Grizzly Gulch, Little Cottonwood Canyon- March 29th, 2019

Its officially spring here in Utah, but you wouldn't know that by the way things have been shaping up here in the Wasatch. Another over performing storm dumped nearly 20" for the storm total up Little Cottonwood Canyon! I took Friday off to get out on the splitboard for some time on the skin track and to get some late March powder. The powder panic was on in Little Cottonwood Canyon as the traffic on HWY 210 was packed to say the least. Once in the mouth of the canyon the traffic moved pretty quick. I arrived at the trail head to it just nuking snow and the winds were howling! I put on the boots, pack, and strapped in and started my climb. The snow was creamy and really nice to climb in and no slipping on the skin track.

As I made my way up I was watching the wind load some slopes that I was going nowhere near on this tour. I made it to the first meadow and the blizzard conditions I was in turned to nearly whiteout conditions and I pulled up in some trees for a minute. It mellowed out and I continued my climb on the gulch. Once I made it to the main meadow I realized I was going to have to break trail all the way up my line. This was a lot of work, but also allowed me to test the stability in the snow pack. There were some slopes that were getting loaded in the wind, and they were cracking and collapsing from the ski cuts I was putting in them on the splitboard. But nothing that threw out the alarm. It was a really fun climb up my line, and challenging as I was taking my time to evaluate the new snow. Eventually I topped out. The wind was blowing hard and the snow continued to accumulate.

Grizzly Gulch Trip Report 3.29.19 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

Once I settled in at the top of my line I hurried up and changed into my insulated jacked and a dry beanie to get warm. The sun did some peek a boo action for about 5 minutes, and then the storm came rolling back in. I made the switchover and hung out for a bit just watching the clouds come in and start snowing really hard! I like to enjoy the spot I top out in because it is a lot of work to get there, and I love being in the mountains. Time was passing and I was really excited to make some turns so I geared up, strapped in, and made the drop. Ridiculously deep powder turns from top to bottom. One of the deepest days I have had splitboarding this season!

Grizzly Gulch 3.29.19 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

The snow had a density inversion right at the top from the wind, but once you hit the apron the snow was that classic Utah blower powder! Such a fun ride all the way to the Jeep! Such an amazing day to be out in the mountains climbing on the skin track and getting some late March powder! We are moving to the tail end of the season here in Utah. April usually has a few days as we generally get some late season snow during the month. So I imagine I will get a couple of more days out there to slash it up before I switch it up from the skin track to the dirt track. Enjoy the videos and pics from my tour. The last picture I'll share is of this amazing tree that caught my eye on the way up my line today! What a beautiful tree! Amazing survivor in this environment! It's been a great year on the snow! More adventures to come!

Grizzly Gulch, Little Cottonwood Canyon- March 2019

I was able to get out on on the splitboard for Thursday of this week, which just happened to be PI Day. 3.14 for folks who love math. Little Cottonwood Canyon received 34" in 48 hours! They are over 500" of the season in that canyon and some spots are sitting on a 170" base! Unbelievable snowfall we have had this year! It was my day off so I packed it all in the Jeep and headed up. A little traffic in the canyon, with all this snow I wasn't surprised, but it only probably added 10 minutes to my drive up there. Found a spot right by the winter gate. Put on the boots, and headed up there road. When I got to the groomer for the summer road, the signs still said closed. I had to back track and take another route in there. It was a longer walk, but there was no one out and I knew that I was in no hurry. That is the beauty of splitboarding, you can take your time walking into an area. Gives you pause to observe, listen, and learn. I broke trail most of the way to the first meadow where the normal trail meets in a meadow. A quick up into the main meadow in Grizzly, then I looked up at my line. I realized I was going to be breaking trail all the way to the spot I was looking at stopping at. It gave me a good feel for the snow on the way up, a few hand pits, some slope angle measurements, and some slope testing. Nothing set off the alarm for me. All signs were good, and my angles were between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

Grizzly Gulch 3.14.2019 Report from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

It set a nice track in there, and eventually topped out to where I was going to make the drop. Its probably one of my favorite places in the Wasatch to make the switchover from tour mode to ride mode. It is this little cubby hole of trees with a ridge to keep you out of the wind, but a nice view down canyon and a safe line to ride. Took a bit of time up there just soaking it all in. Eventually I put on the helmet and gloves and made the drop. Deep would be an understatement on the ride out! This was by far the deepest day of the entire season! Knee to thigh deep was the average off track and on the way out the shallowest it got was boot deep. The first set of tracks I put in that hill were the best all year! Such a fun ride out to the base. All I could think when I arrived at my Jeep was "More Please!" I'll take that any day of the week! This has been an incredible season. Redemption for last years worst winter on record. Looks like we have full on spring temps and a dry spell on tap for at least the next 5 days until any storm is in the forecast. Time to get the garden ready and to send some more prayers to Ullr for this mega spring cycle to continue! Enjoy the pics, videos from up top, and the ride home! More adventures to come!

