The Coalpit

The Utah Transplants have made it to the Coalpit Headwall - and they can't stop going back!

We've been trying to ski the Coalpit Headwall for three years!

http://utahtransplants.blogspot.com/2014/03/getting-to-coalpit-headwall-is-tough.html

We failed twice to reach the head wall. Mostly because  2/3 of our group is from locations that don't have mountains or snow (Virginia and Texas). We eventually became moderately efficient at moving around on snow - and actually made it to the head wall, only to spend hours in the <10 foot visibility.

We've decided on the Bell's Canyon approach after our numerous attempts. While not direct @ 6 miles and 5800' - it's non-technical, so the only thing that can stop you is yourself. Which almost happened on this attempt - skinning w/ one powder basket is twice as hard.

The second best approach from a effort stand point is Coalpit direct. The downside to this approach is the avalanche exposure. It exists from all aspects at all times.

Brian skis out the apron. We were able to ski the middle line and the narrower gully lookers right. The Coalpit exit has extreme avalanche exposure from the sides of the gully - be very wary of making a late spring exit in this lower area. Name of the game is to start early - because the lower 500' before the waterfall is a dangerous place with warming snow. A good refreeze is key too - in order to bridge the creek all the way to the waterfall.

Brian nears the Coalpit from upper Bell's Canyon.

Usually in early May we have found snow and switched to skins at the upper Bell's waterfall.

This hand line seemed safer a week earlier w/ Cole. Much snow melted between then and our next trip. This is a much delayed post - from our early May exploits. Happy ski season. See you next year.

Lone Peak & Wolverine Cirque - Scarpa F1 Mods

The last two week's of ski endeavors from the group. Family/Friends- please skip the first handful of pictures they are all related to technical boot modifications.

(Brian - Add awesome Ski Pic here)

The hard boot transition is not 1-year in - and there is really no reason to go back.

Here is a brief overview of every modification made to the Scarpa F1 to facilitate the splitboard.

Above - Sticky Tongue Pad on the inside of the tongue - this helps keep pressure on the top of my forefoot and lock my heel down. There always seemed to be a gap/lack of pressure in this location with only 2 buckles.

Above - the power strap has two layers of flexible/stretch strap. My desire to have a progressive forward flex led me to cut one of the layers off. The power strap now allows more flex and softer flex when make toe side turns.

Above - note the two guides/grommets for the wire on the sides of the boot. These are mounted upside down allowing more slack in the wire when the boot is locked into ski mode. Unlike the TLT 5/6 mods - the progressive forward flex comes from tongue flex allowed by the shell flexing open.

Above - perhaps the most aggressive modification - about 1/3 of the thickness on both the lateral and medial side of the shell has been removed with an orbital sander and 40 grit sand paper. It's hard to see in the pic - but the ribs are sanded down - and a good bit of the smooth material is also gone. The best way to do this is to remove the grommet and the power strap and then sand away at the region pictured above the hinge until you think the shell flex will meet your needs. This was a gamble - but it really works. I've even had some luck pressing and buttering with the added lateral flex.

Brian on the Lone Peak ridge - we hiked up from Alpine requiring a Saturday alpine start due to the sunshine and warm temps.

Descending with Box Elder in the backdrop - this run maybe called "Highway or Stairway to Heaven" - its a cool u-shaped valley that shows its glacial origins well.

But on the ridge a quick cloud bank blew through and kept the snow firm - requiring us to camp out behind this rock for a bit to wait it out.

Birthday/Tri/Lake Chutes and Neff's Canyon

Skiing has been good to start the new year. First weekend back from Christmas activities. Brian, Cole, and myself went out to check it out. Above, quick powder basket repair.

We headed out to our favorite White Pine spots. Brian sported some new lightweight skinny skis by movement  - that seemed to ski pretty well.

Lap #2 of 3 up the Red Stack shoulder. Clouds were in and out all day making visibility a challenge.

This was one of our first big days of the year. We logged >6K of vert - Brian's knee keeps getting stronger.

Next Day - Cole and I headed over to Red Pine to approach the Lake Chute.

Skies cleared - and we were treated with incredible scenery.

(Below) Cole on top of Lake Peak. Off to the right in the sun is Red Stack the mountain that we skied on Saturday.

Remarkable timing led to this photo capture.

The Lake Chute. Utah Transplants favorite ski run!

The following weekend we explored one of the canyons off the valley floor "Neffs".

There was a lot of pre-storm wind and graupel blowing in - but the settled snow still skied well.

Some of the views from the ridgline shared w/ Big Cottonwood were really cool.

We spent a long time on the ridge exploring and doing snowpack analysis before skiing back out.

Want to get back up there soon!