One of the most gratifying aspects of backcountry skiing in the Wasatch besides actually skiing, is showing off the awesome terrain and snow to people from out of town. It’s even sweeter when a visitor comes away with a full dose of stoke. It’s easy for Utah to provide, but timing on snow conditions can…
Tag: backcountry
Backcountry BASECAMP kicks off at Solitude
Backcountry Magazine is traveling around to North American resorts as part of their Backcountry BASECAMP 2016 Tour, and Solitude Mountain Resort is where the fun begins. From Saturday, January 16 through Monday, January 18, the editors of Backcountry Magazine, along with local avalanche forecasters, ski guides, AIARE instructors, and gear experts will be hanging out…
A backcountry skiing search for pow on Millvue Peak
After a massive snowstorm that dumped 5 feet of powder in the Wasatch on Christmas week of 2015, hordes of backcountry skiers tracked everything out that was low angle and safe. (High avalanche danger kept the smart ones off open bowls.) A week later, without any new snow, untracked slopes in the Wasatch became scarce….
5 favorite backcountry ski routes in Little Cottonwood Canyon
Utah’s Central Wasatch is often referred to as “Wasangeles.” Traffic jams in skin tracks, fighting for freshies, and even competing against guided skiers shuttled up to mountaintops by helicopter are all par-for-the-course here. This is especially true in Little Cottonwood Canyon. LCC is arguably the hub of ski touring in Utah, thanks to easy access…
Black Diamond Liquid Point shell review
Minimalist, light weight, and protective – these are elements I want when shopping for a backcountry ski shell. So far this season I’ve been touring in the Black Diamond Liquid Point shell. It’s an outer layer made from Gore-Tex Paclite, which is a fairly new, two-layer version that keeps the weather out, but breathes better…
Become a “Dirtbag Meteorologist” with Drew Hardesty
Ever wonder how weather geeks predict storms and snowfall in the Wasatch? Want to learn how you can do it yourself? With the Interwebz at our fingertips, and wise men to show us the way, you too can become what Drew Hardesty calls a “Dirtbag Meteorologist.” On Wednesday, December 16th, you can join the Utah…
Icebreaker Zone Base Layers Review
One of the most important things you can wear when skiing, is a good base layer. This is especially true with backcountry skiing where you are working out, sweating, and stopping a lot. There’s a plethora of material choices out there, but merino wool is far away my favorite. New this year, Icebreaker introduced Zone…
5 favorite backcountry ski routes in Big Cottonwood Canyon
The Central Wasatch is undoubtedly the hub of backcountry skiing in Utah. There is an amazing amount of backcountry ski terrain despite the range’s relatively small size, and much of it can be found in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Dozens of quality ski tours spread throughout the drainage and I love them all, but these are…
False sun dog, rotten hoars, and a thirst-driven mirage
I saw a sun dog today. A sun dog is a rainbow of color that encircles the sun. According to Wikipedia, “sun dogs are commonly caused by the refraction of light from plate-shaped hexagonal ice crystals either in high and cold or cirrostratus clouds or, during very cold weather, drifting in the air at low…
Happy with crappy on Utah’s 2015 ski season opening weekend
Maybe I’m just used to a lack of snow after years of below-average snowfall in Utah, because opening weekend at Alta was spectacular. Sure, there was only a 25-inch base and only a few intermediate runs were open, but I didn’t care. I had the time of my life just cruising groomers under the Collins…