Wasatch 22
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Total Zones
20
Publisher
Beacon Guidebooks
Wasatch 22 Overview
All over the Wasatch there are consistent pitches that are anywhere from 500 to 3,500 vertical feet. They are everywhere, and there is great variety, from meadows to be skipped through to couloirs where a fall would be fatal. Much of the terrain was carved by glaciers, offering steep upper slopes that mellow out in a parabolic shape to a flat bottom below with smooth transitions in between. Some of the areas were carved by a river, offering a more consistent slope angle the whole way down. One of the most striking features of the Wasatch Range is that the mountains are ultimately the product of faulting, allowing for almost 6,000-7,000 feet of relief from the valley to the west. Being able to ski 5,000 vertical feet or more is definitely special. By comparison, the biggest lift-powered vertical drop in North America in 2023 is 5,620’ at Revelstoke in British Columbia. For the motivated backcountry skier in a year where the snowfall is plentiful at lower elevations, there are numerous descents that size. The snow is considered to be The Greatest Snow On Earth. This bold claim was first used in The Salt Lake Tribune in 1962, and added to the states license plates in the 80’s. Dr. Jim Steenburgh, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Utah, goes into detail in his book Secrets of the Greatest Snow On Earth. The Wasatch does not get the most snow (Mt. Baker does), it does not get the lightest snow (New Mexico does), but it does get the best combination of both, and numerous people talk about how having a little bit of body (but not too much) to the snow creates the perfect skiing experience.
Zones Covered
American Fork Twin Peaks West
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N
American Fork Twins is the high point at Snowbird and is very eye-catching. It has twin summits, some neat rock layers, and two couloirs on the north side that get ogled at by skiers at Snowbird. Pipeline, the couloir coming off the west summit is occasionally opened by ski patrol and a conga line of skiers can hike up and ski it. Center Chute is less visually defined than Pipeline but is still obviously an attractive route to ski if not for the massive cliff at the bottom. People have rappelled over the cliff, but the most impressive descent of Center Chute was by Billy Poole in a single huck. He was banned from skiing Snowbird ever again. Not too long after, Billy died while working on a ski movie in the Wasatch backcountry. He hit a rock in the landing zone of another huge cliff huck. The Billy Poole Foundation was formed in his memory and is dedicated to giving disadvantaged kids an opportunity to learn to ski and inspire a love for the outdoors and the mountains in the process.
Routes
- Approach
- American Fork Twin Peaks Descent
Bomber Peak
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
N,NE,E
Bomber Peak is another summit on the Timpanogos massif, named because a B-25 bomber crashed into it. On March 9, 1955, the bomber took off from Ogden heading towards California. The pilot lost control and crashed into the eastern side of Bomber Peak just north of the summit. All 5 people aboard were killed and there is still wreckage of the plane on the mountain. It can be seen in the summer, but snow covers the wreckage in the winter. Bomber peak is comparatively left alone compared to the epic skiing off of North Timpanogos and the grandeur of skiing off the true summit of Timpanogos. However, Bomber Peak is worth a visit.
Routes
- Approach
- Bomber Descent
Box Elder Peak
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E
Box Elder stands alone from the other 11,000 footers in the Wasatch. North of it is Dry Creek and Alpine Ridge. To the South is American Fork Canyon and the Timpanogos massif. There are no ridges linking Box Elder to another high summit. Compared to the Central Wasatch, it is not as easily accessible. However, it is still a wonderful summit to ski off of. Standing on the summit provides a great view of a geologic oddity called “The Box” which are limestone beds curled over one another.
Routes
- Approach
- Super Couloir
Broads Fork Twin Peaks East
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
N,NE,E
Commonly referred to as The Twins or Broads Fork Twins, this peak dominates the Salt Lake City skyline. The first snow of the year highlights its position, as it is over 2,000 feet higher than the mountain that appears in front of it from Salt Lake City. Sometimes the summit of the twins is lightly frosted in snow while the surrounding terrain is bare. From the city though, there are not any particularly inspiring ski descents visible, those can only be seen from elsewhere in the Wasatch.
