It’s not on everybody’s bucket list only because of its name. Classic. The adventure stories you want in your inbox. As one of the largest backcountry resorts in the world and only 60 minutes from Salt Lake, Whisper Ridge … The ski season in Utah usually kicks off mid-November and lasts through April. Start your ascent. Believe the hype! Backcountry Skiing Utah is an indispensable resource for planning safe day trips and extended ski tours in the mountains of the Beehive State. The drainage there also acts as a relatively safe harbor when avalanche hazard is elevated. There’s paths everywhere and lots of trailhead options. Just off of the Great Western Lift is Hidden Canyon which offers some of the easiest backcountry access you’ll find, and runs lasting for days after a storm. On the northside of the Ridgeline consider Dutchess Draw and McDonald’s Draw each with big, each skiable and mega on powder days. Backcountry Skiing in the Wasatch Mountains, Climbing and Skiing Solitude's Fantasy Ridge. (optional). Another option for the area is Flagstaff Mountain and Upper Days Fork, which can be tracked out fairly quickly, but is still worth getting up early to hit skiable chutes, bowls and trees. As ski resorts are limiting access because of the coronavirus pandemic, skiers are looking for alternative … I like skiing in Davis County as well. Sign up for the 57hours newsletter and join our growing community of outdoor adventurers. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding have exploded into the mainstream this year. Willie is a fully certified IFMGA mountain guide and AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guide, based out of Sandy, his home in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah with wife Liz. Touring boots have an unlockable ankle for freer motion when climbing. It's no surprise backcountry skiing … The two main faces for descents are Cardiac Bowl and the South Face. The Backcountry Skiing Blog Site for Utah and Beyond by Ski Guide John Mletschnig Utah Backcountry Skiing Professional Information for Backcountry Skiers and Tales from the Great Beyond. He writes a regular skiing … There you go: five go-to spots even when the danger looks dicey. The point of backcountry skiing is you can pretty much go anywhere you want (though private property laws still apply…). Not bad. This is a mountain biking and hiking hotspot in the warmer months, so there’s ample snow covered trails to get where you need, Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes: Utah by Jared Hargrave, Grab a cup at Moab Coffee Roasters, where they roast their own beans, Get a pint and a burger at the family-friendly Moab Brewery. Cirques, chutes, bowls, and plenty of powder and steep runs, and yes, cliff drops, 10,026’ at Alta; Snowbird’s slightly higher at 11,000’. Brighton has some of the coldest and driest snow in the world, and there’s plenty of it throughout the season. The best month to ski in Utah is February. Stay up-to-date with the latest outdoor adventure stories and get exclusive offers delivered straight to your inbox. Backcountry skiing is the opposite of frontcountry skiing. Backcountry Skiing in Utah and Beyond Stories. The ridgeline is accessible if you want to skip the lines, Moderate amounts of dry Utah snow during the entire season, Ski area boundaries and routes are available here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a discount and updates on 57hours offers, webinars, and reviews. beware! WHERE TO BACKCOUNTRY SKI And if you feel like springing for it, there’s heli-skiing if you want that hard-to-reach pow. Skin and bootpack. Touring bindings allow a free heel for climbing that can clip in for descents. Yes, you can ski between Alta and Snowbird. All rights reserved. WHO BACKCOUNTRY SKIS? No resort pass required. Compared to other areas, access here requires a good deal of effort and a big day but the reward of solitude and plethora of five-star terrain is unbeatable. Utah may be known for its world-famous powder, but spring is the best time to backcountry ski big lines in remote ranges. Utah Backcountry Skiing Skiing the Utah Backcountry. It typically sees the most amount of snow, with conditions generally staying prime until mid-March. Tyson Bradley is a nationally recognized extreme and backcountry skier. Beyond Wasatch, the La Sal Mountains have some solid places to ski right around Moab. SAFETY FIRST While the majority of people may consider Moab primarily as a hiking and mountain biking locale, locals who know the area are taking advantage of its 12+ 12,000’ mountains for backcountry skiing objectives. This year at Powder Mountain, Utah, our testers gathered for the 2021 Gear Test Week to review 121 products just before Covid-19 sent us into lockdown. 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