TR: A+ mini road trip

stupendous man · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 692 Location: PRB

The die had been cast. We were nervous about Utah's snowpack, given our plans to be there President's Day weekend. But, with two feet new the week before our visit, we committed. But Ullr had other plans for us first...white out conditions and white knuckle driving for 8 hours got us over two passes as far as...Steamboat, normally 3 hours away (DOH!). Due to driving winds, blizzards closed every major road over the divide, save one, highway 14 to steamboat. and so our trip to utah began in colorado...

with only 2 inches of new called after all that.
$81 beans.

the snow had been hammered, but there was plenty of pow to be found if you knew what direction was east.

danno figuring it out.

josh found some as well.

fortunately, the goods awaited in the back faces and gates. but unfortunately, my camera batteries died then. whatever, we rolled with it.
we were happy at the top, if that's any indication

OVERALL TRIP GRADE - B
And so we rolled out of steamboat to complete our goal- the venerable wasatch. but, would it be worth it?

we pulled into midvale and met up with our friends from boise, downing ale and whiskey until the wee hours of the morning. we saw them off the next day, and hit the slopes by the crack of noon.
bidding adieu (sweet eurovan)

we decided on the backcountry, armed with powder fever and little knowledge, plus variable conditinos, we selected the mellower terrain of silver fork canyon.

joe on the way up.

the canyon. it was a beautiful day.

skintrack stoke

the turns were classic utah for which we yearn in colorado. beautiful uncut lines from the top of ridge to the valley floor, all through the perfect aspens.

your wish is my command

joe

stupendous man

After dinner of wendy's on the way across northwest colorado, we were pleased to follow the ttips recommendatinos in SLC for some marvelous eats at Red Iguana- can't recommend the moles highly enough. best tables reserved for those with tatooed necks. Lone Star- killer burritos.

OVERALL TRIP GRADE - A MINUS. backcountry, friends, moles, two days of powder. now we're getting somewhere.

after some whiskey and cigars we hit the sack. snow was in the forecast. and snow it did.

12" at Solitude blower white room orgasm pow.

president's day, 2007, 9 am, 12 inches...I give you the solitude parking lot.

time to feed the jones, with AUTHORITY!!

we had the tools

danno

josh getting a wiff

stupendous man...with black curtains

right angle

danno sequence

josh in the chute

sweet sweet honeycomb

thank you sir...

stoked = me

OVERALL GRADE ==

SkaredShtles · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:30 am Post subject:

Now *that* is a TR.

Is it any wonder Utah is King?

porkchop · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 420 Location: MJ

But we had 6" of fresh wind-blown at the Jane on monday. Ha! Beat that.

SkaredShtles · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:20 am Post subject:

thornton · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 770 Location: over the bars

oldfart · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:01 am Post subject:

You found Meadow Chutes !

Looks like vintage Solitude powda....

ed · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:07 am Post subject:

I hope you guys realize that if you are making first tracks on a Wasatch slope it means you are a) there at 4:00 AM right after a storm, or b) the skiing is so lousy none of the 1 million + people right at the bottom of the hill wants to ski there, or c) skiing a slope with a signficant avalanche hazard.

I reckon if you can survive a Colorado snowpack you will survive a day or two in Utah.

CommanderBaker · Joined: 28 Dec 2005 Posts: 811 Location: Wasatch

way to rip it up fellas - always proud to see some coloradans come in and take care of bizness!

keithermadness · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 19814

Too bad I missed you guys! All those great calls led to a nice trip Cool

_________________
~km

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

— Agent009

stupendous man · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 692 Location: PRB

oldfart · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject:

The Utards are out on Sundays, you bet. It's just that we aren't used to the scary snowpack, so no one is skiing anything steep. The Meadows are usually tracked wall to wall immediately after a storm, the last few storms, almost no one has ventured up there. We saw your tracks from across the street in Sunny Bowl that day and were quite surprised anyone was over there.

As for the danger, check the latest photos here :
http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/photos/Images06-07/
An impressive display, to say the least.

Danno · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:01 pm Post subject:

edgeworker · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

Way to hit it!!!

christian :?) · Joined: 17 Dec 2004 Posts: 2119

Noice!

- Christian :?)

keithermadness · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 19814

I was a tad further north Cool

_________________
~km

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."

— Agent009