The most common route to the summit in winter has an exciting crux and skiing off the top can be absolutely amazing, which is quite fitting for a summit that dominates the view of so many skiers and snowboarders' homes in the Salt Lake Valley. There seems to be a worthwhile ski descent in every major cardinal direction off of the summit of Broads Fork Twin Peaks. While the east summit is the true high point, it is a short jaunt over to the west summit to ski that direction.
Routes
- Approach
- East Face
Lone Peak
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
SE,S,SW
When viewed from both Utah and Salt Lake County, Lone Peak sticks out to the west all alone. Some think of it as the monarch of the Wasatch by protruding so far westward. Its summit is guarded by a steep alpine cirque to the west with dozens of high quality alpine rock climbing routes; this seems to be fitting for such a prominent peak. The true summit has a magnificent view of the Salt Lake and Utah valleys. It is also a diving board of granite hundreds of feet above the floor of Lone Peak Cirque.
Lone Peak has many tragic tales to tell. In 1936, on Hardy Ridge between Lone Peak and South Thunder, a Boeing 247 crashed. All 7 passengers died and airplane parts were flung over the ridge. In 2002, lightning struck two hikers near the summit and they died. In 2015, a hiker fell over 200 feet and her body was found near Lone Peak Cirque. In 2017, a trailrunner fell near Bighorn Peak. Other climbers have been struck by lighting in the summer, among other mishaps.This peak appears to carry a vengeance, so be careful out there!
Routes
- Approach
- Heavens Halfpipe
Monte Cristo Peak
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
ALL
Monte Cristo is the true summit of Mt. Superior, probably the most “ogled-at-by-skiers” peak in this collection. Only a short walk west of Superior, the summit of Monte Cristo sits on Cottonwood Ridge. Monte Cristo is the easternmost 11,000 footer on the ridge and the terrain between Monte Cristo and Broads Fork Twin Peaks is quite rugged.
While it does not have an impressive 3,000 vertical foot fall line face like Superior does, Monte Cristo does offer some exciting skiing of varying grades. The east-facing bowl can be skied directly off the summit into two different routes, Monte Cristo Directissimo and Monte Cristo Gully. The line down the bowl directly off the summit has a massive cliff on skier’s right and is often referred to as the “edge of the world”. The Salt Lake Valley is the backdrop to this cliff and while the skiing is not particularly steep, it is a striking image to behold.
Routes
- Approach
- Directisimo and MC Gully
Mount Baldy
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
ALL
Baldy creates the border between Alta and Snowbird. To the south is Mineral Basin, to the northeast is Collins Gulch at Alta, and to the northwest is Peruvian Gulch at Snowbird. During operating season, Alta ski patrol will open the west ridge for hiking to the summit. Sometimes Alta and Snowbird ski patrols will work together and Snowbird skiers can hike from the east ridge to the summit and have a crack at some of the famed Baldy Chutes. The Baldy Shoulder, off the north ridge, is the site of many magazine cover shots. As the morning light illuminates the shoulder, skiers and photographers can easily work together on the Baldy shoulder to take photos of skiers choking on fresh powder. Towards the northwest are the Fields of Glory in Snowbird. For years, this was a freeride competition venue. Contestants arc fast turns and take huge air for almost 1,000 vertical feet. This is easily the most skied 11,000 footer in the range, given its extraordinary access. It is unique due to its management by Alta and Snowbird. Arguably, the best time to ski this one is before or after the operating season. In the late spring, it is a great after-work ski and friends can be found at the summit enjoying the sunset before skiing Main Chute down and out Collins Gulch to the parking lot.
Routes
- Approach
- Little Chute
Mount Nebo
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N
This is the highest summit in the Wasatch and the southernmost summit of the list. It is named after the biblical Mt. Nebo where allegedly Moses died just before he saw the promised land. Mt. Nebo massif is quite detached from the rest of the 11,000 footers, 32 miles southwest of Provo Peak. There are numerous peaks and canyons separating Nebo from the rest of the high Wasatch, which seems kind of fitting for the highest peak on any list. Large, relatively remote, and beautiful. There is a south summit which has about 240 feet of prominence, just not enough to make the list. In about 1997, Tyson Bradley and a friend busted out a bottle of champagne on the summit of Nebo and that’s how the Champagne Couloir got named.
