Crappy Ski Tour

Even a crappy ski tour is a good way to spend the day. At least I think so. Jenni and I went up the Mill D trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon today - sort of a backcountry freeway above Salt Lake City. The snow was generally terrible, the trail was an ice rink and it was great to get out, suffer, sweat and breath some clean air :)

I only took one proper downhill photo because most of what we did was pure survival skiing on a hard one-inch crust. But we hiked up this one little pitch just to get this shot. I saw the composition in my mind and figured it was going to be the only good snow we got all day. It's no masterpiece but it kind of reminds me of a surf photo - dropping in on the white wave.

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Ooh, brutal conditions! I agree a day of bad touring is still a pretty good day. As long as everyone comes back that is!
I had a much nicer tour yesterday I'll post about shortly. I was bracing myself for bad skiing too since it's been sunny and windy lately but we found some good protected snow that ended up being super fun.
That final shot is pretty cool. Nice filtered light!

I could have done without the bruised knees from my fall toward the bottom. That stuff was hard as a rock! But, otherwise, a nice day!

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Originally Posted by mattb

Ooh, brutal conditions! I agree a day of bad touring is still a pretty good day. As long as everyone comes back that is!
I had a much nicer tour yesterday I'll post about shortly.

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Looks like you guys had a very good day, Matt! There was good snow on the protected north-facing slopes but we didn't get out until the afternoon and didn't get in far enough to any. Glad you like that last shot. That was taken on the way out. There was a lot of blowing snow up high and a little storm was starting to roll in, hence the diffused mountain.

Photo-Mom likes 'em . . . but then, she's yo mama

Well hope you guys had a great time :). I can't say about the snow though. I am good at surfing so that is the only thing that resembles over here for me :) But hope you both keep having great times :)

I like the first one. "Dropping!"

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Originally Posted by zerodog

I like the first one. "Dropping!"

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Thanks, Rob. But what you can't tell is there was really only one turn in that little slope. The snow was great there, though :)

We need to get out again! I did my standard solo hike up the Alta Summer Road on Saturday and sweated my ass off. That's good exercise but I need another good backcountry pow adventure!