Tolcats Couloir beckons to us as we drive in the Salt Lake valley. In the springtime, it's often a lonely strip of snow between Mt. Olympus' two peaks. Sure, skiing Tolcats requires a lot of hiking for a little sliding, but admiring that strip of snow from the valley will awaken memories for the rest of your life.

Although Tolcats averages a tame 32°, the shape of the couloir and the vegetation will encourage you to shift skier's left onto a steeper "apron" that extends the length of the run. This isn't a big deal, but it'll feel steeper than 32°.

Getting to Tolcats Couloir

It's sixes as to whether it is better to access Tolcats Couloir from the Mount Olympus trailhead or from Neffs. It's definitely shorter from the Mount Olympus trailhead, but it is a pain to get through the scrub oak to the top of Tolcats. And although it is a longer (and less steep) trek from Neffs, you'll have the option of skiing the Memorial Couloirs on the east side. It's also very reasonable to start at one of the trailheads and end at the other.

From the Mount Olympus Trailhead

Starting at the Mt. Olympus trailhead on Wasatch Boulevard, hike the summer trail until it makes a hard right-hand turn at the Tolcats stream (that's the first "stream" the trail crosses). Depart the trail and head up the stream bed (i.e., go left) until you reach the couloir. Keep your skis mounted low on your pack, or keep them in your hands, to get through the scrub oak. The vegetation often forces me looker's left. Depending on the snowpack, skin and/or boot up the couloir until you reach the saddle between the peaks. Smile as you ski back down.

From the Neffs Canyon Trailhead

Starting at the Neffs Canyon trailhead in Olympus Cove, head up the Neffs Canyon trail until it turns to the left (after about ten minutes). Keep heading straight ahead on the less-traveled skin track that heads up Norths Fork (and which is used to access the Memorial Couloirs). It isn't as easy to recognize as you might think, but at some point you'll come to the Mount Olympus Couloir which is the run on the east-side of the saddle at the top of Tolcats. Skin up this couloir (it's quite wide) and ski Tolcats on the other side of the saddle.

About the Name

It's nearly impossible for me to say Tolcats rather than Tolcat, but the USGS maps have shown the name as Tolcats since 1952. Who am I to disagree?