His star began to rise when he obtained the first ascent of the 3,000-foot North Face of Pakistan’s Nameless Tower (“Book of Shadows” VII, 5.10+ A4 W14). It should be noted that there are plenty of approaches to diverse terrain regardless of hazard conditions. Links ( ) appear next to names that link to WBSguide.com. When in doubt, hire a guide to show you the best the area has to offer. There’s no doubt that the Wasatch Mountains hold the goods in Utah — Little Cottonwood Canyon around Alta and Snowbird, Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton and Solitude, the Back Wasatch — all areas that are renowned for their conditions and proximity to one another. If you’re looking for slackcountry access, the Supreme lift will deliver you to the goods. Learn about the avalanche inclinometer. Stories from real people who are blending the outdoors with the everyday, the latest information about gear we love, advice to get you into a new activity or take your passion to the next level, and trip reports to help you plan your next adventure. Skiers from Canyons would likely still be allowed access to the backcountry and into Big Cottonwood from other access points within the ski area, such as through the current access point off the 9990 lift, virtually creating a massive, unpatrolled, easily accessible backcountry … Sign up for the 57hours newsletter and join our growing community of outdoor adventurers. Get off your plane in Salt Lake City and be plowing through fresh powder in under an hour Wasatch backcountry skiing. On the other side, the lines off of Mt. Northern Utah. See also: Red Baldy (west of Snowbird), Greens Basin (near Solitude), Mill D (south face of Big Cottonwood), Bountiful Peak (via Farmington Canyon), Ben Lomond and Willard Peaks (Ogden), Logan Peak, La Sal Pass (near Moab), Delano Peak (near Beaver). All rights reserved. Or, consider Backcountry Skiing Utah: A Guide to the State’s Best Ski Tours by Tyson Bradley, Backcountry Skiing in the Wasatch Mountains. NU also supports non-motorized winter recreation areas in the national forest. This is a mountain biking and hiking hotspot in the warmer months, so there’s ample snow covered trails to get where you need, Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes: Utah by Jared Hargrave, Grab a cup at Moab Coffee Roasters, where they roast their own beans, Get a pint and a burger at the family-friendly Moab Brewery. On the northside of the Ridgeline consider Dutchess Draw and McDonald’s Draw each with big, each skiable and mega on powder days. Next-door neighbors, they both have their own unique vibes . People who like trail running and mountain biking in the warmer months. There’s solid slackcountry access at the resort, and in the resort’s parking lot. It’s also a location where the right snow and avalanche conditions are essential for safe travel. WHERE TO BACKCOUNTRY SKI They can be hard to get to, there is little beta available, and snow conditions can be sketchy. Learn how the names were determined. The Wasatch Backcountry Skiing Map includes the names of more than 1,000 backcountry locations. There’s no doubt that the Wasatch Mountains hold the goods in Utah — Little Cottonwood Canyon around Alta and Snowbird, Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton and Solitude, the Back Wasatch — all areas that are renowned for their conditions and proximity to one another. Touring bindings allow a free heel for climbing that can clip in for descents. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The two mountains share a two-mile-long ridgeline that stretches from the top of Sugarloaf Pass, through to Baldy Shoulder, and then down to the bypass road. Backcountry Skiing Utah: A Guide to the State’s Best Ski Tours. 200" of snow at Brighton in JANUARY! I like skiing in Davis County as well. On snow days, when the resort skiers are doing their thing it’s the perfect time to check out backcountry options. All that snow, and tons of backcountry locations only 35 minutes from a major American airport make it easy to have the time of your life skiing the backcountry in the best snow around. Leave the crowds behind, and expand your skiing and snowboarding horizons! The mildly masochistic segment of the ski bum set. The defining part of a backcountry setup is the skins — flexible strips you slap on the bottom of your skis with hairs or fibers that grip the snow while you climb, then peel off when you’re ready to do what resort skiers pay all that money for. Backcountry skiing — aka ski touring, alpine touring, ski mountaineering, randonnée — is on the rise in Utah for its compelling mixture of exercise, adventure, first tracks, freedom and being free (once you’ve bought all the gear…). If you’re looking for an Alta and Snowbird backcountry trail map, you won’t find a better one than the Wasatch backcountry ski map mentioned above. Get the latest ski gear at Backcountry.com. Truth is, anyone can do it. Believe the hype! Snowbird routinely ranks as a top resort and its surrounding area ranks as a backcountry skiing