Coalpit Headwall

Approach: Coalpit 4 -> Bells Canyon -> West ramp of North Thunder Peak

1/21/23

~5 miles, 5200’

Not a standard approach to the headwall, but one worth doing! After the coalpit 4 booter, it’s generally easy skinning all the way to the top of north thunder. Good way to get away from the crowds, and no shuttle needed.

6:15 am start. Bit of bushwacking to begin with but nothing crazy. Good existing booter up coalpit 4 for the most part. Great way to start the morning!

Sunrise on sunrise and the twins.

Beautiful Bells Canyon. Relatively easy sidehill traverse out the back of coalpit 4, followed by excellent skinning up mellow rolling terrain. Not a single track on a sunny Saturday with great snow.

Heading up west ramp of north thunder peak. Lone peak in the background.

NE face of lone peak. Looking good!

Broads fork twins from near the top of north thunder.

NW couloir of the pfeifferhorn.

Sea of clouds in the valley.

Many people near the summit of N thunder (approaching via the needle booter), quite a change from hours of peace in Bells Canyon. The cornice was already cut, which made for easy entrance to the headwall. We skied the westernmost chute off the headwall, which only had a few tracks. I was lucky enough to ski first and was able to get untracked conditions all the way down. The skiing conditions were excellent! The above photo shows our tracks from the top, taken by Brandon Thomson.

Our tracks.

Can’t ask for better conditions for this line! Photo: Brandon Thomson

Stoked for more pow!

Into the sea of fog above the waterfall.

The waterfall section. Relatively straightforward with a good fixed rope in place.

Definitely recommend this route as an alternative to the more standard approaches (white pine, hogum, Y).

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