Drainpipe

Drainpipe is one of the steeper, tighter ski lines dropping off the Great Gulf headwall on the north side of Mount Washington, in the Great Gulf Wilderness. It sits in the same cirque as Hallway, Pipeline, Airplane and Turkey Chute, and is a favorite for strong parties once coverage is solid in late winter into spring.

Most parties access the line from the Mount Washington Auto Road when it is open, skinning or booting from a pullout near the Clay Col area and traversing on foot toward the Great Gulf rim. From the rim, the entrance to Drainpipe is less obvious than Hallway or Airplane; expect to poke around along the corniced edge to locate the correct slot, and be prepared to back off if you cannot identify it cleanly.

The line runs in a confined gully with a distinct lower choke that can require careful downclimbing or veggie belays when coverage is thin. Overhead hazard from cornices and wind-loaded slabs is significant, and the gully often holds old debris. Treat it as full alpine terrain: assess wind loading, watch for runnels and undermined snow late season, and have a solid plan for climbing back out or continuing down the Great Gulf if conditions change.

When the Auto Road is closed, a longer approach from the Great Gulf Trailhead on NH 16 puts you under the same headwall but turns this into a big, serious day with complex route-finding and avalanche terrain from treeline up. Check current avalanche and weather forecasts for the Presidential Range, and respect all Great Gulf Wilderness regulations. More area info: USFS White Mountain National Forest.