The winter season in Utah is in full swing after a huge December storm plus a holiday storm dumped tons of snow on the Wasatch Mountains. Right now, incredible powder can be found (if you get there early.) Catherine Pass, at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, is one such area that is located at the end of Highway 210. Once there, park at the gate in the town of Alta where the plowed road ends and the groomed, snow-covered road begins.
After applying skins to skis and checking beacons, follow the machine-groomed surface that leads up to the summer cabins above Alta. The road winds in and out of the resort boundaries as it skirts the edge between in-bounds and backcountry. Grizzly Gulch soon comes into view on the right as Devil’s Castle looms in the distance on the left.
A few hours of walking uphill leads to the top of the pass itself. From here you can see Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon with Catherine Lake frozen in the valley below. The snow cover is usually good on the north side of Sunset Peak which can be accessed after a short climb up the ridgeline, about 450 feet to the top. At this point, there are several different chutes to choose from.
After making laps on Catherine Pass, one can see why it is so popular with backcountry skiers. It has very easy access with a low-angle approach leading to steep, fun chutes on the backside of Sunset Peak. The fact that it isn’t very steep also makes it a good place to snowshoe.
To get to Catherine Pass from Salt Lake City, drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road until it ends in Alta at the gate. Park on the side of the road, gear up, and ascend the groomed trail leading up the side of Alta Ski Resort. Continue up past Grizzly Gulch until you reach the pass. From here you can climb Sunset Peak to access the goods. Getting back to your vehicle is easy by skiing down the valley you came up, or by simply descending through Alta and stopping for a beer at Alf’s Restaurant on the mountain.
Of course, before heading out into the backcountry, always wear a beacon and bring a probe pole and shovel. Also, always check the avalanche report at: www.utahavalanchecenter.org.
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