995 m away
Stairs Gulch
Stairs Gulch is 4,000 feet long, serious with a combination of a steep, technical chute and a flat, more mellow finish.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 3.1 km
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 1.5 km
Twin Peaks - NW Couloir
Salt Lake City
Wasatch Backcountry
One of the nicest couloirs off of one of the biggest and most iconic Wasatch peaks.
Ski Touring Difficult
- Distance
- 6.4 km
- Ascent
- 50 m
- Descent
- 1.9 km
- Duration
- 1-2 hrs
- Low Point
- 1.6 km
- High Point
- 3.4 km
- Gradient
- 46˚
The NW Couloir off Twin Peaks is a real fun classic. It didn't make it into the "Chuting Gallery" book which may have kept it a "secret" for a time, but by now the word it out. It is a committing line to get to, and a tricky one to get back out of, but it's worth it! The fact that it's visible from the Salt Lake Valley adds to the allure. Approach by starting at the Broads Fork Trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon, then head up the main drainage to the saddle to the S of Twin Peaks and then traverse the ridge to the summit.
Description
The run is a mellow line which probably averages near 40 degrees for a little over 1,000 feet until it spills out onto the apron. Start on top of the E summit of Broad Fork Twin Peaks and head down to the NW. The upper section is a minor gully that opens up into a nice wide slope where you want to trend gently to the right. This will put you into the big main chute. You can ski this all the way down, or cut to the left mid way and duck into a tighter rock lined variation. Enjoy the apron as long as you'd like and then figure out how to get out. The standard exit is to bushwhack out Deaf Smith Canyon but I wouldn't recommended it. I would boot back up the NW Couloir and exit into Broads.
Difficulty
Difficult
Serious gradient of 30-38 degrees where a real risk of slipping exists.
Medium Exposure (E2)
As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.
Remoteness
In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation.
Best time to visit
Equipment required
- Skins
- Crampons
Similar routes nearby
4 km away
Y Couloir
Probably the longest, most consistent rock-lined chute in the Wasatch if you're into that sort of thing.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 1.7 km
- Ascent
- 20 m
- Descent
- 993 m
5.5 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
5.6 km away
Argenta - W Couloir
A big fun run off of Kessler Peak with some great chute and trees skiing involved.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 3.5 km
- Ascent
- 18 m
- Descent
- 1.1 km
5.6 km away
Dresden Face
The Dresden is one of the longest and most continually steep faces in the Wasatch.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 658 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 493 m
6 km away
God's Lawnmower
This is the huge avalanche path that's visible from the road on the N slope of Kessler Peak.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 2 km
- Ascent
- 2 m
- Descent
- 946 m
6.8 km away
Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims is the fun dogleg chute next to the more popular Old Growth chute in the lower reaches of Cardiff Fork.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 871 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 472 m
6.8 km away
Old Growth / Benson & Hedges
Old Growth chute is a mini classic that provides great rock wall lined ambience and easy access.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 580 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 364 m
7 km away
Major Tom
Major Tom is a steep and sporty couloir in a remote corner of the Wasatch that can have a few rappels to navigate!
Extreme Ski Touring
- Distance
- 3 km
- Ascent
- 3 m
- Descent
- 1.1 km
8.1 km away
Memorial #1
Memorial #1 is a very long and clean chute that runs off the ridge of the S summit of Mount Olympus.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 856 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 514 m
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Guidebooks in this area
18 routes · Resort Ski Touring · Ski Touring