When it hasn’t snowed in weeks, many skiers (myself included) avoid resorts like the plague. When in-bounds skiing consists of scraping down styrofoam ramps and bruising the knees on icy moguls, the backcountry holds the only soft snow that can be found. Sheltered north-facing slopes were promising, but all other aspects were covered in sun…
Category: Backcountry
Two days in Mill D: A ski tour photo blog
Skiers like to say, “even when the skiing’s bad, it’s good.” In the case of backcountry skiing in Utah during a low snow year, a little creativity and knowing where to go can yield nice results; such as soft snow weeks after the last major storm. Even if there isn’t a face-shot in sight, being…
A contrast of conditions in Grizzly Gulch
After backcountry skiing in Grizzly Gulch twice in the last week, the difference in snow conditions was stark. The lack of snow, coupled with both sunny and cloudy days, wreaked havoc on the quality of the snowpack. The first day was bluebird with fine, recrystalized powder that was days old. There were a few sun-crusted…
Backcountry skiing the East Couloir of Kessler Peak
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….
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…
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.
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.
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.
Wasatch backcountry featured in ‘Cold Smoke Revisited’ (video)
Fall is the time of year that ski films tour across the country in an effort to allow skiers to come together and get stoked about the upcoming season. Dozens of new ski movies are screened in mountain theaters, to the delight of the fleece-clad masses. But the best ski movie released this year, if not the best movie ever made, can only be viewed online.