Fun in the Snow

There is no question that the conditions are challenging. We obviously need to pray a lot harder or smarter than we have been so far, and maybe brush up on the rain-dance moves or something cause we need a lot more snow on the ground. Fast. Looking at the forecast, Friday may be a bit hopeful and after that the whole of the following week. None of it looks like major precipitation yet but 1) as we get closer the percentage chances may increase, and 2) it makes it look like the high-pressure system that has put a lid on incoming systems for some weeks now may finally be crumbling. So here is to hopin... 

In the meantime, there is still room for some fun in the snow skiing facets on the north-facing. The catch is that the approaches are now getting quite long for first tracks on good cover although, on occasion, that can be resolved too (see below). Here are some pictures (click to enlarge). 

One really cool way to resolve the "excessive approach" issue...

...and get you on the top in no time.

Andrew getting into a big plate of deep fluffy stuff.

Your's truly enjoying some too.

Andrew doing his magic in the steep and deep.

Skiing the Facets in Silver Fork

 When facets are deep and the only layer two good things occur: 1) You get to ski light and fast powder, 2) you don't have to be so darned paranoid about avy danger. So that's just about the only the good news with these conditions that are offering a really poor start to the winter. The less good part is how much approaching you have to do while avoiding, as best as possible, anything facing south. This is true of both the approach and the exit. Bottom line, if you want untouched good lines you need to be ready to travel 4 - 5 times as much distance as you ski. If you are willing to do that, you will be rewarded with both first tracks and solitude.

The pictures are from yesterday in upper Silver Fork.

We found first tracks on looker's right, from
under the rocks to the trees.

Mike farming turns...

...as well as your's truly. By the time we were done, that whole
 side was ploughed. Hard work but somebody gotta do it!

Mike enjoying a lunch break in the sun.

To the left our exit tracks.

Chasing Snow Traps

 Tis the season to be chasing snow traps... After the false start a couple of weeks ago it mostly has been too warm and marginal amounts of precipitation at best. Having said that the last mini storm did improve skiing conditions (in places spectacularly) on mid-to-high mountain north-facing snow traps. The trick is to find ones that are not all skied out. This will involve longer approaches and only the ones that know how to keep a secret will keep enjoying them. Here are some pictures from yesterday (Click to enlarge):

What a north-facing Wasatch
snow trap looks like.

Loki on the PC ridgeline. 

Loki patiently posing while I shoot away.

There are good objectives out there but they sure require
a fair amount of climbing/walking/skinning.

First Tours of the 2020/2021 Season

 after last week's storm, we had a decent snowpack for a while there. So we went out for the typical pre-season in-resort-but-unopened-therefore-backcountry kind of situation. There was enough snow to get a few turns out of the Canyons now PCMR. here a few pictures (click to enlarge):

First uptrack of the season at Boa.

Mike enjoying his transition...

...as well as Loki and yours truly.

Some snow on Cardiac Ridge in Days Fork...

...and on Wilson chutes.

It's starting to look a lot like winter!

 With two to three feet already on the ground on favored spots of the Wasatch and another one to two feet scheduled for Saturday's system it's starting to look a lot like winter. 

This pic, taken this morning, is of a small no-name hill at 8,200 feet: