Skiing Baldy Main Chute and Gun Sight up at Alta

Well, it had been a week since I last got to feel the cool touch of the snow graze across my face as I slash turns into the Wasatch white, but with a new deposit of 12″, I was feeling like it was time to return to the mountains and once again ramp up for the winter season.

Last week I had started early with my good friend Whitney. We hiked up Collins, hit Baldy shoulder, then continued on up.

For those of you who have done the skin to Main Chute, you may know that it is the last 500ft of steep, wind scoured, sharp kick turn, switch backs that really kick you in the ass. I, however did not know that was the case and this being my first Main chute approach was sorely disapointed to see and feel the continual reminder of my inept kick turn abilities.

But after many slips back wards, awkward ballet esque moves and the many swear words muttered under my scarf, we made it to the top. I would like to say we did all of that hard work for first tracks, or even fresh tracks, however that was simply not the case. Whitney and I reached the top and peered over the edge to see a skied out first 1/3 of the chute.

After figuring who would drop in first and taking the oh so important “summit” photo I dropped in. The top left much to be desired, in terms of soft snow, but the trade off of knowing that the chute was well filled in and snow sharks would be less prevalent was a nice reprise from the past five outings, where every turn made was another chance at getting your cores ripped out from under you.

All and all Baldy chute ended up being quite tasty and as I dropped into the last 2/3 of the chute I was actually hitting some pillows of fresh powder that reaffirmed the worth of the rough skin to the top.

No sooner was I feeling my oats and starting to feel good about the snow pack, I entered into the Ballroom apron and with a shit eating grin on my face and “WooHoos!!” uncontrollably pouring out of my mouth, I was loving the seemingly deep snow. It was then that I was torn from all my glory and thrown cart-wheeling world hitting rocks and snow alike.

I came to a stop and as a lif a light bulb went off, realized how little snow there really was and how incredibly dangerous it was to ski under these limited conditions. I guess one could say the tumble got me scared enough to realize that possibly I had been a bit over zealous. So with my tail tucked between my legs I decided to head down and wait till at least another 12″ of fresh blanketed the Wasatch.

So, last night I watched the slow moving system approach and realized that the Cottonwoods were looking at receiving 10 inches (which was close enough).

I jumped into to my truck at 5:15am met up with my buddy, Weston Deutschlander and we headed over to LCC.

The Alta website said they were closed to uphill traffic, but that the summer road would be open as well as Greeley bowl. So we headed up that way. Ran into a large group of backcountry.com employes getting some turns in before heading to work for the day. One of those people was my friend Jim Harris. We all skinned to the ridge of Gun sight. Weston and I decided to hit the Chute while the others skied the open face skiers left.

As we de- skinned and geared up for the descent, Weston and I discussed the avalanche conditions and decided that our real concern was not the snow pack but the likely hood of Sharks and recognized that we did not want this to be a season ending run, so we put our tele pride to the side and decided to make alpine turns.

Weston dropped in first and with deep pitched hoots and hollers I could see that it was going to be good! I dropped in next and it was deep. I got face shots even while making alpine turns! It was beautiful and tasty.

The next pitch was equally bottomless. Weston and I got to the bottom, looked at each other and in a no brainer of a decision threw our skins back on and went for another lap.

The second lap was great and Jim Harris was kind enough to join us and shoot some pics.

All in all it was a great day... well morning really, as we were back at the truck by 10:30am. But none the less, another day that has left me chomping at the bit for mother nature to burry our mountains.

Tags: Alta, Baldy, Chutes, Gunsight, Skiing