For years, Moab has been a place for mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing trips taken from spring through the fall. Skiing has never entered into the equation, even though each time I laid eyes on the La Sal Mountains on the horizon beyond town I promised aloud that I would someday backcountry ski those…
Tag: backcountry skiing
Puffer Lake skiing in the Tushar Mountains
Skiing returned to the Tushar Mountains in Southern Utah when the defunct Elk Meadows ski resort was resurrected as Eagle Point a few years ago. But really, skiing never went away in the 10 years that Elk Meadows was an abandoned museum of unmoving lifts and unoccupied condos. Backcountry skiing has always been there, and…
Ski touring Frary Peak on Antelope Island
The rangers were waiting for us. We had just finished a day of ski touring on Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake, and one ranger in particular screamed up in his pickup, and slammed his government-issue long bed to a stop behind our cars, preventing our escape. He jumped out so fast you’d think…
Skiing powder in downtown Salt Lake City
Lake effect snow is a wonderful thing. We all know storms tracking across the Great Salt Lake soak up all that warm, salty water and puke it over the Cottonwood Canyons. But sometimes, once in a great while, a strange storm makes all that snow fall in the valley, and the foothills above downtown Salt…
Touring Serviceberry Canyon in the Oquirrh Mountains
Our traveling backcountry road tour recently brought us to the “other” mountain range of the Salt Lake Valley – the Oquirrh Mountains. After years of looking at these peaks every day and wondering what it would be like to ski them, Adam and I decided to stop the wondering and find out. We started the…
Backcountry Film Festival coming to Brewvies
The Backcountry Film Festival is returning to Brewvies Cinema Pub, and ski-touring specific films will once again be screened for all us freeheelers and lift shunners. This year it happens on January 24th. This year marks the 8th Annual Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, and promises to be a celebration of the winter spirit…
Friday Video: How Not to Perform an Avalanche Rescue
Every year, avalanche workshops around the country show videos to backcountry skiers of avalanches caught on tape. It’s great for education and as a scare-you-straight tactic while witnessing the immense power of snow sliding down a mountain. Usually the footage is captured on a GoPro that the victim is wearing. It’s not often that the…
Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie LT review
Outdoor recreation and military gear share quite a lot in common. From boots to packs, hydration systems and jackets, protecting people from the elements for extended periods of time during major activity is the MO of both. So it’s no wonder that many gear companies produce stuff that can make you feel like you’re either…
A winter attempt of Ben Lomond Peak
Winter is often the best time of year to bag a peak, as snow covers rocks and uneven terrain, making a simple walk on skis to the top of a mountain very easy. At the same time, winter can also be the worst time to bag a peak as snow and avalanche conditions can make…
Top Utah Outdoor Adventures of 2012
Choosing the top outdoor adventures of the year is a difficult task to do here in Utah. Our state is so full of amazing scenery and recreation opportunities that it’s near impossible to whittle all the trips you took in a 12-month period down to 5. But myself and Ryan Malavolta went back into the…