Located on Lone Peak at Big Sky Resort in Montana, USA, the Big Couloir drops about 1,400 feet down a sustained 45–50° face, one of the steepest inbounds runs in North America.
Not all couloirs are created equal. Some close in tight, others twist into hidden corners of the mountain. But the Big Couloir stands apart for its scale, broad, steep, and demanding. To drop into the Big is to accept exposure on a grand stage, where every turn is magnified by the space around you.
A Couloir That Lives Up to Its Name
With slopes sustained around 45–50°, the Big Couloir is exactly what its name suggests: a wide alpine corridor that dares you to open up your skiing while never letting you forget the consequences. Here, there is no easy way down. The gradient is relentless, the line uncompromising.
The Snow Writes the Story
Mountaineers know the truth: the Big Couloir is not defined by its walls, but by its snow. Catch it after a storm and you may float turns across a canvas of powder. Arrive later, and the wind will have hardened it to chalk or ice. This variability is the essence of the line—it rewards patience, timing, and respect for conditions.
Exposure in the Open
Unlike narrow gullies where rock walls press in, the Big Couloir exposes you to the full face. It is wide, yes, but it offers no comfort. The run-out below reminds you constantly of the seriousness. Skiing the Big demands stability at speed and the ability to hold long arcs when the terrain tempts you to accelerate.
Why This Line Matters
For mountaineers, the Big Couloir represents the challenge of skiing open steep faces where control, rhythm, and balance define success. It is less about threading a needle, more about mastering a wide and demanding slope where your skiing is fully visible, to yourself most of all.
The OGSO Spirit in the Big
At OGSO, we look to lines like the Big Couloir for inspiration. Its combination of width, steepness, and exposure is exactly what shapes the design of skis like the Big Solid Tour. Strong, stable, and powerful, it’s built for mountaineers who thrive on space yet need absolute control. The Big Couloir doesn’t forgive hesitation, and neither should your equipment.
The Big Couloir is a test of scale and composure.
It rewards those who arrive ready, who respect its snow, and who ski it with both strength and restraint. For OGSO, it is a line that embodies the spirit of big-mountain touring: bold, open, and demanding respect every turn of the way.