A Couloir That Hides Its Fury in Plain Sight
Carved into the north face of Mount Cheops in Canada’s legendary Rogers Pass, the STS Couloir begins high on a cold, shadowed wall around 2,580–2,600 m and plunges to roughly 2,100–2,300 m. Over more than 700 vertical metres, it holds a line that is as serious as it is beautiful steep, dark, narrow, and deeply committing.
The entry often hovers near 55–60°, shaped by cornices and rime that demand absolute clarity and deliberate movement. Below, the couloir relaxes only slightly to ≈45–50°, guiding you through a long, quiet, rock-walled chute where every edge set echoes off granite.
Access: A True Backcountry Approach
Snow, Shape & Seasonal Personality
A true north-facing couloir, STS holds winter deeper and longer than almost anything else in the zone.
- Slope: Sustained 45–55°, with short sections approaching 60°.
- Choke Width: Typically 8–20 m, depending on wind loading.
- Length: ~700 vertical m (≈2,300 ft).
- Hazards: Significant wind slabs, overhead avalanche hazard, large cornices, hidden rocks, variable surfaces, and long no-fall terrain.
Cold, shaded walls preserve snow well, but the same exposure makes the line sensitive to wind and storm cycles. Stability is everything here.
The OGSO Spirit in the Big
Difficulty
A high-consequence, high-commitment north-face descent requiring strong mountaineering skills, precise steep-ski technique, and rock-solid decision-making.