Uintah - Spirit Lake TR 6/20/05 - Endless Spring

[LaramieSkiBum]

I've been lurking here long enough without contributing anything worth reading, so here is my first attempt at a TR to commemerate my 400th post.

Caution: It's long, and lame. The use of robot skis is noted (they are my touring setup as of right now and i do have bros, just no skins).

Length: approx. 5+ miles
Vertical: approx 2,020 feet w/ 1202 feet skied down


I have been eye balling this line for a year now. Summer after summer my family, friends and I go up to the Uintah’s to camp and fish at least once a month, but I have never skied these peaks, only dreamed.

The company I work for right now is looking at a possible strike, and out of fear for the last day of the season at the 'bird and the need for a fix, I decided that today was the day to "bang that line."



I left Green River, Wyoming at 3AM today. The moon was just setting over the Uintah mountains fifty miles to the south, as the crow flies:





I arrived at Spirit Lake camp ground at 4:50AM and planned this ascent:





Today was supposed to be a warm day, and i have witnessed avalanche activity the past two weekends during fishing trips. I knew getting there early and hitting this as early as possible was key to not putting myself at risk, not just from avalanche but also the almost daily lightning storms during summer months.

Around 5:15 as I billygoated up the steep rocks with a head lamp in search of the tree/snow line, the sun finally came up:

Looking towards Spirit Lake (north)




The going was not easy, as the snow was too sparse for skinning but deep enough in places to make my 30+ lb pack a real PITA. There was no trail to the summit, I battled pine trees and drifts the whole way. I didn't bother to skin up until the last 1,000 vertical feet to the summit.





Around 6AM I decided to stop for breakfast. Sugarfree RedBull and PowerBars....mmmmmm...

Some folks who at first I thought were Texans insisted on eating with me. It turns out they were just local Utards:




Nothing like 100 blood suckers chasing you down at 11,000 feet, especially when your on Apline Tour Wreckers and trying to chow down a PowerBar....


About 2/3 of the way to the summit I finally spotted my target:





The cornices looked HUGE and scary all the way around the rim. They had lots of 1 to 3 foot cracks up to 10 yards from the edge.

There was a lot of skinning and billgoating to be had before I even got close to the summit:


I spooked a deer just before this picture was taken, I think she was as scared as I was! I'm pretty sure we were both thinking the same thing -- WTF are you doing here?!

8:15AM
On the summit at 12,000 feet, looking North East towards Flaming Gorge Lake, Sheep Creek Canyon, and Brownie Lake. Note the clouds in the picture. I do not think the chute would have been safe without them, they really shaded the slope until 30min before I began checking the slope for stability:





One more look at the target before trekking on around the bend:




Looking back at where I parked my truck (red dot):





After cutting a 1/4 ton block of cornis and letting it drop, I decided to “huck” the cornis at its lowest point (4 feet), ski cut, and then double back for a pit and tests. I was pretty apprehensive about dropping in without tying off or a partner, but the dropping of the block and relative mild slope below the drop reassured me.

Time to step in, or "manditory tips on the edge pic":




8:45AM
I dropped in as soon as i got my camera in my pocket:



Everything seemed stable, the snowpack was fairly isothermal (3 deg F difference between top and bottom), and showed no real discernable layers save for a 1/2" crust that was fading fast. The slope ranged from 50 to 40 degrees.

I timed the decent perfectly (8:45AM). The snow was not crusty, except the first few hundred vertical feet. This was a North East facing slope, so it was vital to hit it early since the sun rises so far to the north these days.

After those first few turns it was butter, but not yet saturated with water. I don't have any pics of mid decent because:

A) I was too excited to ski, and did not stop until the the avy debris halted me and I was clear of danger from above.

B) Was way too aprehensive about stoping due to fast warming and the sketchy ass cornices above me. (see my route selection below, notice 4 or 5 turns and then getting out from underneith previously skied terrain).



9:00 AM
Looking down at avy debris from the chute. My starting point is just to the right (east) of the farthest lake (Spirit Lake). The ridge you see the lookers right is the one i used to gain access to the peaks:





Looking back up at my cornis drop, pit, and 2 ski cuts. You can make out most of my tracks, except one of the ski cuts at the very top of the chute is not visible due to the camera / lack of dirt:





10:30AM - The one i decended is just above the tip of my ski. This was taken in the flooded meadow shown in the pic's above.


by 11:00 AM i was back at the truck and drove to the dam, where you could STILL see my turns (1.5-2 miles as the crow flies). They aren't visible in this picture, but the chute is the first from lookers right that has snow all the way to the bottom:





I tried to fly fish for awhile, when a forest service worker came up, saw my ski's on the back of my jeep, looked up at the chute and said - "was that you?! When did you start walking?!"

T'was a good day.....may spring never end.

P.S. Anyone else skied here before? I've never heard anyone mention the Northern slope of the Uintah's this far east. What are the chances that this is a first decent? (like it really matters i suppose, but just curious)

edit: for clarity and spelin

[Darkside]

Not a bad first TR at all. I give it two thumbs up.

[skier666]

La Dopeness...

good work buddy

[AltaPowderDaze]

thanks for the tr. i've got some questions about a peak out that direction. pm sent.

[Powder Seeker]

Great TR, LSB. Green with envy. Sounds like one hell of a run!

[powstash]

you know it's late in the year when the only way to make out your tracks is from the dirt you've displaced on the snow.

Love the TR.

[bcrider]

First TR?

I’m feelin’ it dog!

Looks like a good time and great area!

Dawn patrol, solo hiking, wildlife, skiing…its all there.

Thanks for sharing!

[SkiingBear]

Great TR...coming out of the gates with style. Of course, now we're going to expect the same from the rest of your TRs

If you're headed down this way for some skiing, let me know. I could probably stand to make a few more turns.

[LaramieSkiBum]

Thanks for the comments guys. I think i will probably hit up the 'bird this Sunday, if things at work go ok this week, so maybe I can catch a few of you there again.

There are several lines in the area that look tastey...but access might be a problem unless you make it a multiday trip.

Looking over my left shoulder as I climb the peak. These lines would tack on major trip time since there is no road that follows that drainage. This is a welcome theme of the Unitahs, as access to the majority of the peaks is a 2 to 10 mile trek. Not completely wilderness like the Wind River Range, but not a highway through the peaks like LCC or BCC:



The next two photos have lines that are relatively close to a Jeep trail, I'm thinking about driving down after work, pitch a tent, and hike the next morning. It would be a long drive, and a night jeep trail run, but could be fun:

Looking South and West down the range:



Looking directly South, sorta towards Vernal, UT.


This was as close as I wanted to get to the big scary cornices, I don't have any good photos of the cracks because I didn't even want to be on the snow with them. The cracks were long and wide, 1 to 3 feet in width and some extending for 1/2 a wyoming city block. It seemed like you could just kick or pry several thousand pounds of snow down the hill with your foot.

[Trackhead]

Nice work out there. The Uintas are a gold mine of lines.

[Xover]

way to pop your TR cherry