Trifide, La Grave

46. Pisteurs’ Couloir, Val d’Isere

47. Serac Paradise, Ecrins, La Grave

48. Trifide Couloirs 0,1,2,3

49. Vallons de la Meije, La Grave

50. L’ Orciere de Gauche ‘La Vaute’ La Grave

ALASKA 🇺🇸

114. Japanese Couloir, Mount Barrille, Ruth Gorge, Denali National Park, AK

115. Kichatna Spire (and surrounding peaks), Kichatna Mountains, Alaska Range, Denali National Park, AK

116. Kahiltna Queen, West Face, Denali, AK

117. Messner Couloir, Denali, AK

118. Rescue Gully/Orient Express, West Buttress Route, Denali, AK

119. The Ramp, Meteorite Mountain, Chugach, AK

120. The Sphinx, Chugach, AK

121. University Peak, South Face, St. Elias Range, AK

BONUS LINE: Mt. St. Elias, Alaska Panhandle, AK

TETONS 🇺🇸

145. Air Force Chute, Rendezvous Mountain, GTNP, WY

146. Apocalypse Couloir, Prospector’s Peak, GTNP, WY

147. Breakneck Face, Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

148. Broken Thumb Couloir, 25 Short, GTNP, WY

149. Bubblefun Couloir, Buck Mountain, North Face, GTNP, WY

150. Buck Mountain, East Face, GTNP, WY

151. Central Couloir, Cody Peak, BTNF, WY

152. Corbet’s Couloir, Jackson Hole, WY

153. East Hourglass Couloir, Nez Perce, GTNP, WY

154. Endless Couloir, Rendezvous Mountain, GTNP, WY

155. Four Hour Couloir, Shadow Peak, GTNP, WY

156. The Grand Teton, Chevy/Ford/Stettner Route, GTNP, WY

157. Grand Teton-Otterbody Route, GTNP, WY

158. Horseshoe Couloir, Rendezvous Mountain, GTNP, WY

159. Middle Teton Glacier Route, Middle Teton, GTNP, WY

160. Mile Long Couloir, Rendezvous Mountain, GTNP, WY

161. Newc Couloir, Buck Mountain, GTNP, WY

162. No Name Face, Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY

163. Once is Enough, Cody Peak, BTNF, WY

164. S&S Couloir, Jackson Hole, WY

165. The Sickle Couloir, Mt. Moran, GTNP, WY

165. The Skillet Couloir, Mt. Moran, GTNP, WY

167. The Sliver, Nez Perce, GTNP, WY

168. Son of Apocalypse, Prospector’s Peak, GTNP, WY

169. Spacewalk, Rendezvous Peak, BTNF, WY

170. Spock Chutes, Rendezvous Mountain, GTNP, WY

171. The Southwest Couloir, Mt. Moran, GTNP, WY

172. Teewinot East Face, GTNP, WY

173. Triple-A Chute, Upper Granite Canyon, GTNP, WY

174. Twice is Nice, Cody Peak, BTNF, WY

175. V Couloir, Prospector’s Peak, GTNP, WY

176. West Hourglass Couloir, Nez Perce, GTNP, WY

177. Zero G, Rendezvous Peak, BTNF, WY

REST OF THE U.S. 🇺🇸

178. Big Couloir, Big Sky, MT

179. Catch A Fire, Glacier Peak, Beartooth Mountains, MT

180. Chamonix Couloir, Beartooth Mountains, MT

181. Cold Fusion, Mount Timpanogos, UT

182. Führer Finger, Mt. Ranier, WA

183. Giant Steps Couloir, MT. Williamson, CA

184. Hellmouth Couloir, Alex Lowe Peak, Hyalite Canyon, MT

185. Hypodermic Needle, Thunder Ridge, Wasatch, UT

186. JC (Jesus Christ) Couloir, Sawtooth Range, Stanley, ID

187. McConkey’s, Palisades Tahoe, CA

188. North Couloir, Abiathar Peak, Absaroka Range, WY

189. North Couloir, McGowen Peak, Sawtooths, ID

190. North Couloir, Southern Sierras, CA

191. Northwest Route, Mt. Shuksan, Cascades, WA

