Dragon's Tail Couloir CLASSIC Colorado Snow Climb Guide - Rocky Mountain National Park

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  • čas přidán 6. 03. 2022
  • Dragon's Tail Couloir is a classic snow climb and ski/snowboard line on Flattop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. After a few failed tries, it was great to finally check this one off my list. This was filmed in late May and I wouldn't wait too much longer in the year to check-this one off your list unless a late season snow storm refreshes conditions.
    Read a more detailed trail guide on this hike on my website: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/drag...
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Komentáře • 49

  • @TheVirtualSherpa
    @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +3

    Read a full guide on this classic here: www.thevirtualsherpa.com/dragon-tail-couloir-colorado-snow-climb-guide/

  • @dancer1
    @dancer1 Před 2 lety +3

    Yes another vid

  • @captainkielbasa5471
    @captainkielbasa5471 Před rokem +1

    ROCK STEP this past weekend was huge

  • @bikesbeer1578
    @bikesbeer1578 Před 2 lety +1

    Just found your channel. Arguably one of the best hiking channels - especially for Colorado residents - on CZcams.

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      Thanks, really appreciate it and welcome. Check out my website as well: thevirtualsherpa.com/

  • @emilywein8956
    @emilywein8956 Před rokem

    Just did this line (I did the other line west of it).
    It was deja vu for your conditions. Some sketchy snow bergschrund things.
    Completely bare top out as well.

  • @emilywein8956
    @emilywein8956 Před 2 lety +1

    Climbing this line in 2 weeks. Excited.

  • @ManivanAdventures
    @ManivanAdventures Před 2 lety +5

    Wow… beautiful! These videos are always so epic!

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      These ones are my favorite type to make as well, can't wait for more spring lines.

  • @rachabob1879
    @rachabob1879 Před 2 lety +3

    I’ve been in that area countless times and I never knew that was a route, great climb! You should try some of the combo routes in Upper Glacier Gorge this summer. Arrowhead, McHenry’s, Spearhead, and Chief’s Head is a fantastic one

  • @jackG1207
    @jackG1207 Před 2 lety

    Thank you for your time and effort in guiding us through this adventure!

  • @markdesaint-rat4905
    @markdesaint-rat4905 Před 2 lety +1

    Saw it in summers '75 and '76(just a couple of days post Big Thompson flood) on a walk up from Bear Lake to the last of the little lakes beneath Hallets Peak but lots less snow at that time of year. A bit like the Chimney beneath Pamola but it only had one chunk of ice in it that I saw in July '79.

  • @farbeyonddriven8173
    @farbeyonddriven8173 Před 2 lety +1

    Thanks for the effort! This shoulder season stuff is my favorite!!

  • @andysechrist8149
    @andysechrist8149 Před 2 lety +1

    Nice! Beautiful views. Hope you keep this channel going Mickey.

  • @rugged9769
    @rugged9769 Před 2 lety +1

    Super cool man. Love RMNP all seasons

  • @mrsp2188
    @mrsp2188 Před 2 lety

    Gorgeous views! Hope to see it in person one day.

  • @BrentAllen
    @BrentAllen Před 2 lety +1

    this is such a cool video what a sweet hike with some awesome views. thanks for creating this I'm hoping to hike that area within the next couple weeks down by the lakes

  • @alland1732
    @alland1732 Před 2 lety

    Emerald lake was the highlight of my trip to RMNP last summer! A beautiful and awe inspiring video, I could never have imagined such an insane route without you! I look forward to exploring more of the park in the future

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety

      Hope go get more stuff in there - Rocky is very under explored by me.

  • @mariafritz7290
    @mariafritz7290 Před 2 lety +1

    That looks epic!!

  • @seankelly3573
    @seankelly3573 Před 2 lety +1

    Epic!

  • @mrmotatohead
    @mrmotatohead Před 2 lety +1

    feeeed the algorithm

  • @JamesJones-oz8hi
    @JamesJones-oz8hi Před 2 lety +1

    Keep it up!!!!

