| My Wasatch Touring Photo Guide Album |
| My Wasatch Touring Photo Guide   | 
| Page Type: Album Image Type(s): Skiing | Page By: d_shorb Created/Edited: Dec 26, 2007 / May 31, 2008 Object ID: 368098 Hits: 1283  Loading... Page Score: 89.61% - 19 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
A slice of the touring experience, and a resourceTouring the Wasatch on skis may be the best way to explore it. Less folks travel the Wasatch during the winter, but, when out there, one quickly notes that the touring community in the Wasatch is very large and the mountains have folks in them every single day of the winter. When getting first tracks down one of the backcountry gems found in Salt Lake's mountains, one really does understand why "This is the Place!" Whether a backcountry newbie or a skilled and worldly expert, the Wasatch offers something for everyone. Storm day sanctuary can be found in many places, so, yes, even when the danger is 'High' you can ski in the Wasatch! The key to success is building a personal catalog of slope aspects and angles that suits the conditions. This album should help get you started.
The Album:
I'm trying to make this album a bit of a resource for myself (and others) for tours in the Central Wasatch, but it is, more or less, just a slice of the Wasatch ski-touring experience. Most of the tours I've taken this year are only in the Cottonwood Canyons, with the exceptions being Porter Fork, Alexander Basin and Wilson Creek drainage. Unlike the snow, the album isn't perfect.
Remember, avalanche skills aren't centered around knowing how to use a beacon. If you're having to use a beacon to find someone, the mistakes have already been made!
Making it useful: I use the photos to look at lines from various angles, 'cause I'm stupid enough to drop into the wrong shot at the wrong time.
1. Some pictures are linked to each other to enable researching one area from many perspectives.
2. I also try to map the object of focus on the piture's lat./long.
3. I try to make it easy to look up a photo or place by putting the object of the photo in the title.
4. If you have comments, suggestions, or questions on places, aspects, lat./long., etc. in the photos just drop a line.Some LinksAndrew McLean, Tyson Bradley, and Bruce Tremper are all people to follow regarding Wasatch skiing, and skiing as a whole. They all have skied all over the world and all continue to come back to the Wasatch (for some reason).
Utah Avalanche Center: This small group of dedicated folks keep the rest of us safe. Learn where to get the skills to insure safe touring, check your daily avalanche report, and check out their frequent tid-bits of free safety advice. Support them, they keep us safe!!
Exum of Utah: Exum is he local Utah branch of the Jackson based guiding company. They offer avalanche classes and guided tours for any ability level, in addition to being area climbing guides. Two of my closest friends, and touring partners, are guides there and they rock: Todd Passey and Winslow Passey.
Snowbird's Avalanche Training center: Their beacon park can help hone your skills for uncovring single and multiple burials, and provide a fun day with friends. Timing yourself here and comparing your times to the statistics can be helpful. But remember: if someone got buried, a mistake has already been made!
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper: should be read prior to ever going out, and is a resource I review regularly!
Backcountry Skiing Utah by Tyson Bradley: the bible for places to go in Utah, it is an invalueable resource, with a great synopsis of all the local areas.Tyson Bradleyalso works for PowderBirds, and is the local director of Exum of Utah. He wrote the Book, as it were.
The Chuting Gallery by Andrew McLean: a steep skiing resource, leaves plenty to experience while giving the basics on many of the Wasatch's classics.
PowderBirds: the Heli-skiing company that employs some of the best skiers in the Wasatch, that will be stealing your lines on a regular basis.
Wasatch Backcountry Rescue: a great organization that is another pillar of the Wasatch winter community.
Some SP Wasatch Skiers with photos: highpeakskier, Gramps, Marauders, trackhead, Ibex, ruthschlein. Images
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