Coe Slide in Winter?

[Tramper Al]

Hey,

So, I was thinking about climbing up Coe Slide in a week or so. My aim is to reach Coe and South Brother summits and get home safely. I will probably plan to hike the loop counterclockwise rather than descending by the slide.

Anyone out there done this - or thought better of it?

Thanks in advance . . .

Picture - looking up
Picture - looking down

 

[spencer]

Al,

GO and I talked a lot about it during our trip and I think it would be awesome!!! There's no reason not to do it as long as everyone can wield an axe and crampons. It shouldn't be any worse than many other slides in the Whites... There is plenty of room along the less dangerous sides to head up and down.

that being said, I haven't done it. I will tell you that in unbroken snow, the trip to Coe and S. Brother via the other way is a VERY tiring day. Think our Bigelows day plus some.... I would go up the slide and then back down it and out your packed trail.

spencer

 

[Tramper Al]

Cool

Thanks, Spencer.

From my summer visit, I remember the slide as being more open slabs, not particularly steep, and broad enough to offer choices of path.

It would be nice if we could retreat back down our slide route if feasible. Maybe I should bring along 5 or 6 people to help me with the trail breaking, yes? And 1 more volunteer to keep the warm fires burning at Daicey Pond? Should be fun!

One in our party has apparently grown accustomed to having fixed ropes set up for her on mildly tricky pitches, but I hope we won't have to go quite that far on Coe.

 

[sli74]

Awww, come on now Tramper, you aren't going to treat me to a fixed rope? Do we have to sneak Frodo in to do the honors? Those fixed ropes are just so much fun ya know . . .

 

[el-bagr]

It would be nice if we could retreat back down our slide route if feasible. Maybe I should bring along 5 or 6 people to help me with the trail breaking, yes? And 1 more volunteer to keep the warm fires burning at Daicey Pond? Should be fun!

Looking for volunteers?

 

[Tramper Al]

Looking for volunteers?

Hah! Well as usual, my permit is full, but if you should happen to be skiing by at that time . . .

 

[SherpaKroto]

Looking for volunteers?

I don't think Tramper Al's idea of a route down Coe was a bunch of S's strung together

Al: There are 2 spots that would make me nervous: the very bottom "funnel" drainage on the slide (nowhere to go should an avalanche trigger above, and it would come right down it) and the very upper portion crossing left to right looking up. It might be advisable to cross the slide down low and ascend on the right. Just my random thoughts...

That being said, I've not done it in winter as you know. Good Luck!

 

[MichaelJ]

Oh, now you ask?


The picture from the top of the slide looks sooooo much better than the picture from the bottom.

I finally picked up DeLorme's Baxter Park Topo map to see where we're going. W00t!