192. Patriarch, Glacier Peak, Beartooth Mountains, MT

193. Pipeline Couloir, Snowbird, UT

194. Resurrection Couloir, Sawtooth Range, Stanley, ID

195. Split Couloir, Split Mountain, CA

196. Terminal Cancer, Ruby Mountains, NV

197. The Sickle, Horstmann Peak, ID

198. Y Couloir, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT

199. Avalanche Loop (and adjacent slide paths), Adirondack Park, NY

200. Goa, Stowe, VT E1/S/40°

201. Huntington Ravine , Mt. Washington, NH

202. Tuckerman Ravine, Mt. Washington, NH

EUROPE: Beyond the French Alps 🇪🇺

51. Aiguille d’Entreves/Glacier de Toula, Mt. Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

52. Brenva Glacier/South Face of Tour Ronde, Mt. Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

53. Cesso Couloir, Mt. Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

54. Helbronner Cables, Mt. Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

55. Marbree Couloir/Marbree Direct, Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

56. Passerelle Couloir Helbronner, Mt. Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

57. Toula Glacier, Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, Italy

58. Aigle Couloir, Courmayeur, Italy

59. Bonatti Couloir, Courmayeur, Italy

60. Grassi Couloir, Courmayeur, Italy

61. Balma, Alagna, Italy

62. Col d’Arp, Courmayeur, Italy

63. Dolonne Couloir (Hidden Valley), Courmayeur, Italy

64. Gran Zebru, Ortler Group, Italy

65. Holzer Couloir, Val di Fassa, Canazei, Italy

66. Joel Couloir, Sella Group, Dolomites, Italy

67 Likke Schloss Couloir, Alagna, Italy

68. Punta Vittoria, North Face 'Victory', Alagna, Italy

69. Val Mesdi, Sella Group, Dolomites, Italy

70. Val Scura, Sella Ronda, Val Badia, Corvara, Italy

71. Vallon Couloir, Val di Fassa, Canazei, Italy

72. Vesses Couloir, Courmayeur, Italy

73. Banana Couloir, Mont Gele, Verbier, SUI

74 .Bec des Etagnes North Face, Verbier, SUI

75. Bec des Rosses, Dog Leg, Verbier, SUI

76. Galtiberg, Engelberg, SUI

77. Grassen, Engelberg, SUI

78.. Marinelli Couloir, Monte Rosa, Zermatt, SUI

79. Mont Fort North Face, Verbier SUI

80. Mont Fort (Back Side), Verbier, SUI

81. Saleina Couloir, Saleina Glacier/Saleina Valley, SUI

82. Trifide Couloir/Couloir-N-d'Orny, Pointe d'Orny, Trient/Val d’Arpette, SUI

83. Bareges Campana Corredor, Pyrenees, FR

84. Dammkar, Mittenwald, Germany

85. Edelgriess, Dachstein, Austria

86. Ellendaltinden West Couloir, Lyngen Alps, Norway

87. Glockturm, Kaunertal, Tyrol, Austria

88. Kugy Couloir, Mount Jalovec, Tamar Valley, Slovenia

89. Neue Welt, Zugsptize, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany/Ehrwald, Austria

90. Oksehogget Couloir, Tamok, Norway

91. Pic du Midi, Pyrenees, FR

92. Piccolo Mangart, North Face, Julian Alps, Slovenia

93. Store Hesten Couloir, Senja, Norway

94. The Godmother of All Couloirs, Forholttinden, Lyngen Alps, Norway

95. WSW Couloir, Deep Cirque, Wetterstein/Karwendel Range, Mittenwald, Germany

96. Valluga, St. Anton, Arlberg, Austria

97. Couloir du Vermicelle, Cambre d'Aze, Pyrenees

98.

