TR - Snowbird, Alta, Snowbasin 6-8-07 - 6-9-07

DJC · Jun 9, 2008, 11:02 AM

What an amazing year. To ski/ride in June at all is incredible, to find powder, albeit wet powder, is ridiculous.

I headed to Utah for the weekend. Plan was to hit up Snowbird on Saturday and then hike at Snowbasin on Sunday. I ended up only having a couple runs at Snowbird but they were all amazing. I did have to work for them though. The only lifts running are the tram, mineral basin, and little cloud. It snowed quite a bit last week (about 10 inches total) and all other areas of the resort were open but considered backcountry. I came prepared with avi gear and was ready to earn some June powder.

My first stop was the skier's left traverse off of Little Cloud:

Then I hiked up to the top of Mid Gad:

The top 1/3 of the Mid Gad area was terrific. The area has been closed for weeks so the base was smooth. There was about six inches of wet powder on top - it was really nice. As I got lower the snow turned very heavy.

Next I decided to hike Baldy with no real idea of what I'd do when I got to the top. View from the top of Baldy.

The ride back into Snowbird looked good but I had the itch to drop into Alta...so I did.

And it was good.

Another view, down lower.

The entire ride down to the base was great. Super smooth cream cheese, not too wet. It rode pretty fast actually. There were TONS of hikers at Alta...the parking lot had more cars then Snowbird!

Alta base.

Snowbasin up next...

deadheadskier · Jun 9, 2008, 11:05 AM

Man, that isn't fair

Moe Ghoul · Jun 9, 2008, 11:11 AM

Wow, good for you, makin turns in June, you rule. Are there any sherpas out there that'll carry me and the equipment to the top? I'd be there in a heartbeat.

DJC · Jun 9, 2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moe Ghoul

Wow, good for you, makin turns in June, you rule. Are there any sherpas out there that'll carry me and the equipment to the top? I'd be there in a heartbeat.

You could probably find enough broke ski bums at this point in the season to carry you...

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Jun 9, 2008, 11:23 AM

Serious Stoke!!!!...JEA!!!!! You must be in great shape to do all that high elevation hiking with flatlander lungs.

DJC · Jun 9, 2008, 11:39 AM

Yesterday I decided to get an early start and attempt to hike to the top of Mount Ogden, which is the peak at the top of Snowbasin. I figured it would be about a four hour climb and because it was so unseasonably cold this weekend (below freezing at night, about 50 during the day) I figured a 7AM start would be okay. I ended up being wrong about that, more on that later.

The base at Snowbasin (about 2000 feet lower then Alta):

The goal was to reach the top of the couloir to looker's right of the Mt. Ogden peak:

I hiked on foot for about 1000 feet and then strapped into the splitboard. Covered about another 1000 feet via skinning. Mid-mountain:

The elevation difference between Snowbasin and Snowbird was very apparent. Even though it had been cold the night before, the June sun and relative low elevation was quickly taking it's toll. The snow was very wet and it was difficult to gain purchase. I switched to crampons and continued climbing. Getting closer:

Eventually I made it to the apron. The rock wall was imposing:

At this point I was tired and the snow was pretty bad. I was nervous about trying to climb to the top and admittedly having second thoughts. I was alone and not feeling very strong. I'm not very experienced climbing with crampons and this was the wrong snow to mess around with. I called it quits at the top of the apron. View from the top (well, my top anyway):

I strapped on and made my descent. Turning thru the rocks was fun:

The snow quality down lower was pretty bad, I basically just straightlined it thru the mank to the end of the snow line and then hiked on foot back to the base. All in all a great workout with a few good turns (what turns in June aren't good?). Very dissapointed that I could not make it to the top but I will try again next year!

DJC · Jun 9, 2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrilledSteezeSandwich

Serious Stoke!!!!...JEA!!!!! You must be in great shape to do all that high elevation hiking with flatlander lungs.

Its weird...I lived out there for a month or so and acclimated after about 10 days. I've been fortunate to return about twice a month all spring and haven't really lost my lungs. I expect that a summer off will change that though...

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Jun 9, 2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJC

Its weird...I lived out there for a month or so and acclimated after about 10 days. I've been fortunate to return about twice a month all spring and haven't really lost my lungs. I expect that a summer off will change that though...

Sweet..I wish I could afford a ski trip to Utah twice a month...

DJC · Jun 9, 2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrilledSteezeSandwich

Sweet..I wish I could afford a ski trip to Utah twice a month...

I never could before, I'm just very fortunate at this point in my life. I don't take it for granted.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Jun 9, 2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJC

I never could before, I'm just very fortunate at this point in my life. I don't take it for granted.

Awesome...what airport and what airline do you use for weekend Utah trips..

Jun 9, 2008, 11:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
DJC Chile Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC/Eden Posts: 33	TR - Snowbird, Alta, Snowbasin 6-8-07 - 6-9-07 What an amazing year. To ski/ride in June at all is incredible, to find powder, albeit wet powder, is ridiculous. I headed to Utah for the weekend. Plan was to hit up Snowbird on Saturday and then hike at Snowbasin on Sunday. I ended up only having a couple runs at Snowbird but they were all amazing. I did have to work for them though. The only lifts running are the tram, mineral basin, and little cloud. It snowed quite a bit last week (about 10 inches total) and all other areas of the resort were open but considered backcountry. I came prepared with avi gear and was ready to earn some June powder. My first stop was the skier's left traverse off of Little Cloud: Then I hiked up to the top of Mid Gad: The top 1/3 of the Mid Gad area was terrific. The area has been closed for weeks so the base was smooth. There was about six inches of wet powder on top - it was really nice. As I got lower the snow turned very heavy. Next I decided to hike Baldy with no real idea of what I'd do when I got to the top. View from the top of Baldy. The ride back into Snowbird looked good but I had the itch to drop into Alta...so I did. And it was good. Another view, down lower. The entire ride down to the base was great. Super smooth cream cheese, not too wet. It rode pretty fast actually. There were TONS of hikers at Alta...the parking lot had more cars then Snowbird! Alta base. Snowbasin up next...

Jun 9, 2008, 11:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
deadheadskier Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southeast NH Posts: 4,628	Man, that isn't fair __________________ Pat's Peak: 11/23 Waterville Valley: 11/29 07-08

Jun 9, 2008, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Moe Ghoul Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: philly Posts: 2,874	Wow, good for you, makin turns in June, you rule. Are there any sherpas out there that'll carry me and the equipment to the top? I'd be there in a heartbeat. __________________ 08/09: Killington- 3; CB-1 Total:4 CNBC: 9463rd 2%

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Jun 9, 2008, 11:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
GrilledSteezeSandwich Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 10,917	Serious Stoke!!!!...JEA!!!!! You must be in great shape to do all that high elevation hiking with flatlander lungs.

Jun 9, 2008, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
DJC Chile Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC/Eden Posts: 33	Yesterday I decided to get an early start and attempt to hike to the top of Mount Ogden, which is the peak at the top of Snowbasin. I figured it would be about a four hour climb and because it was so unseasonably cold this weekend (below freezing at night, about 50 during the day) I figured a 7AM start would be okay. I ended up being wrong about that, more on that later. The base at Snowbasin (about 2000 feet lower then Alta): The goal was to reach the top of the couloir to looker's right of the Mt. Ogden peak: I hiked on foot for about 1000 feet and then strapped into the splitboard. Covered about another 1000 feet via skinning. Mid-mountain: The elevation difference between Snowbasin and Snowbird was very apparent. Even though it had been cold the night before, the June sun and relative low elevation was quickly taking it's toll. The snow was very wet and it was difficult to gain purchase. I switched to crampons and continued climbing. Getting closer: Eventually I made it to the apron. The rock wall was imposing: At this point I was tired and the snow was pretty bad. I was nervous about trying to climb to the top and admittedly having second thoughts. I was alone and not feeling very strong. I'm not very experienced climbing with crampons and this was the wrong snow to mess around with. I called it quits at the top of the apron. View from the top (well, my top anyway): I strapped on and made my descent. Turning thru the rocks was fun: The snow quality down lower was pretty bad, I basically just straightlined it thru the mank to the end of the snow line and then hiked on foot back to the base. All in all a great workout with a few good turns (what turns in June aren't good?). Very dissapointed that I could not make it to the top but I will try again next year!

Jun 9, 2008, 11:02 AM
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