The Vere Gap and White Chocolate Couloir from a Distance

This view from near Pequod Mountain shows the lower part of Vere's north ridge. We gained the ridge uphill of the broad snow couloir at the left (off left edge of photo), but did not, on that day, make it all the way to the top of the couloir; note the giant cornices. We had thought that the top of this couloir was the Never-Sun Col we were looking for (it wasn't; see next photo). We finally squeezed through this area via the flat section of the side ridge in the center of the photo. The cornices at right are the Houston Pass area. The next day we booted and skied the snowy couloir, which we called White Chocolate Couloir; it had sections up to 52 degrees, but was stable and would have worked as a descent route.