On Saturday, 4/10/21 I rode the NW Couloir of Box Elder Peak. Leading up to the weekend, I obsessed over weather data and the forecast. There were so many question marks and variables involved that deciding on an objective was rather challenging. For instance, a recent storm delivering up to 16" in the Cottonwoods earlier in the week reduced the chances of a nice corn cycle to develop. I confirmed this during a quick tour up Scottie's the Thursday before, where low-mid elevation N/NE facing was locked up and cruddy. (The type of conditions that make you feel like an even worse snowboarder than you actually are)
After sustained high pressure and a forecasted high of 70 in the valley, I finally settled on Box Elder's NW Couloir. Aside from being in the revered Chuting Gallery (which admittedly adds value to any descent in the Wasatch), the line's position seemed reasonable for the conditions at hand. Hard refreezes overnight, high valley temps, and lots of wind from the SW. I reasoned that the snow in the NW aspect at that elevation would be firm but soft enough for edging in with confidence, and that if I arrived a bit too late it may soften up with afternoon heat. It turns out I was more or less right, although I think we could've waited it out at the top a bit for even better riding conditions. Alas, this was a fun descent and I would say an even more fun approach/egress based on the delightful spring weather and a pleasantly dry trail.
The day started at around 7:45 at the Dry Creek Trailhead just outside of Alpine. The trail walking went fast and we cached our running shoes 2.5 miles. Soon after we were skinning beneath Box Elder's NW Basin with the line in our sights, as well as the south faces of Lone, White Baldy, the Pfieff, Chipman, Bighorn, and the rest of the peaks along that ridge line to our north.
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| The White Baldy complex from the south |
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| The Pfieff and Airplane Peak from the south |
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| Chipman, Bighorn, and Lone from the South |
We deliberated a bit on Box Elder's lower NW flanks, deciding whether to take the longer but perhaps more tolerable NE ridge to the summit, or go for the more direct NW ridge with the Shotgun Chutes skinner's left. We chose the more direct NW ridge, which was quite the pain in the ass. Suffice to say ski crampons have officially moved up several notches in my late season ski wishlist. Based on the conditions, I think it would have been faster to skin up the NE ridge and take advantage of the snow softening up on those aspects. Even still it wasn't a huge setback-- just annoying.
After emerging from the trees the skinning improved temporarily, but Box Elder's N ridge was jacked by the wind, so skinning continued to prove challenging. After a while I gave up and threw my aluminum crampons on. I'm sure it was slower than skinning with ski crampons, but it got the job done.
While working our way to the summit, we eyed a line off of Box Elder's NE aspect. It looked like a mighty fine steep bowl funneling down into a chute and into a cliff band. The snow felt good and soft on this aspect but we both knew nothing about this descent and whether it even went. It'd be fun to scope from the bottom and potentially give this a go on a different day.
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| Box Elder's wind jacked N ridge |
We were at the top in around 4:30. I'm not sure I could reach the summit much faster than that— especially this time of year with firmer conditions— but who knows. While transitioning I made a blunder and forgot to jam my bindings into the snow. One of them went for a twenty foot ride off of the summit. Just as it sped further down and potentially into the ether, I made a diving catch (crampons on) and saved it. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Lesson learned: nothing comes out of the pack on a summit unless it's firmly planted in the snow. If I lost that binding, managing the descent may have been all but impossible. I do carry a passel of Voile straps, so maybe there could've been some solution. I shudder to think of what that would've looked like though.
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| Excellent views off of the summit. Note the metamorphosed striated cliff band in the center of the frame. |
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| Looking NE above Box Elder's scoured summit |
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| Looking down into the "couloir" proper |
The descent off of the summit required some negotiating through rocks and small rock bands. I chose skier's right, and Scott chose the more aggressive skier's left. Good on him-- he picked his way through the tricky sections with aplomb. I'm just happy to be here!
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| Scott working his way off of Box Elder's summit, with Happy Valley below |
The first turn (especially the first heelside turn if you're a snowboarder) is always a doozy and this one was no exception. Luckily, conditions up high were relatively soft albeit a bit punchy. Once below the upper boney section, I was able to open it up and enjoy turns on marginal snow. Scott spotted a narrow little couloir toward the bottom of the descent and styled it.
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| Ticky tacky jump turns through a hairy section |
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| Airplane wings through the crux |
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| Emerging unscathed |
This was my first big descent in marginal conditions with my Atomic Backland Pros. The boot felt good for most of the day but really hurt my heel (currently dealing with nasty Achilles inflammation) on the descent. Back to the drawing board (or bootfitter?)!
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| The day warming up with much of the descent behind us |
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| I'm the speck on the bottom right third of the frame. Box Elder's NW basin is stunning |
We made soft, slushy fall-line turns down a gully that led us right back to our running shoes. Ideal. We transitioned out of ski mode and into hike mode about 6 hours in. Historically this has been the part of a spring mission where I'm cooked and absolutely ready to be done with the day. Thankfully my fitness is lining up nicely and I was able to enjoy the leisurely hike down Dry Creek in the warm weather. This being my first time skiing in the Happy Valley, I was charmed to hear one local at the trailhead say, "Holy Guacamole!" when we told him that we did in fact go skiing today. We were back to the truck in 7 hours.
Thoughts:
- The NW Couloir of Box Elder is not much of a "couloir" so to speak since it lacks the tight, walled-in nature that I typically associate with couloirs. I would call it more of a face or a bowl. Regardless, its position is excellent and the boney/cliffy skiing off of the summit makes it engaging enough to feel like there are some consequences involved.
- The excitement for spring skiing missions is at an all-time high right now. Typically I start to think about rock climbing and mountain running around this time, but things seem different this year. Maybe it was the rampant instability of the early season that left us relegated to mellower days along the Park City Ridgeline... or perhaps I'm just getting better and more dialed at this whole splitboarding thing.
- Dry Creek is a beautiful drainage and there are plenty of diversions and sights to see. I picture spending more time back here in all seasons— especially mid-winter camping when stability is right. It's kind of amazing how one drainage south of LCC feels like it's "out there." I suppose that's what the Central Wasatch will do to you.
- Admittedly I am not too stoked on many objectives in the Central Wasatch as far as spring skiing goes (with the exception of some stuff in White Pine). I think this tour heralds an urge to venture further afield and access zones that are harder to reach during the winter.
