Major Tom starts up high on the Big Cottonwood Canyon ridgeline at about 9,500 feet, and runs down to the Big Cottonwood Canyon road. The upper part of the line is wide open with some trees, but quickly funnels into a nice rock-lined chute. Depending on the amount of snowfall there may be the need to rappel here to get over some ice bulges, or use crampons and ice tools to climb down the ice. There are plenty of good trees to sling for this rappel, and a single 60m rope should do the trick. The rappel puts you in the gut of a great chute that continues down the fall line. The pitch is in the upper thirties, or low forty degree range. After several hundred feet of skiing there may be another ice bulge that's only 6 or 8 feet, and can be jumped, or rappelled. A deadman anchor is recommended here. After this short rappel the chute opens up. Ski to the left and look for some large trees to rappel over a very large cliff. A single 60m rope will just barely get you onto the next patch of snow. From here ski another short section then cut far right traversing through some brush and trees. You can also rappel this section if conditions are too thin. From here there are no more rappels. The slope mellows out, and then becomes brushy as you get low down in the canyon. Follow the gully into the backyard of the private home. Jump over the gate and you'll be at the Big Cottonwood Road.