couloir

couloir

A hiker carefully navigates the narrow couloir between two steep rock faces.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A deep, narrow gully or ravine: In geography and geology, a "couloir" is a steep, narrow gorge or cleft in a mountain, often formed by erosion or glacial action. It is typically found in alpine or mountainous terrain.
    • A passage or corridor: In mountaineering, a "couloir" refers to a steep, narrow passage or chute on a mountain slope, often used as a route for climbing or skiing. It can be filled with snow, ice, or rock debris.
Usage Examples

  • Geography/Geology:

    • The climbers descended into the couloir, a deep cleft between the rock faces. (A narrow, steep ravine in the mountain.)
    • A glacial couloir carved the valley over millennia. (A gully formed by glacial erosion.)

  • Mountaineering:

    • The team navigated the icy couloir to reach the summit. (A steep, narrow passage on the mountain.)
    • Skiers often traverse the couloir for a thrilling descent. (A narrow chute used for skiing.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to traverse a couloir": to cross or move through a narrow mountain gully.

    • The mountaineers carefully traversed the couloir, avoiding loose rocks. (They crossed the steep passage with caution.)

  • "a couloir of ice": a specific type of couloir filled with ice, often requiring technical climbing.

    • The expedition faced a dangerous couloir of ice near the peak. (An icy gully that posed a hazard.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Couloir (n): the only standard form; no common variants. Related terms include ravine, gully, chute, but these are not direct variants.
  • Couloir is often used in French-derived mountaineering terminology, and may appear in compound phrases like snow couloir (a couloir filled with snow).
Synonyms
  • Gully: a narrow, steep-sided valley or ravine.
  • Ravine: a deep, narrow gorge, often formed by flowing water.
  • Chute: a steep, narrow passage or slope, especially in mountains.
  • Cleft: a split or fissure in rock.
Related Idioms

  • "find a couloir": an idiom used in mountaineering to mean discovering a viable route through difficult terrain.

    • After hours of searching, they found a couloir that led to the ridge. (They discovered a narrow passage as a route.)

  • "couloir of danger": a figurative expression meaning a perilous situation, derived from the physical danger of steep mountain passages.

    • The negotiations entered a couloir of danger as tensions escalated. (A precarious stage in the discussion.)