OverviewTwin Lake Pass and Grizzly Gulch have just about everthing a gulch could offer. Because it has everything, it also (on weekends) has everyone. You can expect to see other ski tourers, heli skiers and even cat skiers but the skiing tends to be worth while. Twin Lakes is also home to a series of steep chutes with huge cornices known as Wolverine Cirque.
Skiing Twin Lakes Pass |
Getting ThereThere are 2 main routes to Twin Lakes Pass
1. Go up Little Cottonwood Canyon and park in the Grizzly Gulch parking lot. From here you can follow the cat road or the gully, your choice. Either way head up the gulch till you hit the pass.
Skinning up Grizzly Gulch |
2. From Brighton you should skin up to the lake known as Twin Lakes. Follow the powerlines till you hit the pass.
Twin Lakes Pass from the Twin Lakes |
Decent Route DescriptionsThere are many runs to choose from.........
Wolverine Cirque Very steep but very short is Wolverine Cirque. The Granny Coulior is the popular run here (pictured center)
Wolverine Cirque |
West Patsy Marley- Longer and better than it looks, West Patsy Marley is good on powder days and even better in corn cycles. Some areas do have cliffs but they are easily avoidible.
West Patsy Marley |
Matilda Bowl- Usually used as a skin route to Silver Fork, Matilda Bowl is perfact when the southerly faces are still holding their powder. If you do catch this place in powder be wary of impending cat skiers.
Matilda Bowl |
Freeland Area- Known by the Alta Cat Skiers as the "Freeland Area", it may not be as "free" of tracks as the name implies. The Cat skiing drop off point is located right at the top so usually it gets skied out quickly.
Freeland area. Nov 7th, 2008 |
Twin Lakes Pass- Looks can be deciving. This area may not be as steep as its neibors but does slide time to time.
Skiing Twin Lakes Pass in a fog fest. Nov 24th |
Essential GearAvalanche knowlage, beacon, probe, partner and common sence. Skis are highly recommended.
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