Big Cottonwood Canyon: Butler Fork trailhead to Circle Awl peak and back. Saturday, December 20, 2008 BOTTOM LINE Danger by aspect and elevation on slopes approaching 35° or steeper. Robin said it perfectly…. even think about the backcountry today and you will surely parish. Another day for powdah in the trees. Thanks to Mark, we … Continue Reading

Big Cottonwood Canyon: Spruces Campground, up Mill D North Fork to the top of Birthday Chute above Dog Lake and back. Elevations: 7,300′ – 9,330′ This fork is the best place to go in high avy conditions. Everything is wooded, low angle and covered in deep fluff. Moose on the trail. Hope I dont get … Continue Reading

Big Cottonwood Canyon: Spruces Campground, up Mill D North to Short Swing Peak and reverse. Elevations: 7,400′ – 9225′ Our summit as seen from my driveway. Avy danger is really high right now so keepin it low angle and gladed is the way to go. Mark and I were interested in checkin out the unstable … Continue Reading

….the backcountry is on hold.  Our snowpack right now is definitely a sketchy one to say the least. New snow and wind deposits are covering up a nasty crust layer that is sandwiched by two layers of facets. With widespread human triggered slides all over the mountain range, its all about finding pow in bounds. … Continue Reading

Believe it or not, these next few photos were taken with just moonlight. 30 sec f/ 5.6 The night before, a whole grip of us decided to hike up from the neighborhood in the full moon and check out the Willow Heights beaver pond. Imagine 15 stumbling people walking a mile in the snow in the … Continue Reading

The snow has been so good up on Pioneer that it keeps bringin us back. There was some wind deposits from the wind last night on high ridgelines so we thought the upper entrance of the V Tree Couloir might be fun.  Hikin up, there was no wind but the clouds were moving at mach … Continue Reading

Big Cottonwood Canyon: Brighton Crest chair to Pioneer ridge to upper Dog Lake chutes and back to B Town. Can’t go split till my new skins come in so its all about bootin the ridges. The upper elevation shady slopes definitely have the best snow in the tri canyons rite now. Top of the first … Continue Reading

Little Cottonwood Canyon: Up Superior’s main apron and reverse. The crew: Mark, Robin & Pat  11″ of epic fluff and first tracks! 5 am in the the driveway. Imagine tryin to take a dook in the out house. Started up in the dark with numb fingers and let Mark break trail for us (thanks buddy). … Continue Reading

After a few park laps, Alex, Travis and I thought we’d take a little stroll in the Brighton backcountry. Leavin the Crest lift we headed up Pioneer ridge to the upper Dog Lake chutes. Passed up the first summit and took a minute to chillax. Zoomed look at Sunset Peak with my neighbor Topher’s tracks … Continue Reading

Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons: Town of Alta to Cardiff pass, down the Eyebrow and out Reynolds flat to the BCC road. Elevations: 7,200 – 10,420 Leaving the Alta lot with Mark, I forgot my headlamp but it wasnt long before the first light hit the snow. The perks of wakin up early. The Pfeifferhorn, … Continue Reading