  • @jzoop1
    @jzoop1 Před 2 lety

    Nice climb, I had never heard of it before but looks steep. Easy decent with a board.

  • @ianholl9100
    @ianholl9100 Před 2 lety +1

    6:10 is an epic shot!

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      Hard to go wrong with the environment and lighting are A+ - such a dramatic backdrop.

  • @mickeybrumfield764
    @mickeybrumfield764 Před 2 lety

    Spectacular views up there, don't see how anyone could snowboard down that couloir.

  • @briandaly501
    @briandaly501 Před 2 lety

    I’ve done in October good times

  • @devonbailiff
    @devonbailiff Před 2 lety

    Great video as always - what date was this climb on?

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety

      9:41

    • @devonbailiff
      @devonbailiff Před 2 lety +1

      @@TheVirtualSherpa May 2021? I heard you mention that date but thought maybe it was altitude brain talking since it was just uploaded lol

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety

      Yeah from may of last season - I’m rarely posting things in real time but everything I post has a full guide on my website and if you scroll down to the hike route - it has the date there

    • @devonbailiff
      @devonbailiff Před 2 lety +1

      @@TheVirtualSherpa you’re the man!

  • @dansouth2088
    @dansouth2088 Před 2 lety

    Can this route be done in Summer?

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      Most couloirs are hit or miss - you def need snow if that’s the question. This one usually stays “in” aka doable until June but after that I wouldn’t wait too much longer because of the issues I mentioned in the video. Totally depends on the winter before though.

    • @dansouth2088
      @dansouth2088 Před 2 lety

      @@TheVirtualSherpa - Perfect, thanks much!

  • @davidlaubhan8346
    @davidlaubhan8346 Před 2 lety

    Do you ever plan on attempting Satan's ridge?

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      Not in the plans right now, I am all for good ridge lines but ones that can kill you very easily, not so much. Rock quality is my biggest concern on that one.

    • @davidlaubhan8346
      @davidlaubhan8346 Před 2 lety

      Ya It looks a little extreme! Sorry about your loss man I feel for you my grandpa passed away last week .

  • @jerrywinborn8530
    @jerrywinborn8530 Před 2 lety

    𝖕𝖗𝖔𝖒𝖔𝖘𝖒 💋

  • @AdamJPaul89
    @AdamJPaul89 Před 2 lety +1

    Your write-up omits any disclaimer about wandering into avalanche territory, aside from references to avy debris. Considering this video is posted in prime avy season and wet slides are just around the corner, you should at least add a link to the CAIC site, since triggering an avalanche could be fatal: www.avalanche.state.co.us/

    • @TheVirtualSherpa
      @TheVirtualSherpa  Před 2 lety +1

      Good call - not sure why I did omit that info or at least talking about it in the vid.

    • @Wanderlust073
      @Wanderlust073 Před 2 lety

      Ridiculous call out. Anyone attempting this would know already, and this was clearly shot late spring/early summer.

    • @AdamJPaul89
      @AdamJPaul89 Před 2 lety

      @@Wanderlust073 it’s not ridiculous. This guy puts a lot of effort into giving a thorough review of routes and risk, so viewers can make judgement calls about whether or not something is in their ability. To omit such a huge variable in safety is pretty surprising. All it takes is one Jerry from Nebraska to trigger a slide and cause an accident. Avy safety is such a specific bit of knowledge that not many people have, so at least posting the forecast link would be wise. Also, this video isn’t just available in the spring time, and people may be tempted to try it right now in March, and end up getting themselves or someone else killed.

    • @AdamJPaul89
      @AdamJPaul89 Před 2 lety

      This video, which is more of a Skimo perspective (but many ski mountaineers climb this en route to the descent) goes into a lot of detail about the route and its hazards, and is told by locals: czcams.com/video/_OPJUCG4d60/video.html