paradise because there’s ample, varied and steep terrain everywhere you look. Not bad. When looking west from Snowbird it’s hard to miss the mass of peaks, ridges and chutes choking the skyline. But because of exposure to changing weather and uncontrolled snow and avalanche conditions, backcountry travel is inherently risky. Ski Utah’s Interconnect Tour is a way for advanced to expert skiers to explore the Wasatch backcountry. If you want to take full advantage of the area and head off-resort, Snowbird and Alta backcountry guides that offer day, weekend and week-long packages for all objectives. Think of backcountry skiing as analog skiing, tackling the mountain in its natural, uncontrolled state. With guides, skiers visit up to six resorts in one day and tackle backcountry skiing … Helping our customers find the right equipment to get them and their family skiing is our passion. More stuff. Compared to other areas, access here requires a good deal of effort and a big day but the reward of solitude and plethora of five-star terrain is unbeatable. This accomplishment made with his brother Damian in 2003 won them Climbing magazine’s Golden Piton Award. Some people gravitate toward the resorts since they’re bound to be in the areas with the most snow, though you’ll want to check their policies on walking up the hill. 1100’ at 50° for The Hypodermic Needle (approx. In upper White Pine, there’s the spectacular Glacier Bowl and the West Pass. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Drop-offs, chutes, bowls and lots of mellow tree skiing, There’s easy slackcountry access to some of the best backcountry in the US, complete with affordable single-ride lift tickets. While most people think of Utah as the Mecca for downhill skiers perhaps the best kept secret is its Nordic skiing! Season You’re out in it, away from the crowds, away from the ski patrol and avalanche control. Touring boots have an unlockable ankle for freer motion when climbing. Millicent provides runs that will take you all the way to Alta and Snowbird. Backcountry Stories. We send bi-weekly updates on new stories and trip discounts, 57hours mobile app is the easiest way to book a guide. Regardless, if you’re not too proud to take PCMR’s giant lift, the 9990, explore the southern half of the ridgeline and ski the classic Monitor Bowls or No Name bowl, all of which offer steep and sustained runs. For even more of an adrenaline rush, there’s Fantasy Ridge which requires a hike over very exposed terrain that leads to narrow shoots and other technical delights — all of which is just a short trek from the resort. The resort offers sidecountry access to challenging terrain in Honeycomb Canyon, where skiers can discover chutes and wide-open powderfields in Wolverine Cirque. It is imperative that you understand snow and avalanche safety, have checked the avalanche report and are capable to keep you and your party safe in the backcountry. Brighton Ski Resort offers inbounds uphill travel before regular operating hours when conditions permit. Each route includes the following elements: If you’re just starting, go with someone who knows what they’re doing to learn the ropes. Simply put, it’s a gem of a ski vacation destination where there’s plenty of skiable lines available after it’s more famous neighbors get tracked out. Be sure not to park there if not staying at the resort, look for legal parking on the road instead. While the majority of people may consider Moab primarily as a hiking and mountain biking locale, locals who know the area are taking advantage of its 12+ 12,000’ mountains for backcountry skiing objectives. Kenya, made three attempts on the highly coveted Pakistani peak Latok 1, done first ascents on the big walls of Baffin Island and climbed dozens of Bolivian and Peruvian peaks. Ample slackcountry and backcountry access; use Alta lifts or use the Alta parking lot and skin up! Splitboarding at Mill D in Big Cottonwood Canyon 12/20 & 24, 1500’ vertical for Short Swing or 2100’ for Reynolds Peak, Easy and rewarding. As with all books in this series, this Utah guide is designed for intermediate to expert skiers or boarders. All of these options and more are attainable with skins. Because we just made up the word ‘frontcountry’? 5000’ all told) and Sliver Couloir. Enjoy the expert service and the lightning-fast fulfilment to get you on the slopes with speed and style. The Chuting Gallery by Andrew McLean. 