couloir

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The Word of the Day for January 6 is:

couloir   \kool-WAHR\   noun
     : a steep mountainside gorge

Example sentence:
     During our helicopter tour of the mountain range, we saw 
several snowboarders taking on the steep terrain of the 
couloir.  

Did you know?
     "Couloir" entered English in the 19th century from French, 
where it literally means "passage." The term was originally 
applied specifically to steep gorges in the Alps and later to 
similar gorges elsewhere, especially ones used by skiers as 
passages down mountains. Because of their narrowness and 
steepness, couloirs can be dangerous terrain even for expert 
skiers. In fact, journalist Jim Kochevar, writing of his 
experiences at the Telluride ski area for the _Chicago Tribune_ 
in October 1997, declared (tongue in cheek) that "Couloir is 
French for 'cold, narrow place to die.'"