Routes
- Approach
- Nebo Couloir Descent
Mount Timpanogos
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
ALL
Mt. Timpanogos is the matriarch of the Wasatch. Some believe that the mountain looks like a woman laying down and she is a major focal point for anybody living in or traveling through Utah Valley. The summit stands at 11,750’, nearly 7,000 feet above the valley floor. Looking at it from the west, the alpine stands 3,000 feet above Sagebrush Flat and is guarded by Mahogany Mountain and Baldy Bench. Impressive alpenglow paints this large canvas every evening. This western-facing side of the massif will shed huge naturally-occurring avalanches that can be seen from the suburban valley below. The ridgeline is almost 3.5 miles long from the north summit to the south summit and is entirely above 10,800’. The eastern side of the massif is defined by glacial cirques carved out of limestone, giving the mountain a distinctly European feeling. Timpanogos might be the crown jewel of the Wasatch.
Due to its long approach, huge avalanche paths, and the general other difficulties of travel in the winter, there are far fewer people skiing the mountain than hiking it. However, skiing anywhere on the Timpanogos massif is a way to experience a certain type of magic. Be in excellent physical condition, choose excellent partners, save the day for excellent weather, and the skiing will bring together a truly wholesome experience.
Routes
- Approach
- Timpanogos Descent
Mount Timpanogos South
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE
The Timpanogos massif as a whole generally swallows up attention and the south summit is almost an afterthought. However, it does have 422 feet of prominence from the saddle separating it from the main summit. The views of the main summit to the north, Cascade Cirque to the east, Cascade Mountain to the south, and Utah County almost 7,000 feet below are not to be missed.
Routes
- Approach
- Emerald Lake
North Peak
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N
Despite being just a little to the north of the highest peak in the Wasatch, there is little about North Peak that is particularly inspiring. From the top of Nebo, there is an incredible 2,000 foot north-facing couloir, but to the north, just kind of a flat-looking hill without any striking ski line. However, it is over 11,000 feet and it does have the requisite prominence for the list. The summer hiking trail to the summit of Mt. Nebo passes close to the summit of North Peak, but there is little to attract a skier to North Peak.
Routes
- Approach
- North Peak Descent
North Thunder Mountain
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E,SE
North Thunder probably has the best combination of high quality ski routes, access, and snow quality in the American West. Skiers who have studied the local guidebooks know that some of the best ski runs in the Wasatch are on this mountain. As one drives up Little Cottonwood Canyon, they can look straight up the Y Couloir.
From Snowbird, the Dresden Face, Hypodermic Needle, and Coalpit Headwall all call to curious skiers and snowboarders. If out for a dawn patrol in Grizzly Gulch, the east face of North Thunder can be seen lighting up during sunrise, painted with orange. While the summit itself appears as an unassuming bump on a ridge, the ski terrain is utterly inspiring.
Routes
- Approach
- Coalpit Headwall
North Timpanogos
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E
North Timpanogos is the northernmost high point on the Timpanogos massif and stands proud and a bit alone. It is most impressive when viewed from the north or east. The eastern side of the Timpanogos massif is characterized by glacial cirques and the north side of the mountain plunges a continuous 3,000 vertical feet to the flats below.
In winter conditions, the access is long and despite having expansive views of all the people in Utah County, it feels remote. Looking south towards the rest of the Timpanogos massif and north towards Box Elder and the Central Wasatch is spectacular.
Routes
- Approach
- Cold Fusion
Pfeifferhorn
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E
The Pfeifferhorn is a striking summit. Originally named the Little Matterhorn, it is a spear of a summit that rises about 400 vertical feet above Alpine Ridge. When viewed from anywhere north of the peak, it appears to be very intimidating. It is hard to not be inspired by it. From the south, it appears to be little more than a steep mount.
The USGS had named it the Little Matterhorn since the first map was drawn. In the 1930’s, Chuck Pfeiffer was the head of the Wasatch Mountain Club and he was known to be the ultimate guy with respect to skiing in the Wasatch through the Great Depression. He died in 1939, allegedly with his ski clothes on in his shoe shop. In order to celebrate his life accordingly, his friends went and climbed the Little Matterhorn and decided it should be called the Pfeifferhorn in Chuck’s honor. The name stuck, and climbers have called it the Pfeifferhorn ever since. It wasn’t until 2013 that the USGS officially renamed the Little Matterhorn to the Pfeifferhorn.
