For moderate backcountry travelers, skiing the East Couloir of Kessler Peak can be a character building experience. First there is the steep 3,000 foot climb up a massive avalanche path called Argenta that leads to the top of Kessler. Then the couloir awaits. The East Couloir is something one may not ski normally due to avalanche danger….
Tag: backcountry
Backcountry skiing Circle All Peak
Circle All Peak, located at Butler Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon, is the first place I went backcountry skiing in Utah. As a result, it is still one of my favorite places to go, especially when the avalanche danger is high. Butler Fork has few large terrain traps, is at a lower elevation and there…
Backcountry ski touring at Catherine Pass
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…
Buy discount lift tickets and help the UAC
The Utah Avalanche Center, or UAC, is a vital, life-saving organization for anyone who enjoys winter recreation in Utah’s mountains. With an experienced team of expert avalanche forecasters, they work out in the field analyzing snowpack, making judgements about avalanche danger, then reporting back to all of us via their website and telephone hotline. Without…
Avalanche awareness course offered at Solitude
The Wasatch front is experiencing high avalanche danger this season, which is a good reminder that backcountry travelers need the knowledge and skills to stay alive in avalanche terrain. Backcountry skiing has exploded in the past few years, and in response it seems every ski resort, including Solitude, is hosting an avalanche awareness course. With…
First annual Freeride Avalanche Summit to benefit UAC
Snowbird and the Utah Avalanche Center are teaming up this year to present the first annual Freeride Avalanche Summit. The event will consist of two-day clinics designed for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders who are looking to explore the backcountry and need professional instruction on avalanche awareness, safety and rescue.
Solitude wants to consume Silver Fork Canyon
As a skier who enjoys riding both in the backcountry and at resorts, I have mixed feelings when stories are told of resorts trying to expand their acreage by overtaking pristine mountain landscapes. On one hand, I think it would be awesome to have new in-bounds terrain to explore. On the other hand, I’d hate to see lift towers and crowds swarming what was once a favorite area for backcountry enthusiasts.
Marker Baron Backcountry Ski Bindings review
After 5 years of backcountry skiing on a pair of old Silveretta bindings, I decided it was time to invest in new ones. After some research, I settled on the Marker Baron bindings. Marker is well known for making quality alpine bindings, and last year they entered the backcountry arena with the Marker Dukes, a burly system that featured a DIN setting that went up to 16. Most skiers don’t require a DIN that high, plus the Dukes are heavy for an average backcountry setup, so this year they introduced a lighter binding called the Barons.
New Wasatch Canyons Master Plan may limit recreation use
The canyons of the Wasatch Mountains may look a bit different in the years to come as new land-use policies are being drafted to replace the Salt Lake County 1989 Wasatch Canyons Master Plan. The plan essentially is the Bible for how we use the land in City Creek, Emigration, Red Butte, Parley’s. Mill Creek, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons.
Re-educate at Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop
A good way to re-educate is to attend events that benefit the Utah Avalanche Center, which is the non-profit organization that works hard to save lives in Utah’s backcountry. They analyze the snow pack on a daily basis and report their findings to the masses so we can all make informed decisions before entering avalanche terrain. However, one problem Utah Avalanche Center faces is they are always operating on the financial edge, so fund-raising events are critical. In order to keep their heads above the fiscal snowpack, they have to rely on fundraising events throughout the year.