Embarking on a backcountry ski adventure in Utah’s Cottonwood Canyons now demands strategic parking planning. Long gone are the days of making last-minute decisions based on avalanche conditions or powder mornings for a dawn patrol. We now live (and ski) in a new world where advance devising is required. And in certain high-traffic areas, your…
Category: Backcountry
The Backcountry Dad Tax
What’s best to eat in the backcountry? It’s a subject that’s long been debated among friends in the skin track. Everyone’s tastes run the food gamut. My buddy, Mike D, is a connoisseur of fine mountain eats such as potato parmesan on naan bread warmed over a backpacking stove. Then there’s my pal, Adam, whose…
Featured Video: The WURL
The Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL) is an endurance test for Utah trail-runners. But that’s in the summer. In the winter, The WURL has never been done. The route is 58km of continuous ridgeline running/hiking/scrambling that forms a horseshoe around Little Cottonwood Canyon. Only the best athletes can complete the route in under 24 hours….
How to Raise Funds for Utah Avalanche Center During Covid-19
A chill the morning air, a dusting of snow in the mountains, and excitement for the annual Utah Avalanche Center fundraiser means fall is here. Except during the grotesque deformity that is 2020, the UAC Backcountry Benefit in the Black Diamond parking lot will be virtual this time around. COVID-19 caused cancellations for many non-profit…
Skiing Pipeline at Snowbird
The Pipeline at Snowbird is among the most difficult runs to ski in Utah. Not because it’s particularly hard or technical, but because it’s never open. As such, making turns down this iconic chute on American Fork Twin Peaks is a bucket list run for any skier or snowboarder who’s ever laid eyes on it….
Talking spring backcountry skiing with Let’s Get Out podcast
When the ski resorts shut down for the season and you want to keep making turns, the backcountry is your only option. Luckily, spring is one of the most fun and safest times to ski big peaks in Utah. I was invited to sit down and talk about spring backcountry skiing on the Let’s Get…
Best spring backcountry ski routes in Utah
Utah may be known for its world-famous powder, but spring is the best time to backcountry ski big lines in remote ranges. A more stable snowpack and warm, sunny weather are both advantages. But also consider that snow-bound roads melt out, allowing access to far-flung peaks. This time of year, you may be tempted to…
Backcountry skiing the Silver Fork Meadow Chutes
Overview The Meadow Chutes is a general term for the east-facing slopes of lower Silver Fork Canyon. The proximity of this backcountry terrain to Solitude Mountain Resort places it among the more popular spots for ski tours, especially since the wide-open meadows are easy to salivate over from the Eagle Express and Honeycomb Return chairlifts….
Know Before You Go Avalanche Courses now online
Utah’s early-season snowpack has monsters in the basement. It’s times like these (and any time you’re in the backcountry) that you need the tools to stay safe and avoid avalanches. But you need more than the proper gear. You also must possess knowledge. One way to get educated is through the new Know Before You…
Central Wasatch Commission and Alta dispute escalates
The dispute between Alta Ski Area and the Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) continues to escalate. On Wednesday, Alta sent emails to its subscriber list asking their pass holders to sign a petition in support of the resort. This after Alta was carved out of the Central Wasatch National Conservation and Recreation Act. In that email…