Utah Interconnect-1/28/10

[rvrscum]

Last year I organized a Ski Utah Interconnect Tour for Deer Valley employees, and due to popular demand, set one up again. Four days a week, the trip links DV-PCMR-Solitude-Brighton-Alta-Snowbird. The other three days the tour moves between the Cottonwood resorts only. On the heels of a major storm, and 6" of fresh overnight, conditions were prime. This is the third time I've done the trip from Park City to Snowbird, and these were the best conditions overall I've experienced. The avalanche danger has been really high of late here in the Wasatch, so we skied low-angle shots for the bc portions of the trip. To start, we actually did a lap in DV off of the Empire Lift, because it was so good. A rare inversion for PC made it seem as if we were in a plane. Looking E over Empire Canyon:







Looking S, and the Empire patrol shack, where we crossed over to PCMR:







From there I went into trees just right of McConkey's Bowl, really nice stuff. We moved over to Jupiter Lift and did a lap there as well. Then it was through the gate and into this view of BCC:







Looking S towards Clayton Peak and 10420':







The goods:







Tracks:







From a distance:







After you leave PCMR at Jupiter, it is downhill to Solitude. When we arrived there, our guides informed us that Soli patrol was going to close the Highway to Heaven traverse soon because of rapid warming and the increasing danger of slides. We had a choice to either stay in BCC, or hustle up and get over to LCC. We elected to move on.



Looking back over Brighton towards PCMR and DV:







On the Highway headed to Twin Lakes Pass:







Wolverine Cirque:







Looking down LCC towards Mt Superior and SLC:







Picking out a line into Grizzly Gulch. I took GaTom out here during the '10 SkiNC Utah Mini Summit a few weeks earlier:







A glimpse of Grizzly Gulch:







We did a couple of laps in Alta, plus lunch at Watson's Shelter:







Then onto the 'bird and Mineral Basin:







Part of the gang:







Taking in this view:







Skiing down into the flat light under the tram:







Next time there's a SkiNC gathering out here, you all should consider doing this trip. If you're comfortable on western black terrain, the trip is for you. Tele or alpine gear (sorry no boards), and the only time I took my skis off is when I stopped for lunch.



Enjoy!!!

[EastCoaster]

Awesome awesome awesome awesome



I'll be back out weekend after next. We should make some turns.

[dreamnofpow]

Great stuff. Would love to take that tour.

[Zone Driven]

This should be an event each year. Cool thing!

[bfeller]

Great pictures of that inversion.

[pagamony]

that is so nice. maybe even worth a plane trip. thanks.

[KneeDeep]

That's awesome.



Its amazing that PCMR/DV are so close to Big Cottonwood- I would have never guessed it.



Next time I come out there, we need to make some turns.

[Ski Bunny]

Awesome pics!

[CatPatrol]

Do you need AT gear for this? What days do they run the tours from DV to BCC to LCC? I'm going to be out in March and am very interested in doing this.

[rvrscum]

@EastCoaster 206013 wrote:Awesome awesome awesome awesome



I'll be back out weekend after next. We should make some turns.



Looking forward to it.