Ski Partners

In states such as Montana, most don’t think twice to load the Dogs in the back of the truck when they head out to backcountry ski. Utah does not have this luxury. Both Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon are designated “Water Shed Areas” which is really another term for “ No Dogs.” Don’t get me wrong, with the amount of backcountry ski travel these canyons see, if everyone brought their dogs, it would border on ridiculousness. By venturing out of the Cottonwood Canyons into places such as the Oquirrh Mountains, Emmigration Canyon, and the Snowbasin periphery, I have had the opportunity to tag along with Scoob and Mayes. The dogs make especially good ski partners when heading out for Solo Missions (no other humans). They are great at testing snow stability, no bitching, and best of all they ward off fellow skiers trying to poach lines.

Scoob trying to go for a free ride on the skin track.

Screw the view, Lets huck the cornice!

Mayes scouting her line.

Scoob stomps on the snowmobile track.

Here is another one of my wack narratives. Luckily I watch these videos before I post and make sure I veto it so I don't bore everyone. I threw this one in because the dogs make up for the boringness.

Howling

This is the only photo that I took while chilling in the parking prior to a full moon journey in the Uintas on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. My photography skills are extremely weak making it next to impossible to get any kind of blog worthy photos while skiing at night. Anyway, I don't think any photo would do full moon skiing any justice.

Since discovering the joys of full moon skiing a few years ago, I have become a fan. I have been able to get out on numerous full moon expeditions, including three nights last season. This year all the full moons had fallen on storm nights and I was beginning to think it wasn’t meant to be.
The month of March proved to be different. With a couple of feet falling the day before the full moon and a clear night forecasted, I knew it was on. I got the call from Stoy “ Hey, Full Moon in the Uintas, you in?” “Hell Yeah!”

Alex was able to rally a crew of 10, almost unheard of if you ask me. We had a relaxed skin up with multiple breaks to have a few drinks of whiskey, wine, and beer. Then skied an amazing shot with perfect creamy powder, made even better with the beautiful moonlight. It was so good we had to go for seconds. The out was interesting to say the least, a stout zipper crust, made for a couple miles of snow plowing. Made it back to the trailhead by 1 a.m. and was in bed by 2:30 a.m. and then up at 6:30 a.m. for work. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open at work, but couldn’t wipe the smile off my face from such an epic night.

Canada

A preview of the movie Larry is editing of our trip to Canada last year.

I Give it a Y

Larry and I got the opportunity to ski the Y-Couloir in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The Y is a true Wasatch Gem in that offers 3,200 ft. of vertical at a consistent 40° pitch. Getting to the top of the Y is fairly simple. Load your skis on your pack and start bootin. The Y is the true Stairmaster.
Just about the time I thought I was core for hiking the Y, I was quickly slapped in the face, when a crazy Euro dude popped his head over the summit. He had hiked up in Timberland work boots and ripped blue jeans, not to mention he was lacking a sliding apparatus to get him back down. Yes, he hiked down the same boot pack that he came up in.

The Y Couloir in all its Glory

At this point I was really wishing Larry would have fixed the hole in his pants.

Coal Pit Headwall. It's on the list.

Are you sure I am going the right way?

Larry testing out the rocks of the Y.

Larry checking out the traffic jam on LCC Road.

Which way do I go?

Never Summer

Check out Craig's new website:

http://www.endlesswinteradventures.com/

How long will the ski streak last?

Life Balance

What I did before work today. Utah What?

Sick of it All

I am sure you are all sick of my blogs about skiing, but it is hard to write about anything else when the Wasatch is just this good. The storms have been consistent and the snow deep. The College Crew rolled in for the weekend and awoke to a foot or more of fresh at The Bird. I heard quite a few "That was the best day of the year" comments at the Condo that night. Needless to say, I was excited the others got to sample the Utah goods, that us locals sometimes take for granted.

Mark from Boise was the only one in the house that came with backcountry gear and a split board. Yes, he was rewarded.

Mark felt out a fairly large stump in the white room on this run.

Northwest Face of Silver Fork (Check out the nuking winds coming off the ridge. If you look closely at the right hand side, you can see the wind slab Mark set off.

A closer view of the wind slab debris

Before I met up with Skiapalooza Posse, I had a roomate day in the Basin Backcountry. The roomates and I had one of those days with bluebird skies and perfect snow. We even got the rare opportunity to ski the Fingers. The Fingers are a zone of chutes off Mt. Ogden. They rarely open as they are often chalked with avy debris, contain variable snow, and develop huge cornices. However, today was the day, as they opened for only 2 hours with ideal conditions.

Crow finishing off his run in Cold Water Canyon with Style.

It had been a couple of days since the last storm, but the snow still had the usual Wasatch Charm. Crow tests it out in Hell's Canyon.

Lacey, Saves lives at night and slashes Pow by day

Me, Finishing out the Cold Water run and headed for a little bushwack(I am going to dedicate a future blog to this term)

Getting amongst it in the Wicked Witch.


With all the snow flying around I was due a mental health day. I headed out with Larry and Chris for an ascent of Mt. Wilson My mental health was restored with the 2 ft plus of fresh that welcomed us on Wilson.

I got a lot of crap for the self portraits I posted in my last blog, but I couldn't pass this one up since I was sporting some nice Sweatcicles.

Sweet Terrain of Mt. Wilson