Category Archive for ‘Utah’ at steepdreamer.com

Archive for the 'Utah' Category

Salt Lake Shootout Day 3 and 4- Alta

Published

on March 10, 2010

in Alta, Backcountry Skiing, Freeskiing, Photography, Telemark Skiing, Uncategorized and Utah

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Adam Barker is the organizer of the shootout and an incredible photographer in his own right. On the last day of the shootout he followed our group around and “documented” us shooting. He took the photo above of me throwing a 50 foot front flip. Definitely one of my favorite photos of the season.

For the last two days of the shootout I was assigned to my home resort of Alta. The first day at Alta I skied with Suzanne Graham and photographer Kevin Winzler. It was cloudy and dumping all day so we skied pow in the trees all day. Kevin busted out the flashes and strobes for most of the day. Trying to light his shots on the this cloudy day.

Kevin and his assistant Little Greg. LG is holding a strobe.

Good times in the pow! Suzanne going up for some more.

For the last day of the shootout I was at Alta with my good friend and photographer Liam Doran and Weston Deutschlander. We had an amazing day at Alta. We started with an early lift ride up Supreme. We skied some deep pow lines in nice early morning light. Next we headed out to Rocky Point and hit some of the classic cliffs. First I lined up A-frame and hit it pretty big with a front flip. Weston followed me with a nice straight air stomp.

Liam, far right, shoots Weston hitting A-frame. Things are about to get stompalicious.

Next I hit the tree air…

and Adam Barker kills the second angle. Liam shot this from below and got a nice photo as well.

and Adam Barker killed the second angle. Liam shot this from below and got a really nice shot as well. Kind of nice shooting with two photogs!

Next we headed out towards Sunset Peak and skied some nice pow lines in the long afternoon light.

There is a person in that cloud of snow somewhere. Liam shoots Weston as he gets explosive.

Liam in front of my tracks. Little did we know it then but this last shot was going to be the Winner of the Powder category.

So Liam won the Powder category of the Salt Lake Shootout with this shot of me. It was fun to win but I am super psyched to do it with a friend like Liam. Nice work Liam! You can see more from the Salt Lake Shootout HERE.

Suicide Chute

Published

Andy

on February 4, 2010

in Backcountry Skiing, Telemark Skiing and Utah

. 0 Comments

In search of some safe yet steep powder Dylan Freed, Jay Beyer and I headed up Mt. Superior yesterday to ski Suicide chute. Since it is very protected and sees very little sun we knew the snow in Suicide chute would be decent at least.

Suicide Chute follows the red line…

In the past when I have skied Suicide chute I have approached via the apron of Mt. Superior and then bootpacked directly up the chute. Dylan had tried an alternative approach in the past and claimed it to be a better option. So we started slightly down canyon from the apron of Mt. Superior and skinned our way up to the Homicide chute, which is opposite the Suicide chute on the south ridge of Mt. Superior, and bootpacked up the last 300 feet or so.

Jay Beyer skinning his way towards the base of Homicide Chute with the South ridge of Mt Superior in the background.

Dylan Freed breaking the bootpack up Homicide Chute.

Jay booting…

I have to agree with Dylan that the approach via Homicide chute is safer and easier. There is very little exposure to avalanches and the bootpacking up Homicide is much easier than Suicide.

Dylan dropping in.

Dylan still dropping.

Jay coming out of the final choke onto the apron.

All in all it was fun day. We skied some nice pow in a spectacular location, can’t complain.

Zion

Published

Andy

on October 27, 2009

in Rock Climbing, Trad Climbing and Utah

. 1 Comment

The Watchman looking over the Virgin River

Travis and I headed south to Zion to climb some big sandstone. As teenagers Travis and I climbed a handful of big walls in Zion but stuck mostly to aid routes. Neither of us had been back in many years, getting distracted by clipping bolts, bouldering and cragging in Indian Creek. All very tame pursuits compared to the adventures that we both knew existed in excess in Zion. It was time to explore the awesome free climbing in Zion.

We arrived midday and decided to warm up on a moderate climb: The Headache 5.10. Three pitches of nice handjams.

Can you say splitter?

Me leading the 2nd pitch, more fun. Photo:Travis Kemp

Travis following the second pitch. More perfect handjams.

Mandatory "summit" photo.

Rapping. Travis far below.

The East Temple as the sun begins to set.

The next day we headed to Red Arch Mountain to climb Shune’s Butress 5.11+. A super classic climb that features a little of everything that Zion has to offer. Finger cracks, chimneys, offwidths, perfect hands, even a bit of thin face climbing.

Red Arch Mountain. Shune's buttress starts pretty much in the center of this photo above the tallest tree and climbs straight up through the black rock, heading into the major left-facing dihedral that begins at the end of the black rock. At the end of the dihedral the route jumps left around the arete and climbs an amazing tips to hands overhanging crack to the top.

The first pitch is strenuous fingers in a right-facing corner. Long and sustained with a few rests I think it is the crux pitch of the route. The second pitch is either a 5.9+ chimney (left) or a nice 5.10 finger crack (right). We climbed the the finger crack and it was quite enjoyable. Probably the easiest pitch of the route.