TR-Mt. Timpanogos, UT 5/9/11

[rvrscum]

I am headed back to the Virginia's now after the best ski season I've enjoyed out here since I began spending my winters in Utah. After DV closed on April 10th, I was able to ski with family, ski tour, and get some epic days in at the 'bird and Alta. For my final TR of this season, I've chosen the most challenging and epic trip of my season, a descent from the South Summit of Mt. Timpanogos.



Wake up was at 2AM, and we left Park City by 2:45. We started stepping out at 4AM in the dark. As we climbed, the sun began to rise. Looking E back towards Heber:







This boot pack is a steep, sustained 35-40+ degree pitch. And it seems to go on forever:







The sun came out to greet us:







Primrose Cirque in the morning light:







The vastness of the Timp Basin. The main summit ridge is in the background:







After another punishing ascent, we reached the main ridgeline. Here we went to boot crampons and began moving south:







The views were stunning:















As was the exposure:







Looking NW towards the main summit:







The route of descent off the South Summit-11,722 ft, trending SE. This was a corn harvest, and I didn't get any pictures on the way down. I was too gripped and focused. This shot is over 2000' vert and was an average of 45 degrees the entire way down. The picture does not do the scale of this slope justice:







There were six people total in 2 elements of four and two. We watched the pair of 2, 30 min behind us, descend down. All together, we continued to move. By now, the snow was heating up and things were starting to move:







A nice chute we got to ski on the way down:







Stewart Falls:







View back up from near Sundance Resort. The start of our 5000' descent is from the left side of the top ridgeline:







I've had a great year and am looking forward to next season.

[davidski]

@rvrscum 245611 wrote:











happy endings

[mmmtaters]

That's a nice climb with stream hazards. Is this your first time doing it? Isn't this one of the highest peaks in Utah?

[dreamnofpow]

Good stuff scum!

[KneeDeep]

There are so many aesthetic peaks in Utah, and Timp is right up there. Nice work!



You can tell it's time for the big descents to happen in CO and UT. A hudge snowpack, warming temps- there's going to be some sick TRs coming for the next month or two. It's still dumping here in Colorado too.

[rvrscum]

Thanks all. Timp is the largest massif in Utah, and the second highest peak in the Wasatch. There's a dozen or so peaks in the Uintas that are 13,000+'. I drove through Berthoud Pass today, taking Hwy 40 from Park City to I-70. Never been that way. Pretty nasty up there, but I could see why its such a great place to tour. I had big delay yesterday, so I didn't stop for a quickie tour, especially with no maps or guides. Perhaps next year! Back to the drive for now.

[Droogie]

Nice stuff!

[First Chair]

Well done.

[admin]

@rvrscum 245611 wrote:over 2000' vert and was an average of 45 degrees the entire way down.



Wow!

[Tmiller72]

Very nice.