BONUS: Obergablehorn, North Face, Zermatt/Zinal/Val d'Anniviers, SUI

BONUS: Shkhara West, Southwest Couloir, Georgia, Caucasu

BONUS: Mont Blanc, West Face, the ‘Himayalan’ Face, Courmayeur, Italy



CANADA 🇨🇦

99. ¾ Couloir, Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, AB

100. Aemmer Couloir, Mt. Temple, Banff National Park, AB

101. Central Couloir, NW Face, Joffre PeakPemberton, Coast Range, BC

102. Combatant Couloir, Mt. Combatant, Waddington Coast Range, BC

103. Forever Young Couloir, Glacier National Park, Rogers Pass, BC

104. Mount Currie, Pencil & Central Couloirs, Mt. Currie, Pemberton, BC

105. Mount Sifton, Rogers Pass, BC

106.. North Bowl, Revelstoke, BC E3/S/45°

107. Owls Couloir/Owl's Jr., The Owls, Wedgemount Group, Pemberton, BC

108. Narrow Minded Couloir, Mt. Beluga, Baffin Island, Nunavut

109.. North Couloir, Copper Peaks, Rogers Pass, BC

110. North Face, Mt. Robson, BC

111. Polar Star Couloir, Mt. Beluga, Baffin Island, Nunavut

112. Saudan Couloir (Couloir Extreme), Whistler, BC

113. X Couloir, Mt. Whymper, Bow Valley, BC


COLORADO 🇺🇸

122. Contention, Lower Bear Creek, Telluride, CO

123. Dead Elk Couloir, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

124. Dragontail Couloir, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

125. Gnar Couloir, Silverton, CO

126. Grandfather Couloir, Little Wasatch Peak, Telluride, CO

127. Hairy Banana, Little Wasatch Peak, Telluride, CO

128. Heaven’s Eleven, Little Wasatch Peak (summit), Telluride, CO

129. Holy Cross Couloir, White River National Forest, Colorado

130. North Maroon Peak, North Face, Maroon Bells, CO

131. Palmyra Peak (summit), ,San Juan Mountains, Telluride, CO

132. San Joaquin Couloir, San Juan Mountains, Telluride, CO

133. Senior’s, Palmyra Peak, Telluride, CO

134. Serpent Couloir, Yellow Mountain, San Juan Mountains, Ophir, CO

135. Sheep Chute, Sheep Mountain (summit), San Juans, Trout Lake, CO

136. Silver Chute, Telluride, CO

137. Snake Couloir, Mt. Sneffels (summit), San Juans, Ridgway, CO

138. Suicides, Bear Creek, Telluride, CO

139. Tempter Chute, Bear Creek, Telluride, CO

140. The Grande, Silverton, CO

141. The Turkey Chute, Red Mountain Pass, Silverton, CO

142. Why Couloir, Little Wasatch Peak (summit), Telluride, CO

143. Wilson Peak, Northeast Face, San Juans, CO

144. Wire Couloir, Alta Lakes Basin, Telluride, CO

ARGENTINA, CHILE, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND 🇦🇷 🇯🇵 🇨🇱 🇳🇿

203. Caroline Face of Aoraki, Mt. Cook, New Zealand

204. East Face of Mt. Cook, New Zealand

205. Las Gemelas Couloirs, Cerro Chapelco, Argentina

206. Super C Couloir, Andes, Portillo, Chile

207. Mt. Yotei, Hokkaido, Japan

208. Yarigate (Y) Couloir, Hakuba, Japan

209.

210.

THE WORLD’S BEST SKI TOURS 🌎

Bernese Oberland Traverse, Bernese Alps, Valais, Switzerland

Bernina High Route, Pontresina, Switzerland

Bernese Oberland 4000m Peaks Tour, Konkordiaplatz, Aletsch Glacier, Switzerland

Ecrins Haute Route, Ecrins Mountains, France

Grand Paradiso National Park, Valsavarenche Valley, Aosta Valley, Italy

The Classic Haute Route, Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland

Haute Route, ‘St-Bernard’ Variant via Plateau du Couloir, La Folly to Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland

Haute Route Hjørundfjorden, Sunnmøre Alps, Norway

Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, West Fjords, Iceland

Lyngen Peninsula, Karlsoy, Norway

The Monte Rosa Traverse, Monte Rosa Massif, Italy/Switzerland

Ortler Ski Traverse, South Tyrol, Italy

San Juan Hut System, Sneffels Range, San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Silvretta Alps Traverse, Paznaun Valley, Austria/Switzerland

Spearhead Traverse, Fitzsimmons Range, Whistler-Blackcomb backcountry, British Columbia, Canada

Tour de la Meije, Ecrins Mountains, La Grave, France

Vallee Blanche, Normal Route, Mont Blanc Massif, Chamonix, France

Wapta Traverse, Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies

If there is no risk there is no adventure

Bill Briggs

The father of big mountain skiing in the U.S., and the first to ski the Grand Teton in 1971