3.5 km away
Scotty's Bowl
Scotty's is a classic north facing roadside attraction in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.8 km
- Ascent
- 23 m
- Descent
- 754 m
The Heart of Darkness is a fun short ski mountaineering objective that lies in the heart of the Wasatch.
Ski Touring Severe
This is a long way to go for a short line that is much more about the ambiance than the skiing. There are a few ways to get here, either from Big Cottonwood Canyon, or Little Cottonwood Canyon, but it's most often best to go from the latter and drop in from the top, since the upper section can be rocky and difficult to climb.
Park at Our Lady of the Snow church 7.5 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon. From here hike under the power lines to Cardiff Pass. Stay along the ridge that undulates up and down along Black Knob, Little Superior and Mount Superior. Continue on the ridge to the W and before you reach Monte Cristo, and head N along the ridge until you come to the deep cleft in the rock that delineates the entrance.
Alternatively, from Big Cottonwood Canyon follow the Heart of Darkness Approach route.
There are some fixed anchors and often fixed lines that can be used to rappel, or hand line into the chute. The line is so narrow that you have to descend quite a bit before it widens enough to put your skis on and start the descent. The walls are tall and the chute is narrow, which makes for fun focused turns. As it widens the pitch lessens and the apron is a nice finish to this mini classic.
Severe
Steep skiing at 38-45 degrees. This requires very good technique and the risk of falling has serious consequences.
3.5 km away
Scotty's is a classic north facing roadside attraction in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Difficult Ski Touring
3.5 km away
A big fun run off of Kessler Peak with some great chute and trees skiing involved.
Difficult Ski Touring
3.9 km away
This is the huge avalanche path that's visible from the road on the N slope of Kessler Peak.
Difficult Ski Touring
18 routes · Resort Ski Touring · Ski Touring