Box Elder

An 11,000 foot peak that sits high above the town on Alpine. A 5,000 foot climb over 5 miles and a perfect thing to attempt on my 100th day of shredding this season.

Some fast moving clouds draped the peaks with sunrise. Little did we know what we were getting ourselves into.

We weren’t the only ones hikin this morning.

Mighty Mount Timpanogos.

The Three Temptations. 

And our first look at The Elder. The bald one in the background.  

Guess they dont want ya to skateboard in the Lone Peak Wilderness.

Thats okay we just wunna go surf off that summit up there.

Better get movin.

So many temptations…… not to worry, we had bigger plans.

The skin track groove.

Brook dug a quick pit and ran a shovel tilt and compression test. We were pretty suprised to find a coupla buried facet layers. Not as safe as we thought…. but still manageable… per say.

The brothas.

And the trailbreakers.

Ya gotta love the wilderness areas. No stinky sleds or Twurley Turds. Not a soul for miles around.

On the summit ridge, we were greeted to a violent change in temperature and a dark looming cloud on the peak. 4 miles in and determined, we ate some lunch and warmed up with some hot chocolate.

Then a few careful steps above the Shotgun Chutes. 

And into the abyss.

“Ah yes, the life of a ski mountaineer.” – Mark

Where are those cornices again?

I can taste the summit!

Weeooooo! We made it! Felt like I was on the moon in a blinding dust storm.

It was a surreal experience to shred out underneath the clouds.

Upper Shotgun.

To the northeast line.

Z Money gettin the goods.

Might as well have been a dream.

And as I post this…. its dumping!!!

The west is best.