UT: "intro" tours in LCC/BCC?

**Lynx** · 01-10-2006, 09:46 PM

suggestions?

MT · 01-10-2006, 09:52 PM

Lightning Bolt

**stump832** · 01-10-2006, 10:44 PM

Lynxo,

Skinning up Grizzly via the cat track is a nice way to get the legs in shape. You can descend somewhat mellow due East shots from Twin Lakes pass, or continue all the way up to the top of the cat track and ski south/southwest terrain in Grizzly itself. At Twin Lakes pass, you can also turn south and head toward patsey marley, and make some very mellow descents through the trees below the face itself.

Skinning up Cardiff to Pole Line pass would also be a good beginner tour, and it would also give you some practice on switchbacks. The descent back to the road isn't anything to write home about, but can be fun as long as you time it right (avoid the suncrust). Theres some fairly exposed areas above the usual track that you'd want to be wary of on days with a touchy snowpack.

Most importantly, just make sure you are always thinking about hazards, and practicing safe travel. Oh, and also - have fun

**Trackhead** · 01-10-2006, 11:16 PM

How avy savy are you?

Like Stump said, Grizz is a good option.

**Xover** · 01-10-2006, 11:25 PM

or you could always go on a Trackhead Traverse
he never goes up or down anything over 10 degrees

**Lynx** · 01-10-2006, 11:33 PM

my avie resume includes some book learnin', an rei lecture, two clinics with Jim Conway (and a 105% on the last test, hollaH), and this weekend I am doing an Avie 1 course (thurs - sun). So i'm thinking both mellower routes to get the legs in better uphill shape as well as less risk (i.e. less exposure, less steep) while i gain more experience in reading snowpack, digging pits, etc. But also something i could maybe shoot some pow shots on the way back down.

pretty sure that rules out lightning bolt.

MT · 01-10-2006, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by Lynx

pretty sure that rules out lightning bolt.

Oh, come on now

**Lynx** · 01-11-2006, 01:44 AM

ok....so.....s u p e r d u m b question. . . . . (cause the farthest i've been up the cat road is to pyramid gap) is the cat road generally safe to skin up? i.e. are the slope angles that come into the road generally low the whole way up? or would one want to go up the ridge next to it?

i know....stupid jong..... .

**Dr. Crash** · 01-11-2006, 02:05 AM

Anything in "The Chuting Gallery."

**AltaPowderDaze** · 01-11-2006, 02:21 AM

there are 2 cat roads... the one that begins as the summer road to catherine's encounters N aspect slide paths. when you get to the first flat clearing, veer left just outside of that paths alpha angle and head up thru the flats all the way to the pass. since the cat grooms the road, you aren't likely to be able to affect a faceted layer that would bring the slope down on you from the track but during times of natural activity or w/o grooming, you'd want to stay clear of the "usual" path.

**Lynx** · 01-11-2006, 02:40 AM

word, thanks for the infos guys. (Except maybe crash)

any thoughts on BCC? like usa bowl, or is that just lame?

**Jer** · 01-11-2006, 11:01 AM

You're unlikely to find trouble in BCC across from the Spruces parking lot - Powder Park 1, 2, 3 ... n; Tom's Hill; Desolation (avoid the obvious steeps on slabs); the aspen shots to the right, shortly past the cabins; ...

Those are more interesting and more scenic hikes than the Grizzly cat track to Honeycomb overlook; better snow than the crust, tracked & hacked stuff up Grizzly (though the gulch itself is usually good - if you like terrain traps); most of them are longer, so better exercise; and book sense will keep you out of trouble, since the slopes are short, making it easy to stay off of and out from under potential slides; and mostly they're not steep. Lots of good meadow skipping if the snow's fast. Off the main trails will be nice & quiet. Keep checking your map & compass - those hills all look alike at first. Especially in a cloud.

The avy course (that's the FUAFC?) this weekend will probably get you into steeper, more interesting & avalanche prone terrain - tell them you can climb 2000' / hour when they ask.

**powstash** · 01-11-2006, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Lynx

any thoughts on BCC? like usa bowl, or is that just lame?

Not lame at all. Sure you won't get Xover over there to mach one turn down the entire bowl and it's not long enough for Trackhead to run up and ski twice but on a stormy day there are some lower aspects of that bowl and in the vicinity that I ski on 2-3 times a year basis. Great exercise, rarely a soul up there (then again, there are rarely anyone out at 6am skinning around in BCC) and the aspens are beautifully spaced in a lot of that terrain.

Feb 9, 2005 tour in USA Bowl

**frozenwater** · 01-11-2006, 11:25 AM

Lynx, go grab the book "touring the Wasatch Volume I" - hell get all three. But volume I specifically addresses the needs of the first time bc skier and their desire to get out without encountering avy danger.

Plu it is a great way to learn a little more about the wasatch range

**Xover** · 01-11-2006, 11:31 AM

what's this guy ^ know?? he lives in Jackson for Christ's sake!!

**kristen** · 01-11-2006, 11:58 AM

take me with you

**skiguide** · 01-11-2006, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by kristen

take me with you

good idea....

let's get all the utarded maggettes together and go

NO BOYS ALLOWED!

**Trackhead** · 01-11-2006, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by powstash

Feb 9, 2005 tour in USA Bowl

Great information on a tour that happened in 2008? How'd you manage that one?

Did Xover's skiing so fast create a time/space loophole allowing you time travel?

Good advice though. Upper BCC is friendly for the most part.

**patcher** · 01-11-2006, 12:50 PM

Volume two will be the one you need I think especially if you already have some books on the subject. It describes the tours in the northern wasatch in detail. Pm me if you are looking for a partner anytime. I had the av 1 course in December so Im still a newbie in the bc and am willing to let you kick my out of shape ass up a skin track without complaints

.

**Red Baron** · 01-11-2006, 12:58 PM

wow, lots of good info in here. it sounds like there's a pretty big group of people with avalanche & backcountry education, looking for a chance to get out into areas that aren't *usually* too dangerous, to get some experience. maybe we should just pick a meeting time and place once or twice a week and see who shows, and head out?

**Buzzworthy** · 01-11-2006, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by skiguide

good idea....

let's get all the utarded maggettes together and go

NO BOYS ALLOWED!

can I be an exception since I can barely, on a good day, keep up with (or at least keep in sight) the maggettes?

**Shredgar** · 01-11-2006, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by frozenwater

Lynx, go grab the book "touring the Wasatch Volume I" - hell get all three. But volume I specifically addresses the needs of the first time bc skier and their desire to get out without encountering avy danger.

Plu it is a great way to learn a little more about the wasatch range

Well said Frozenwater.

Also see this link: http://www.cs.utah.edu/~hanscom/WasatchTours.html

Good luck.

**Lumpy** · 01-11-2006, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Red Baron

maybe we should just pick a meeting time and place once or twice a week and see who shows, and head out?

Yes, yes, and yes

**Red Baron** · 01-11-2006, 01:37 PM

ok Lumpy: lets start our tour at your office, then head to Trio, the Oyster Bar, Hog Wallow, (skipping over the "Canyon Inn" due to natural hazards) and wrap it up at the Porcupine. Who's in?