12 Must Ski Runs in Salt Lake City Stay up-to-date with the latest outdoor adventure stories and get exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox. The best month to ski in Utah is February. Utah Ski Gear was established in 2011 and we believe that skiing is for everyone. Skiing off the summit of superior should be a bucket list ski for any serious backcountry skier, with Cardiac Bowl to the north and the very intimidating South Face to the south. What else should we know before connecting you with the guide? Skiers and boarders flock to these mountains from all over the world to get a chance to ski the bone-dry "greatest snow on earth." Industry Website, The Ideal Vacation: Ski the Mountains, Explore the City. Take an avalanche safety course and always check local avalanche conditions before you head out. Just off of the Great Western Lift is Hidden Canyon which offers some of the easiest backcountry access you’ll find, and runs lasting for days after a storm. The summit ascent requires a lot of care and preparation (cliffs! "If you ski, ride, or hike in the Central Wasatch, you should own the Wasatch Backcountry Skiing Map." Willie has also set speed records in Africa on Mt. For those who’ve skied at Alta or Snowbird, it’s impossible not to draw an eye on Superior with its steep, white encased mass towering 3000’ above the Little Cottonwood Highway. All of our services — including ski area access, rentals, backcountry lessons, avalanche courses, and limited food and beverage — will be open. Ski Utah is dedicated to promoting the ski and snowboard industry in the great state of Utah. While you can get to the ridgeline directly from the resort, the terrain and its bowls and treelines are attainable from outside the resort, mostly on the Solitude and Brighton side of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Join thousands of outdoor enthusiasts subscribed to our newsletter! Does it help if we define frontcountry as any controlled ski area with lifts, signs, groomed runs, etc.? WHO BACKCOUNTRY SKIS? This area skis best either in the early or late season, when Alta Ski Resort is closed. One good thing to know about Alta: the resort doesn’t mind backcountry skiers using its snowcat route for backcountry access. *Backcountry skiing and riding can be very dangerous in Utah’s backcountry. Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are a haven for backcountry skiers. Another option for the area is Flagstaff Mountain and Upper Days Fork, which can be tracked out fairly quickly, but is still worth getting up early to hit skiable chutes, bowls and trees. Classic. Each day, hard-working ski patrols make the terrain inside of ski area boundaries extremely safe from avalanches. The local High Country crew that captured deep powder backcountry skiing in Colorado two years ago is now filming a follow-up. We’re excited to let you know that Bluebird Backcountry will resume our normal operations beginning this Thursday, January 14! Utah’s remote desert ranges, like the Stansbury Mountains, Henry Mountains and Abajo Mountains, are not generally thought of as backcountry skiing destinations. The terrain variety is impressive, both at the resorts and in the backcountry, More crowded than other spots on this list, Solitude Resort is smaller compared to others in the area, Lift tickets for slackcountry are priced well, Accommodations are limited, so be sure to book in advance, GREAT FOR SKIING BOTH ON AND OFF RESORT BACKCOUNTRY, Great slackcountry right off of Park City Mountain Resort, It’s a 3.5 hour drive from Salt Lake City. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in our emails. Utah Travel The drainage there also acts as a relatively safe harbor when avalanche hazard is elevated. Climbing and Skiing Solitude's Fantasy Ridge. The ski season in Utah usually kicks off mid-November and lasts through April. Splitboards are snowboards you can separate into skinnable skis for climbing. If there were a poster child for skiing in Utah, Mount Superior would be it. Utah native and Rad-Older-Brother archetype Layne Caldwell, who contributed anything useful you’ve read above, offers these observations: “The resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons already own the prime north-facing ski terrain, but there are many side canyons that still offer great skiing in the Central Wasatch. In fact, it’s skiable on all sides, which are comprised of steep, expert terrain where conditions need to be optimal before approaching anywhere near it. There’s paths everywhere and lots of trailhead options. (optional). Many of you are aware that we experienced a COVID-19 exposure last week. Willie is a fully certified IFMGA mountain guide and AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide, based out of Sandy, his home in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah with wife Liz. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security due to all the other skiers in the backcountry, more people means greater attention must be paid to snowpack and weather conditions. Heli-Skiing if you see someone ski touring without a backpack, you can ski between Alta and.! Designed for intermediate to expert skiers or boarders of pow ” showcased the variety of local terrain summit... Of the coldest and driest snow in the Central Wasatch as well as Mecca. Finish the ascent up the to the goods be plowing through fresh powder in under an Wasatch. For freer motion when climbing re just starting, go with someone who knows what they ’ re looking something. Because we just made up the word ‘ frontcountry ’ you start planning your next adventure!! 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