Grizzly Gulch 3.14.2019 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

Peak 10420, Big Cottonwood Canyon- March 2019

What an amazing season we are having this year! It just keeps snowing in the Wasatch! Most of the Cottonwood Canyons now have over 500" of snow for the season. Base depths are 130" to 160" depending on the area. After getting a powder day on the lifts at Solitude on Thursday of last week, I returned to the backcountry to keep the legs fresh and to enjoy the winter vibe that we are holding in the high terrain. I decided to hit the trees on the west face of Peak 10420 up Big Cottonwood Canyon. I made my way to the winter gate, put on the boots and pack and made my way up the skin track. From the road I broke trail all the way up. It was deep trail breaking, in some places it was knee deep from the last storm we received. I found a new route into this area and set a skin track in there. The walk in was chilly, but the sun was occasionally making an appearance out of the clouds which made the cold trek in the trees a bit more pleasant. I eventually topped out where I felt there was no avalanche danger. Included is a picture of my kit that I take with me every time when I am splitboarding.

Peak 10420 Trip Report from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

Once I topped out, I made the switchover to ride mode. I hung out in the trees for a while as they released their piles of snow our of the canopy which was like watching a mini blizzard. Eventually I made the drop to head home. In some sections the snow was so deep you just had to point it if you did not want to get stuck. I found some great snow on the way out and riding was really a lot of fun. Overall a great walk in on the skin track and a really fun ride home. Looks like we have another round of snow set for midweek so it looks like this party is going to continue. Spring temps are forecasted for the weekend. We are only a couple of months away from the trails melting out and the hiking to begin. Until then I am gonna get as many of these days as I possibly can. Enjoy the pics and videos! More adventures to come!

Peak 10420 Trees 3.10.2019 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

Spring has sprung! Solitude Mountain Resort- March 2019

I don't usually ride the resort, but when I do, I ride at Solitude Mountain Resort. I won a pass from Liftopia, and I picked Thursday to be the day to use it. The forecast was calling for more snow, so I figured why not take a day and let the lift chair do the work for once. It was snowing really hard when I showed up, and the lot was empty.

I put on the boots and made my way to the Eagle lift to get some first tracks. Once the opening bell sounded it was game on. The snow was perfect, ultralight Utah powder that we all love. This video is from my first run of the day! So much fun going at high speeds and slashing up the new powder.

Solitude First Tracks 3.7.19 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

I picked around all the lifts on the frontside of the mountain waiting for Honeycomb to open. I found some really good snow as I rode off trail on all the lifts finding some good lines on the mountain. I made my way up the Summit lift for a run, stopping at the rope that signifies area closed above Honeycomb, and the patrol walked up and opened the gates! I got first drop into Honeycomb! The ride out to the Honeycomb Return was nothing short of amazing as the snow was so good back there. I went out the gates on the Eagle ridge getting even more powder turns as the day progressed.

Honeycomb Rope Drop And Some Pockets Of Fun At Solitude 3.7.2019 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

I eventually reached my limit. I did over 14,000 feet of vert for the day! This may have been my last day at a resort for the season. I'll be back on the skin track this weekend. When I arrived home, my crocuses had bloomed in the garden. Spring has sprung in the Wasatch! We are getting closer to the days where the snow dances will turn to dirt dances! Its been a great season and we have more on the way! Enjoy the videos and pics! More adventures to come!

Grizzly Gulch, Little Cottonwood Canyon- March 2019

March had arrived! With it we have gotten a fresh paint job in the Wasatch! I decided to tour up Grizzly Gulch this week to kick off the month. I made my way to the end of the road in Little Cottonwood. Got a spot then put on the boots, backpack, and strapped into the boards. The walk in was much warmer than I expected so I am pretty sure I over dressed. I was a little slow to start getting warmed up but eventually was pushing up the skin track at my normal pace. The new snow had bonded to the old snow pretty well so the skin in was pretty nice! There were a lot of people that were up here getting after it. Talked to quite a few backcountry recreation folks from skiers, snowshoers, and splitboarders. Everyone seemed to be happy that we had some new snow. I made my way into the gulch, then followed the skin track up Black Bess. I topped out where the fog met the peaks as visibility was not the best and I wanted to be able to see my line as I was riding incase I had to jet to a safe zone if I had a collapse. I found a nice spot out of the wind and made the switchover.

Grizzly Gulch Trip Report 3.3.2019 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.

After digging a quick pit, and not finding anything that raised the alarms, I hung out for a bit as the sun would peek out through the clouds, then the clouds would set in and it would start snowing once more. After a bit of a break it was time to strap in and make the drop. The snow was deep, much more than was reported. The turns were really fun and the ride out to the Jeep was one of the best of the season. I could not believe how good the snow was! Exceeded any expectation I had when I left the house in the AM. Even slashed it up a bit at the bottom in snow that was a bit more dense in consistency but still a lot of fun to ride in. A great day out on the skin track and a really fun ride home! Looks like we have more on the way! March is shaping up to be a good one! Enjoy the pics and videos! More adventures to come!

Grizzly Gulch 3.3.2019 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.