-
13666 Hits
-
74.01% Score
-
4 Votes
Page Type:
|
Route |
|---|---|
Route Type:
|
Skiing |
Season:
|
Winter |
|
Overview
Silver Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon has several open bowls, steep chutes and excellent trees. As of the year 2010 this entire fork is ENDANGERED because of Solitude Ski Resort's recent expansion efforts. Please do your part and keep Silver Fork the way nature indended it to be.....part of the Wasatch Wilderness. The approach for usually starts up Grizzly Gulch (Little Cottonwood Canyon). Silver Fork's runs are not quite as long as they are elsewhere in the Wasatch, but this fork makes a great place for lap skiing.
Troy skiing Flannigins on a fat snow year
Skiing North Davenport Nov. 7, 2008
Troy skiing Silver Fork
Troy skiing Silver ForkGetting Up There
Little Cottonwood Canyon: Skin up Grizzly Gulch from the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon highway at Alta. Follow the cat track and sooner or later make your way up to the ridgeline on your left.
Troy skinning up the belly of Grizzly Gulch
Troy fighting the winds and the fog to get the powder goods in Silver Fork
Troy skinning up Grizzly GulchBig Cottonwood Canyon: Start at the Silver Fork Lodge and make your way through the neiborhoods till you hit the entrance of the fork. This is really only practicle if your headed to the Meadow Chutes.
Troy skinning up the Meadow Chutes
Troy and Ron skinning up Silver Fork
Skinning up to Flannigans.Flannigans
Flannigans To find this avalanche path head to the eastern top of the fork. If your between two ridges looking up at a large bowl, hit the ridge on your left. There are several ways to enter Flanningans. Some have rocks early on in the season and others cliff out so be carefull. This is a major avalanche path so treat this run with respect.
Troy skiing Flanningans just before he triggered an avalanche.
FlannigansThe Meadow Chutes
Meadow Chutes These east/north east facing chutes are most easily accessed from the Big Cottonwood side. In Silver Fork they are quite popular (and deadly) however they are still something worth skiing. Advice: head along the ridge till you find a Meadow Chute that calls out to the skier in you.
The fatal avalanche that killed a local backcountry skier in the Meadow Chutes. Jan 2010Skinning up the Meadow Chutes
Troy skiing The Meadow Chutes
The Meadow Chutes with avalanches presentNorth Davenport
North Davenport Steep and the most popular ski run that Silver Fork has to offer. It starts out steep and tracked out but shortly after dropping in it opens up. Due to this runs overall steepness it is a frequent avalancher, with several different release zones scattered amongest the slope. Charging North Davenport should only be considered on the most safest of days for sure.
Troy skiing North DavenportSkiing North Davenport Nov. 7, 2008
Troy skiing BLOWER powder early season in North Davenport
North DavenportThe West Bowl
West Bowl The West Bowl is a more gentle but still slide worthy run located on the western side of the Fork. Worth skiing if your into gentle, wide open slopes. Too bad lots of people are into that....meaning you are not likely to get first tracks here unless you tour here late season.
Troy skinning for another lap down the West Bowl
The West BowlEssential Gear
Avalanche Skills, Beacon, Partner, Shovel, Probe and Common Sense. Skis are highly recommended.The fatal avalanche in the Meadow Chutes. Jan 2010 The Meadow Chutes with avalanches present
An avalanche that Troy triggered in Flanningans (1-2 feet deep)