Resolution of the new year, 2015 = blog regularly. I’ve realized in order to achieve this I’m going to have to lower my standards of what I consider “blog worthy.” It can’t always be first descents, link-ups, or big traverses as I would like. The conditions and snowpack just don’t allow it. So, lower your standards with me and we’ll see what happens. It’s probably a bad idea, but like most resolutions of the new year, it probably won’t last.
This winter started out slowly and quite uneventful until the Hollowdays arrived, and with it heaps and heaps of good old fashioned Wasatch snow. Finally! Skiing has been great until this week when wind and temps took their toll.
Trading the deep stuff in for the steep stuff is fine by me. I spotted the East Face of Twin Peaks from up on Cardiac Ridge last week and noticed that unlike much of the steeper terrain it seemed filled in. On Tuesday of this week Dylan Freed and I decided to inspect it closer.
Predicting and bullshitting about conditions is what we do, but the thing to remember before you talk yourself out of any outing is YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL YOU GO. Luckily conditions were much better than we expected this time. It’s nice being wrong on a regular basis.
Up and into Broads Fork is always a pleasure. Such unique terrain and lots of it. We traversed under a tracked out Bonkers and then broke trail up to the apron of the East Face. As we passed under the face Dylan suggested we just go right up it instead of following the standard route. The wind had effuckted the snow pretty seriously, making it good for booting. Sporting my sexy new V-6 skis from Voile!
Dylan happily dropping into the steep and rocky upper face. He commented that it was good to be skiing something with consequences.
Looking down into the shark tank! Whether it’s a phat or thin year the top section always seems to be rocky.
Opening it up once it opens up.
Mid way down was the highlight, a narrow choke with good snow.
The temps were on the rise, but we stayed and played in the shade all day.
This little range is so incredible! So many little lines and shots to ski. I’m making it a goal for the new year (as well as blogging) to explore new spots in the Wasatch. Hopefully the two go hand in hand. We opted to skin back up to the top of Sidewinder and ski out Mill B instead of Broads Fork. The ski out the luge was comical, in the make you laugh because it’s so bad way.
Happy New Year everybody!
Hey Mike, the Black Diamond Store demos the F1 EVO in whole shell sizes up to a 29.0.
That helps a lot. Thanks for the feedback. I have wondered about pairing them up with a Dynafit Denali, but I am bigger than you. I may have to stick with the Maestrale. Too bad you cannot demo boots.
It looked like you are using the F1 Evo boot. If this is the case would you mind sharing your opinion? It would be nice to hear the opinion of somebody closer to my size using a 100 mm waist ski rather than a little guy on race boards.
Hey Mike,
Been using the F1 for a bit, but I’ve been pairing them with big skis (100+ underfoot, the Voile V-6 and V-8) hoping I could make them work for skiing in powdery conditions, but they are a bit too soft, or I’m too big and heavy (190lbs, 6’2″). They tour really well, but I think I’ll pair them with a smaller ski, like the Voile Vector and just use them for ski mountaineering. Hope that helps!