OverviewThe Monte Cristo Gully/Directissimo is a prize for Wasatch backcountry skiers. It is typified by continuously steep slopes (near-40 degrees) and wide couloir skiing. This is a serious route with big consequences if it slides, and if you have questions about when to do this south-facing route, you should ask an expert.
 Carl Skoog photo of the top drop-in!!
 Marauders sweet pic of the meat of the route. Visually, following the couloir down and right, you'll see the natural ramp and the tip of the snow apron it leads down to. Getting ThereThis route is found near the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon's north side justwest of Mt. Superior. The best access is up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The best access point is Alta's Flagstaff trail that begins just west of the church. Then, via Pole Line Pass, one can head up Superior's east ridge, or, alternatively, ski a line into Cardiff and skin up Cardiac Bowl to Superior's summit. From Mount Superior's summit, head west to Monte Cristo's Summit and the line begins with an east facing line off the summit.
Route Description
Gully:
3200 ft., 38 degrees or so. Andrew McLean rates this an S4 (Slopes 35–45° with dangerous fall potential and a few terrain obstacles) in The Chuting Gallery. South facing, start with an upper east-facing shot off the summit. Follow this by traversing left into the couloir proper. Head down this several hundred vertical feet until you pass an open snow field and another lefthand rock buttress. Once passed this look for a skier's-left exit ramp (after the second rock constiction). This lead one up and over into the sweet lower couloir and/or the treed apron that takes one down to the road and your hitchhike back up to the Alta parking.
Direct/rap:
Alternatively, if wanting to pursue the novelty of the real "direct" line, once in the main couloir, continue down ever steepening slopes to the final constiction/cliff. Supposedly there are rap anchors here, although the page author has not gone that way and doesn't know. Rap the cliff, which is less than 50 feet, and continue down the slope.
 This pic shows most of the route, and gives you a good idea of when to cut skiers-left above the short yet deadly cliff (Right Center).
 TRP skiing the central section above the cliff, while mending a torn bicep. Essential GearBackcountry Ski Gear
Rappel gear if wanting to pursue the novelty of the real "direct" line.
The Chuting Gallery
Images
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Wasatch Range (Central)
