Nai Couloir

Dec 31st, 2024

With high hopes of stable cold storm snow Darrion and I headed off the Ledge basin to try for the “longest” couloir (about 400m vertical drop) in the Ledge/Sky Pilot group. Nai couloir is tucked away out of view from the rest of the basin, so we didn’t quite know what we were in for.

We rode up the gondola for the euro 9am start and skated along the nicely groomed road towards Sky Pilot. We then huffed up the skin track, trying to set a good pace with the crowds behind us.

Arriving into the basin we tried to set our sights on Ledgeling Couloir which we were planning to boot up for access to Nai. The fog blocked our view.

Another party rolled up with their sights set on the same line and we ended up booting Ledgeling all as a large group. Bit surprising for one of the more out of the way lines in the region, but it was still the Christmas holidays. At first we were a little disappointed to have to either change objectives or share the line, but I ended up being grateful for the bootpack. The other party had ascent plates, we would have been wallowing chest deep if it wasn’t for their tracks.

Arriving to the top of Ledgling couloir you head left (east) on the ridge over a small 3rd class rock step. You continue on the ridge to the summit of W Nai. From here you ski a short pitch down to the col between E & W Nai. Nai Couloir drops off north from this col.

Despite sharing the line and eating the other parties tracks, there was plenty of snow to go around. The snow was amazingly stable for how soft it was. Just spectacular conditions for steep couloirs, and an amazing way to bring in the new year.

Overall the line was quite moderate, most of it being below 40 degrees. The only steep part being the first turn from the entrance. The halfpipe shape channels the sluff to run far.

After the first section of the couloir it opened up for some spectacular powder turns, from here you can choose to exit one of two gulleys. We picked skiers L, which was the natural continuation of the line. We had some more spectacular turns down here all the way to the bottom of the basin.

After transitioning we skinned back out and found some fantastic powder turns through steep trees as we made our way back to the skin track.

Ripping back out on the road we arrived at the gondola shortly before sunset. Overall good timing and even better ski conditions, hopefully a sign of more to come this season!