Tag Archive for 'Wasatch'

The Hallway Couloir

Published on March 7, 2013 by a ok.

Monday was at least my fourth, if not fifth time down the Hallway Couloir. As Wasatch ski lines go, I think I’ve only skied the Pfeiff’s NW Couloir, The Heart of Darkness, and a few of the lines off Baldy (Main, Little, Perlas) quite so repeatedly. Maybe Granny’s, too?

What makes the Hallway stand out from all other ski lines I’ve ever descended is this little tidbit: I’ve always managed to land it in awesome powder. A foot deep, minimum, every time. Top to bottom.

Courtney swims down some pow in the Hallway.

Nothing else I’ve skied has this distinction. Not sure why this line has been so good to me (I don’t mind, really!), but I’ve quite enjoyed each visit. Probably just Continue reading ‘The Hallway Couloir’

Located in Wasatch 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Y-Not Couloir

Published on February 18, 2013 by a ok.

You gotta listen to your gut. Whether it tells you to pet that alligator, or to change your ski plans for the day, there really isn’t a great cause for second guessing yourself. So when Eli Kerr showed up this morning and wanted out on our original plans, I simply suggested something else. You know, something safe, like the Y-Not Couloir. He was down.

The Wasatch’s Y-Not Couloir, complete with its obstruction low in the line.

Since this was a middle of the night change of plans, I expected we’d have the Why Not, including the Y Couloir approach, to ourselves. However, Mike and Jason pulled in and caught us at a rocky section as I was fumbling through a tougher than necessary section through the rocks. After I watched them stroll up the line on the side that I’d just abandoned, I headed over and followed suit, advising Eli that an ice ax might provide some comfort.

Once we caught up Continue reading ‘Y-Not Couloir’

Located in 03 Adventures and Wasatch 10 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Powder Farming Pictorial

Published on December 27, 2012 by a ok.

Much as it’s a little disconcerting to say, powder skiing and agricultural farming have one or two things in common. In each, the ‘farmer’ picks a plot of land from which to cultivate. Preferably a plot on which there are no other farmers. This is followed by the setting of the first track, around which many, many laps are then made.

From this point, the similarities diverge slightly, while following a similar arc. For an agricultural farmer, the bounty rises out of the ground some months later. Fortunately, the powder skiing farmer enjoys a virtually instantaneous bounty. Unlike agricultural farmers, powder farmers receive no government subsidies for their hard work and long hours. They simply enjoy the profits of their labors on the spot.

Jason enjoys the bounty.

Since Ullr has Continue reading ‘Powder Farming Pictorial’

Located in 14 Pictorials, Going Light(er) Fast(er) Far(ther) and Wasatch 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Checking the Goods at Snowbasin

Published on October 26, 2012 by a ok.

Permission slips in hand, J-Bo and I headed to Northern Utah for more field tripping today. I shared the previous day’s Powder Mountain beta and urged a different location for the day’s shredding. Snowbasin, located just a few miles from Powder Mountain, seemed likely to offer up nearly as much snow, and perhaps a little less groomer chop if we were lucky.

We were lucky. Yes.

Turns out we were very lucky and scored our skiing without much interference from groomers, although one did make an appearance eventually. In the meantime, Continue reading ‘Checking the Goods at Snowbasin’

Located in 03 Adventures, 10 Road Trips and Wasatch 9 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Powder Mountain

Published on October 25, 2012 by a ok.

Powder Mountain was all over the Utah news Wednesday. While LCC got a dusting of the white gold overnight, Powder had landed a priceless dump of the fine. With another foot slated to hit the north Wednesday night, I calmed my giddiness as best I could while pulling some gear together. A field trip was in order.

No truer words did I see today.

I’ve never visited Powder Mountain before, but I have to admit I think the resort owners landed one of the premium names in the Wasatch Range. However, as I inspected the sign on whatever summit I landed on after some knee to thigh deep trailbreaking, Continue reading ‘Powder Mountain’

Located in 03 Adventures and Wasatch 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

Pinball Alley (and Friends)

Published on May 14, 2012 by a ok.

Pinball Alley. Not a very wide alley.

Landed a decent photo of Pinball Alley when I was on Cardiff Peak with J-Bo last week, and it looked continuous upon inspection. Why wait? The days aren’t getting any shorter or colder. I proferred ski options during the invite process. Jason offered his own, suggesting ‘continuous pow.’ Hmm. Presuming that he preferred to avoid using the lengthy shoelaces for a descent, we agreed easily upon Mount Superior’s Pinball. It was a good choice, even if it didn’t offer either of his chosen descriptors.

We met up at the Park n Ride at 7am, and, following a quick drive up the canyon, were quickly in position to ascend. We agreed that booting looked favorable, and left skins in the auto. Some mixed walking – snow, then talus, then snow again – found us at the base of the couloir in short order. We donned crampons, pulled out ice axes, and began to ascend. Because there are shadows cast on the looker’s left half of the line, we found that snow to be quite firm. The snow on the right half was soft corn. Sticking Continue reading ‘Pinball Alley (and Friends)’

Located in 03 Adventures, Going Light(er) Fast(er) Far(ther) and Wasatch 8 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .