| Wasatch Backcountry Skiing Canyon |
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Geography
| Wasatch Backcountry Skiing   | 
| Page Type: Canyon Location: Utah, United States, North America Activities: Skiing Season: Winter | Page By: TyeDyeTwins Created/Edited: Apr 23, 2009 / Feb 8, 2010 Object ID: 508456 Hits: 1456 Loading... Page Score: 88.35% - 12 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
The Wasatch OverviewOut of all the canyons that make up Utah, it is the American Fork, Millcreek, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons that are the highlights of the state for backcountry skiers. The access is easy, the runs are legendary and no 2 forks or canyons are alike. So why should you get out and ski the Wasatch? I believe David Brower said it best......"We have nothing against the practice slopes and the standard runs, but if that's all you know, you've missed something special; something lost beyond the ranges, a glistening new white world with its hard edges covered over for the winter, and you its discoverer." This page will serve more like a home page. Each fork/mountain and its description will be listed in the ROUTE Section. Only the BIGGEST and BEST tours will be on this page.
 Troy skiing Reynolds Peak (Big Cottonwood Canyon)  Troy hiking up The Temptation Ridge (Little Cottonwood Canyon)  Me skiing Mount Baldy (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
 Troy Skiing Main Days in Days Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon)  Troy skiing Mary Ellen Gulch (American Fork Canyon)  Troy skiing down Big Water Gulch (Millcreek Canyon)  Troy skiing Wills Hill in Willow Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon)  Troy skiing Big Water Gulch (Millcreek Canyon)
My Wasatch Backcountry Skiing VideosHere are some videos of me skiing the Wasatch with a GoPro Headcam. You can check these videos out by clicking on the links below.
REYNOLDS PEAK (Main Bowl)
Getting Up ThereIf you are comming from I-15 keep driving till you hit the I-215 (east belt route). Follow the signs along I-215 till you find yourself at 6200 South. Get off here and take Wasatch Blv. till you come up on the canyon of your choice.  Looking down Little Cottonwood Canyon from the summit of Mount Baldy  Looking down Big Cottonwood Canyon  The base of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Fall color  Upper Big Cottonwood Canyon  Looking down Big Cottonwood Canyon at sunset
The Big Tours 1 (NPC)The Northern Powder Circut- If you are looking for some powder snow, days and even weeks after a storm than the NPC is perfect for you. Starting at Alta this tour begins by skinning up Grizzly Gulch. Head up Grizzly Gulch's southern wall to reach Silver Fork. Ski down Silver Fork and then skin up (in a westerly direction) and out of Silver Fork to the top of Days Fork.  Troy skinning up Grizzly Gulch  Getting ready to ski North Davenport Nov.7, 2008  Skinning out of Silver Fork
Ski down into Days Fork and skin back out (moving west again) near the Two Dogs Slide Path. Tourere beware this is not a safe skin track route. There is no 100 percent safe route to skin out of Days Fork so use extra caution while touring this fork.  Ron slitboarding down the 2 Dogs Slide Path  Skinning along the top of Days Fork
Once you have reached the Little/Big Cottonwood ridge line keep skinning (west) to the summit of Mount Flagstaff. Ski down canyon (west again) and to the right to enter Cartiff Fork via Holy Toleto.
From here it is your choice on how you approach/ski down Mineral Fork. You can head up High Ivory to the NW Mineral Fork Chute in Mineral Fork. The other option is to summit Mount Superior and ski down into Mill B South, then skin up/along a predominate ridge till you reach Mineral Fork's Room of Doom.  Ron skinning up High Ivory with Holy Toledo in the background  Mount Superior's North Face Aka Cardiac Bowl.
Overall this is a grade A+ tour for anyone who loves deep powder with steep skiing. There is no true safe route to complete this tour so time your outings accordingly. Usually spring is the best time of year for this route when the snowpack is deep and stable. Start early, skin fast and enjoy this one...... we sure did.
The Big Tours 2 (Southern Powder Circut)On the real powder days when accumulations of 4 inches an hour are occuring the Southern Powder Circut is the safer big tour that the Wasatch has to offer. Starting at Mill F Fork (USA Bowl) and ending at Cirlce Awl Peak, this tour definately requires endurence. Whether it is snowing like hell or it is sunny as could be, this tour is worth the effort.
Start by skinning up Mill F Fork. To get here park at the Upper Solitude lot and cross the Big Cottonwood Canyon highway. Start skinning up the cabin road untill you come up on a sharp bend. The trail starts here. Head across (down canyon....west) and follow the trail to another sharp bend. From here you have 2 choices. The first is to keep following the trail into Willow Fork. The second is to follow the ridge that heads straight up from this bend. Caution should be used with the ridge route. People have triggered avalanches while attempting the ridge route.
 Troy and Ron skinning up Willow Fork's center ridge  Troy skiing up the center ridge of Willow Fork  An human triggered avalanche on the ridge route  Troy skinning up Willow Fork with the center ridge in sight
From the top of Willow Fork there are several runs to choose from. For the sake of time the best route down is Will's Hill. This run is located on the upper western part of Willow Fork. Skiing this run will put you at a small meadow where the next climb starts. Avalanches do occur here time to time so use caution on the steep sections of this run.
 A large natural avalanche on Will's Hill
Once you have reached the small meadow you should see a large ridge up and to your right. This is North Willow. Skin to the top of this ridge and continue till you reach Beartrap Fork. While acending this ridge be sure to stick as close to the actuall ridge as possible. This place is a known and frequent avalancher.
 Troy inspecting a large avalanche crown on the North Willow ridge  A huge avalanche in North Willow  Troy and Ron skinning up North Willow
Ski into Beartrap Fork using which ever run you choose. My advice....the higher the run....the better.  A black and white of Troy skiing Beartrap Fork  Ron getting ready to drop into Beartrap Fork
 Troy skiing Beartrap Fork  Troy skiing into Beartrap Fork on a good day
Now skin out of Beartrap Fork and ski into Mill D North.
Troy skiing into Mill D North |
Once in Mill D North skin up to Dog Lake. From the lake make a left and Reynolds Peak should come into view. Skin to the summit of Reynolds Peak.
 Troy skinning up to the summit of Reynolds Peak  Troy looking up at Reynolds Peak
Directly off the peak, start skiing down the west ridge. Drop into the North Facing trees to your right. You are now in Butler Fork.
Troy skiing off the summit of Reynolds Peak  Troy standing on the summit of Reynolds Peak
Continue skiing down Butler Fork untill you are almost all the way down the fork. At the last turn off possible (marked by a large tree/spring crevass) skin up Butler Fork to the top of Circle Awl Peak.
Troy skinning up to Circle Awl Peak |
At this point you can ski right off the summit of Circle Awl or drop into Mill A Gulch. Either way the run down is sure to please.
Troy skiing down Circle Awl Peak |
If you find yourself with some time left over (and a car ride in Millcreek Canyon) you can keep the tour going. Head up Mill A Gulch to the summit of Gobblers Knob. From the summit drop into the Porter Fork side into the "Cabin Run".
 Troy skinning to the north summit of Gobblers Knob  Troy skiing the Cabin Run
The Big Tours 3 (Tri Canyon)The Tri Canyon- This tour has many routes to choose from so this will describe the most popular way at completing the Tri Canyon Tour.
Start at the Alta Police Station in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Skin up either Toledo Bowl or The 3 O'Clock Slide Path till you reach the ridge line. You are now at Days Fork.
 Skinning up the 3 O'Clock slide path  Troy skinning up Toleto Bowl
Pick your line or lines of choice in Days Fork and ski out to the bottom of the fork. This can be somewhat flat on the big powder days so plan your time in this fork accordingly. Once at the bottom you should be in Spruces parking lot.
