Getting to the Coalpit Headwall is tough any way you try it

The Transplants Team - Cole, Matt and I set out early Sunday am to ski one of the great Wasatch Gems - The Coalpit Headwall.

Coalpit Headwall

Along the way, a few different errors were made but overall we're better for it.

Looking out of the Y Couloir at LCC.

Our plan of attack was booting up the gut - up the Y Couloir then run the ridge to the coalpit - but we fell into a few missteps along the way - like in retrospect taking the second right of the Y which took us to this beautiful sub-saddle. Matt and Cole look to the future.

1 - ABC always bring crampons. You never know what the conditions are going to be in the gut, even if you think you do. Bring them.

Stuff breaks. Anticipate it. Don't wait until its already broken to get it fixed.

 Get a whippet. You'll feel safer while you're hanging over Hogum Fork climbing up some faceted snow.

The Y Crux Section. Don't ever let anyone tell you this isn't fun.

 Overall the trip was a blast and we had a good time. It was definitely "type 2" fun - which is the type of fun that is more fun after the fact.

Kind of like topping out of the Y. Its funner when you finish. Look at those mountains behind Cole!

 Here is the ridge booter. We decided the giant rock that is out of frame was impassible and decided to go below. Matt's in the frame near the top - putting his board into board mode.

The Ridge to Coalpit

Running the ridge was not as straightforward as it might have been. Not knowing if it was continuous, we bailed down a no-name couloir that I'm going to push to get named "Sunk Costs." It was an interesting ski down and required some mild cliff navigation.

Looking down "Sunk Costs" Couloir

I'm pushing for calling it "Sunk Costs" because the entire Y situation felt like it was a lot of wasted effort. I'd really like to get back up there with someone that knows the route better.

 

We skinned up into the coalpit basin...



... and headed for the ridge to hit up a booter that we thought we saw from the previous vantage.

The booter is there! I swear! Almost invisible - but present. The lower portion had slid out. It looks like the previous party had accessed it from above the saddle. At this point we were exhausted and took some time to chill out and assess.



We decided at this point it would be the best move to ski into Hogum Fork (left in above picture) and make our way out due to the fact that we were unsure if Coalpit Gulch was exitable - given the low snow year.

 We decided to back down and give the coalpit a try another day.

Obligatory "I'm not particularly good at rubbing in sunscreen" shot.

Epic Descent off the Saddle of Coalpit into Hogum

Cole is super pumped that we lived to tell the tale.

Tanner's Gulch Repeat

Last year on Easter Sunday we attempted to ski Tanner's slide path, but got rejected mainly due to huge avy debris piles.  For those unfamiliar w/ one of LCCs most prominent slide paths, Tanner's has about 3,000ft of south facing vertical that provides access to Sunrise, SLC Twins, and Dromedary Peaks. 

Brian crushing it

Andy crushing it

Unfortunately, the temperature started to exceed forecasts (at least it seemed to), which started to cause some significant roller ball action.  Nearing the top, we decided to not push our luck and head down.  

We were close

The battle ski finish

Wasatch March

Here are some pics from recent weekend ski outings in the Wasatch:

The first batch are from a weekend tour around the Catherine pass and Tuscarora area.

This one was taken on life day (March 11) from the top of Scottie's Bowl, only minutes after the storm cleared leaving us with low clouds, a sunset, and the best snow conditions of the year.

On March 12th the we got out for the 3rd full moon ski of the winter. Its impossible to capture these moonlight moments with a picture, but seeing the 270 panorama that is Wolverine Cirque basked in the moonlight is a once in a lifetime experience.

Ruby Mountain Ski Weekend

This is why we came. The "Terminal Cancer Couloir" in the Ruby Mountains just east a town that according to Bill Murray "there is no where else that I would rather be than Elko, NV"

But instead this is where we went....

And this is what we did.....

Leave it to beavers rebuild there dam after the spring snow melt. It was not the weekend to hit "Terminal Cancer" so we wandered into Thomas Canyon to hit a low angle slope we spotted from the Lamoille Canyon Rd.

We passed this charred but still alive tree on our way up into one of the folds of Thomas Canyon.

Remember kids. Always test the pack.

 We hit the same zone on Saturday and Sunday. We only got 2 laps in on Saturday. The trail breaking was tough in the 2 + feet of fresh we ran into once we hit persistent snow line. 

(Above) Brian skis the pow.

(Below) Yes!

 This picture is taken from the entrance to Thomas Canyon looking SW. The basin we skied is in the upper left of the picture. 

 We found this lonely Bristlecone pine on the ridge, the first time ever skiing amongst these incredible trees one of the longest living organisms on this planet. Just think that this little tree could have been here 5,000 years ago.

 On our second day we ran into some of the guides from the Ruby Mountain Heli Ski operation.They gave us 2 pieces of great advice: You can always call RMHS (http://www.helicopterskiing.com/) to ask about snow conditions before you head out and to stay in the Pine Lodge in Lamoille to avoid the drive to Elko (http://www.nevadadventures.com/client/pinelodge/pinelodge.html)