Routes
- Approach
- Descent
Provo Peak & East Peak
Routes
4
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E
Provo is the name of a city, canyon, peak, and river in Utah County, just south of Salt Lake County. The name comes from Étienne Provost, sometimes spelled Proveau or Provot, a Canadian fur trapper who was a prominent explorer in the American southwest. He was based primarily in Santa Fe, NM, but spent significant time in Utah during the early 1920’s. He might have even been the first of European descent to see the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake. Provo Peak sits above Provo, but is dwarfed by Timpanogos to the northeast and Nebo to the south. Cascade is a more formidable peak with large cliffs just to the north of Provo Peak, but fails to make this list by 92 feet. There are impressive man-made terraces horizontally stripping Provo and East Peak, as well as some parts of Timpanogos and Box Elder. These terraces were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s to protect against erosion due to excessive grazing by animals. East Peak is just east of Provo Peak and is fairly unassuming from the valley below. Few hikers and likely fewer skiers visit this peak. It is a good adventure to just plain go have a look from its summit and it doesn’t require any particular skills for travel in steep terrain.
Routes
- Provo Peak Approach
- Provo Peak Descent
- East Peak Approach
- East Peak Descent
Red Baldy
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N
Red Baldy gets its name from the summit being composed of the Big Cottonwood Quartzite and giving it a reddish-brown color compared to the whiter granite of the surrounding area. Red Baldy sits on Alpine Ridge west of American Fork Twin Peaks and east of White Baldy and its north face drops towards White Pine Lake. White Pine is a beautiful part of the Wasatch under a myriad of land management. Snowbird skiers can drop into the lower part of White Pine if the Gad 2 touring option is opened by ski patrol, and the Wasatch Powderbirds sometimes drop skiers and guides with a helicopter in there too. However, the summit of Red Baldy is not allowed to be accessed by helicopters.
Routes
- Approach
- NW Face
South Thunder Mountain
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
SE,S,SW
South Thunder Mountain tends to be a bit overlooked. People looking for an adventure and exciting ski descents tend to head towards North Thunder. However, South Thunder may have the best view of any of the 11,000 footers in the range. If not all, the vast majority of the other high summits can be seen from South Thunder without being blocked by the others.
Routes
- Approach
- South Thunder Descent
Sugarloaf Mountain
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
NW,N,NE,E
Sugarloaf is probably the easiest of all the 11,000 footers to summit but that does not make it any less spectacular. It is the easternmost summit on Alpine Ridge and has Albion Basin to the north and Mineral Basin to the south, both popular areas served by Alta and Snowbird respectively. Before and after Alta opens for seasonal operations, it is quite easy to meander up Collins Gulch or Albion Basin to the top of the Sugarloaf chairlift and skin up the west side, navigating waist high trees and patches of rock where the snow has been blown away. During the operating season, most travel on Sugarloaf is under the north cliff band so that people can ski the Devil’s Castle run, the longest run at Alta.
Routes
- Approach
- North Face
Sunrise / O'Sullivan & Dromedary
Routes
4
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
ALL
Located on Cottonwood Ridge just east of Twin Peaks, Sunrise is a rugged peak. Its southeast face seems to be the first thing in Little Cottonwood Canyon to catch the sunrise alpenglow. Sunrise Peak forms the west side of Tanner’s Gulch, which is a popular skiing route in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Every route up or down Sunrise Peak should not be taken lightly. Dromedary is a short distance east of Sunrise Peak, making up part of the ridge that separates Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Its south side forms the east half of Tanner’s Gulch between Dromedary and Sunrise Peak.
Routes
- Sunrise Approach
- Sunrise Descent
- Dromedary Approach
- Dromedary South Face
White Baldy
Routes
2
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
W,NW,N
White Baldy may be one of the more underrated peaks in the central Wasatch. The summit ridge is long and rugged, although snow makes for passage up to the summit much easier than if there is no or low snow. It is seldom climbed in the summer because it doesn’t have a dedicated hiking trail to the top but has plenty of rugged talus surrounding it. Access is much smoother in the winter. White Baldy gets its name from being made of the light gray/ white colored granite that makes up much of Little Cottonwood.
Routes
- Approach
- North Face
