grr couloir-cascade peak

Happy New Year! Cheers to deep powder and steep lines in 2016.

It’s not a New Years resolution to go new places and ski new lines, that’s always been the goal. The tick list for the Wasatch is huge, but the last few years have been lean which makes that more difficult. Luckily this year the snow has come to the Wasatch in a big way! Another storm or two and we’ll be in really good shape. The past three weeks has been one of the longest stretches of face pummeling powder that I can recall (getting old, the memory is first to go).

I’ve been skiing with Andy and Jason Dorais lately. Our fitness levels don’t match up, but our scheming and dreaming are on par and they are kind enough to wait for me sometimes. Having grown up in the Provo Valley their never softening boner for all things Utah County (go cougars) is contagious. We skied Spanish Fork peak last week and yesterday when they mentioned checking out the Grr Couloir on Cascade Peak I said yes, even though I’d never seen it and knew nothing about it. Just something that is heightened and awakens when all the surroundings are new.

Look at that beautiful bastard pictured below! The big chute lookers left off the Cascade Peak shoulder. It’ not easily visible from the valley, or many vantage points which probably keeps the number of ascents and descents quite low. (not sure who took this photo, I snagged it off the interweb)

We started up Rock Canyon skinning right from the car. First time for me up the canyon where they have spent countless hours learning to climb back in the day.

Access is good with a long flat trail/road approach. Honestly, the Grr doesn’t look that impressive while sneaking up on it.

You gain elevation quickly and easily until you hit Squaw Peak road.

Not a mandatory bush-whack to the base of the chute, but sometimes you don’t discover these things until after.

The chute is foreshortened from the bottom and we thought we’d be up in no time.

First time booting up anything for the season. It comes back naturally, just like walking really.

It got a big punchy in places, that slowed the progress a little.

The couloir just kept going and going!

We finally topped out of the 2500ft line…..grr.

Andy is pointing out-

A-Their parents house near the base of Timp

B-The Chinese restaurant where he wants to go for lunch

C-Just practicing pole plants

The views alone were worth the walk in the woods.

Andy displaying how good the snow was up high!

Jason helping display the beauty of the Southern Wasatch!

I can’t really think of many other chutes in the Wasatch that are as long and with such a consistent pitch. This would be ALL-TIME fast and fun in new snow.

We caught it in variable conditions to say the least, especially in the middle.

Grr! Not sure about the origins of the name, but I love it. Classic long chute and good fun despite mixed snow. Thanks for showing me around the hood fellows! I’ll be sure and keep this big gem a secret. 😉