Kindergarten Couloir

Left trailhead at 0630. Travel was quick on the icy hiking trail. Started boot packing at 0830. Stopped boot packing at 0945 at a shovelled platform at 2570m. Temp -4.5C, wind and precip nil. Clear skies. Did not feel the need to press on directly under a cornice for 30m to make the col. As we were transitioning to downhill we were noticing small sluffs coming off solar aspects down into the couloir. We also saw evidence of slab releases on nearby solar aspects (probably yesterday). Ski quality was terrible. Everything from wind slab, avalanche debris, bed surface, dry loose snow. Made for challenging turns. The fan was warm soft powder and by far the best skiing. After comparing notes with another party, we found the hiking trail to be the faster option for travel both in and out. Down in the creek bed, temps were already +5 by 1045. Back at trailhead by 1145. Start early, finish early.