Normally I would just call it "Davenport" or "flagstaff ridge" but thanks map!  you've shown me the error of my ways!

Wade and I got to get out for the first real ski this year, last time was just too much snow and not enough slope.



We got started around 630, in the dark (and me without a headlamp) and decided that although the snow on the south facing emma ridge was going to be poor relative to other slopes, we wanted to start out on something safe and secure to build up avalanche confidence. 


 I've said it before and I'll say it again.  I LOVE watching the sun rise on the Wasatch!




 It took us about an hour and half to get to the top because of some slipper snow and step kick turns (check out the map)

and once at the tops we went left to get the snow that would, hopefully, be a little more wind sheltered...it wasn't.  On the plus side, it was vary variable so even though it was tough most of the time, it was creamy in a few places.


And most importantly, it was a blast.


Check out this cool jump wade...


...oh I guess you saw it.  Bye wade.

There will be a video on YouTube soon.  I will link to it here.  In the mean time, check out the mytracks.


View Davenport 122112 in a larger map

Stupid title for a stupid post.  This is just an invite to all members of the URC who are on google+ to check out the community I created to do multi-way chats, hangouts and announcements easier.  

Every now and again, cool stuff falls into my lap that changes things a little, the Skidmap project was one of those and now, in that vein, wasatchbackcountryskiing.com.  I haven't had a chance to really explore it as of yet, but it appears to be a complete listing of every known major route in the wasatach AND know avalanche fatality spots.  Pretty solid.  It will be added to the link list so check it out. 

First off, let me hit the highlights:

24 inches in 24 hours
48 base
15% to 8% to 3% density

Thats according to alta.com

What we actually measured was 140 cm to the old snow...on saturday before the storm finished.

140 cm is over 4 and half feet!  55 inches!

And still coming!

Okay so the plan was to do gunsight, like I have done in the past with both great success and great failure.  Its not a big tour, but its tradition.  Every year I've had a good gunsight tour, its been a good ski year, every year I didn't have a good tour, it wasn't great and last year I didn't get to go at all and we all know how that turned out.   Im not a superstitious type but this winter is pretty much down to me having a good season opener.

It didn't start well, Wade got to my place at 9 like we planned but the power just went out and so we had to run to get a generator for my dad who is on a by-pap.  After that we had to clear the driveway so he could get around, so we got a late start.  No biggie.  Wade also forgot his skins, which was very very bad until I remembered my spare set, cut for 169/80's and we put them on his 178/105's.  I was pretty worried about CSF  (congenital skin failure) as it has happened to people in my party more times than I care to count (turns out they killed it!)

So back to gunsight, we started hiking up, past the warning signs telling us not to go up until we were stopped by a patroler on a snow mobile telling us to pack it in or face a fine.  Normally I would blow it off but he said they would be bombing in that area that day (they didn't BTW).  So I didn't get to do gunsight, which was a bummer and we headed down to start up the summer road to try out toms ridge, since that was about all I could handle with my death cough that I had been dealing with.



It worked....sort of.  Turns out there IS too much of a good thing.  Because of the snow was so deep we couldn't break free and just plowed, chest deep, through it.  A steeper slope would have fixed it, but a steeper slow would be a no go because of the amount of snow.  Catch 22.




We still had a great time, as evidenced by Wade's smile, and even made some new friends.  Hey Chris!

All in all it was pretty good for a first outting, no one died or got injured, I got to try out my new custom fit boots

(thanks BTW to Inkline footscience and Chris for putting in the extra hours)



yeah.  It was so good even being stuck was a good time.

Check out the google map here

And download the earth file here

Courtesy of Coby and his lunch break, check out the video in the player above, or here on YouTube in HD.

In what might be one of the last rides of the year, Coby, Wade H. and myself did more of the mid mountain trail that I have ever done before, and might actually be the longest ride I have ridden to date.

take a look at the map.


View Mix Mountain To Red Pine Lodge in a larger map

and the stats

Of course, the elevation  has some blips in it, but its pretty telling, mostly in the fact that the last few miles were kind of a tease.

So, going back a little, let talk about how we ended up on mid mountain instead of the crest, which was the original plan.


Well, that about sums it up.  That's a pair of snowboards at the top of guardsman, yeah apparently is snowed enough to get the crazies out to build jumps.  I used to do that, but now I realize what a silly thing that was.

Anyway, so plan B, was to finish the drive down guardsmen pass into park city and start mid mountain from deer valley stein Erickson lodge.  I want to say, that driving gaurdsmen pass is amazing and I love it!  here is my drive coming from midway the day before.


yeah, what an amazing place we live in.

back to the story, as you can guess it was pretty cold (between 38-45 degrees) since it was snowing at 10,000, but moving down to 8000 and coming over into the park city side of the Wasatch made it bearable.


bundling up in knee/leg warmers and layers of clothing helped, and it was actually quite pleasant.

Now, the plan originally was to ride the crest to the milcreek pass and then ride into the canyons were a parked car was waiting where we would ride back up and get the car.  Since the change we brought the car to deer valley but the car was still waiting at the canyons which meant that we needed to either bomb down into park city via spiro like usual and ride all the way into town, or ride the additional distance to get to the car, we chose the latter.

I guess we didn't realize how long a ride that was going to be, it ended up being about 17 miles just to the red pine lodge at the canyons, and about another 4 miles down to the car.  because we were expecting a 13 mile ride and not a 21 mile ride, we didn't have the appropriate food to power us on, so by the time we got to red pine lodge, we were pretty spent.

Having to face the prospect of having to ride up and down and up another ridge as we were was unattractive.  Fortunately,  with a small amount of persuading including a playing of the "I don't want to get struck by lightning...again" card, she let us down the gondola on the "safety concern" provision.  Certainly not something anyone should count on, but we are very grateful for for exception on our behalf.

It sounds like we were in worse shape than we were and that this ride was a rough experience, but it really wasn't, it was amazing.   The trail was perfect, the scenery was amazing and the quite at times, was overwhelming.  The terrain change from resort to resort (deer valley, Park City, Canyons) was stark and very fun to see, Deer valley having the most even keel flow, Park City being a bit more exciting in elevation, but still silky smooth, and the canyons, a very different and very north shore like ride:  mossy rocks, challenging rocky riding and dense pine forests.  This is easily one of the best rides that exists, hands down.  The best part?  there is at least another 10 miles of it that we never got to!  So next year, it will be mine.


a view from deer valley.  Imagine all those yellow leaves on the trail, and riding though aspen groves at the same time...or wait for some of the footage from Coby's gopro [In player above or on YouTube HD]

even better?  Park city FINALLY has a few good cheap places to eat in the new mini mall near kimbal junction