From the spruces campground you should cross the Big Cottonwood Highway and start heading up Mill D North.
 Troy skinning up to Reynolds Peak  Troy skinning up Mill D North
From Mill D North you have a variety of choices on where to ski down into Millcreek Cayon. You can go to Alexzander Basin, Willson Fork, Soldier Fork, Big Water Gulch, and Little Water Peak. All of these forks lead into Millcreek Canyon.
 Troy skiing Little Water Peak Skiing down Big Water Gulch just before the thunderstorm.  Troy on Little Water Peak  Ron petting the dog in Little Water Gulch Troy skiing down Big Water Gulch in perfect powder conditions  Troy skiing down Big Water Gulch in perfect powder conditions
The Big Tours 4 (Alta to Bells Canyon)This is one of the longest, most dangerous, and intense tour that the Wasatch Range has to offer. Starting at Alta and ending in Bells Canyon, this tour will take you over/across just about every slide path on the upper south side of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Ususally taking over 10 hours to complete, this is a tour that will start in the dark and likely end in the dark. Starting at Alta, this tour travels up Albion Basin to Germainia pass, across Mineral Basin, up the American Fork Twins, across White Pine Fork, Red Pine Fork, Maybird Gulch, Hogum Fork and then finally down Bells Canyon. Because of the obvious avalanche potential, the best time of year to complete this tour is in early spring when snow conditons are deep and stable. There are many variations and "alternate" routes to choose from along the way. So with that in mind, this description will cover the easier and most common way to tackle the Wasatch's most exciting tour.
Start the tour at Alta and skin up Albion Basin all the way to Germainia Pass. Another option is to skin up Collins Gulch and across Mount Baldy's NW/W side to the Bullion Divide.  Troy skinning the Summer Road in Albion Basin  Troy skinning up Mount Baldy  Germaina Pass and Mount Baldy
From the Pass start skiing across Mineral Basin, put the skins on and summit Hidden Peak. Take the skins off and start boot packing up the American Fork Twins. If Snowbird is open (and the route just described closed) you can ski across Mineral Basin to Mary Ellen Gulch and hike up to the AF Twins that way. Carefull, this route is steep and has south facing exposure.
 From the summit of the American Fork Twin looking back at the route up.  Troy skinning up Marry Ellen Gulch  One of the American Fork Twin sub peaks in the area you'll be passing if you come from Marry Ellen Gulch
Drop into White Pine Fork using Red Stack's Long John Silver or the Tri Chutes. Another choice is to ski Red Baldy (kinda out of the way though).
After your ski run, skin across/over White Pine Fork to the Lake Peak Pass.
 Lake Peak (the pass is on the right)  Red Top's Long John Silver
Ski into Red Pine and start skinning across Red Pine Fork and Maybird Gulch till you reach the Obelisk. Skin/Bootpack up the Obelisk. Take in the sights and ski into Hogum Fork via Hogum 200-600.  The veiw of the Hypodermic Needle from the top of the Obelisk
Start heading up the Sliver Couloir and once at the top, ski down into Bells Canyon (around 5 miles or so) all the way back to your car.  Tyler skinning up the Sliver Couloir  Tyler skinning up the Sliver Couloir
The Wasatch Couloir List......From personal experienceBecause there are so many Couloirs in the Wasatch, I have put these in order of the ones I liked the most. Any one of these couloirs is sure to please even the pickiest of big mountain backcountry skiers.
1. The Hypodermic Needle- A true Wasatch couloir classic worthy of anyones "to ski list". This couloir, located in Hogum Fork, is a popular ski destination as well as climbing route to North Thunder Mountain. Early season there can be a cliffy section but usually this is not an issue. The Hypodermic Needle as seen from the Obelisk  The Hypodermic Needle from the base.
2. Tanners Slide Path- Anyone who has taken a drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon has most likely caught a glimps of this Wasatch beauty. Tanners Slide Path makes a good climbing route (for the Triple Traverse) and an even better ski run. As long as conditions are stable, just about anytime of year is a great time for Tanners Slide Path. Because of its south facing nature, this couloir is "a great one for breakfest" meaning that it is best taken on in the early morning hours.
3. The Pipeline Couloir- Despite being seen by just about every skier at Snowbird, this Wasatch Gem usually never sees much skier traffic. When Snowbird is open this couloir is usually not. Snowbird will arrest those who ignore the closed signs. Every year Snowbird opens up the gates around May so get it while you can if its open. By that time of year the chute is filled in and usually it is easier than it looks from a far. Still, falling is highly discouraged! Especially at the top. Skier beware.....this one may be addicting.  The Pipeline Couloir in May  Looking down The Pipeline Couloir.
4. Limber Pine Couloir- Just below the White Pine Parking lot is a couloir known by UDOT as Limber Pine. This steep and almost perfectly straight couloir is a known and frequent avalancher in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Still, this couloir is well worth the risk as well as effort that it will demand.
5. The Sliver Couloir- Just above the Hypodermic Needle is another Wasatch classic known by most who tour in Hogum Fork as the Sliver Couloir. A long hike, a big apron and a steep couloir awaits anyone with the Sliver Couloir on their "to ski list". Skinning up The Sliver Couloir
6. The Suicide Chute- Not nearly as scary as the name implies, you can find this couloir on the eastern slopes of Mount Superior. When all the other couloirs in the Wasatch are too runneled and suncupped to ski, the Suicide Chute is usually the last remaining skible couloir. Another fact about this couloir that seperates it from all the others in Utah is that there is a grave stone at the top..  Looking down into the Suicide Chute  Deep inside the Suicide Chute's deep moat  Liam splitboarding the Suicide Chute  Troy bootpacking into the Suicide Chute
 The veiw of the Pfiefferhorn from the top of the Suicide Chute
7. The Lightning Bolt Couloir- More often looked at rather than skied this couloir is more rocky than it looks. The rocks, difficult access routes and its shear steepness keep this couloir out of most peoples plans. Sometimes when the Lightning Bolt Couloir is not filled in the Lightning Bolt Apron skiing can make an okay alternative.  The Lightning Bolt Couloir
8. Mount Tuscarora's East Couloir- Also known to some as the Seagul Couloir this run is one of the steeper couloirs in the Wasatch Range. There are all sorts of hazards that include, but are not limited to..... hidden rocks, large cornices, avalanches, falling rock, large runnels and deep moats. Enjoy this one with caution.
9. The Y Couloir- If you are looking for a couloir that is relentlessly steep and somewhat difficult to find (the 1st time) than the Y Coulior is just for you. In order to ski this one you will first need to cross the LCC river. Ski strait down from the parking lot and start searching for the river crossing. Once past this crux start heading back down canyon along the river till the couloir appears. Once in the couloir go up, right and then left till you hit the top. Oh ya be sure to bring a helmet along for this one.
 D_shorb's perfect shot of the Y couloir
AVALANCHE HAZARDS EXSIST!!!!!!!!!!Just about every tour described on this page (and the route pages) is a known slide path in the Wasatch Range. Conditions tend to varry (almost daily) but with an avalanche beacon, probe, avalung, partner/s, shovel, avalanche skills and common sense, you will live to ski another day. Ski the Wasatch with caution and respect and you will ski away with what the Wasatch has to offer......some of the greatest snow on earth.  An large avalanche just off the Temptation Ridge  A skier tiggered avalanche in Rocky Point A natural avalanche on Wills Hill  An avalanche I triggered on Temptation Ridge A large (1/4 of a mile wide) avalanche on North Willow  An obvious sign of instability in the snowpack  An avalanche in North Willow  Me skiing down a chute in North Willow that has extensive stress cracking all over it  A large avalanche in Silver Fork's Over Easy  A large sluff on Holy Toleto that took out some of our tracks Images
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