Date: 3 Jan 2015
Description: We decided to take an exploratory ski tour in Lamb’s Canyon. None of us had been there before, but the images on the map looked pretty enticing. We started off on the Great Western Trail around 11:30 and skinned up to the ridgeline. It was a nice gradual climb up, with good coverage on the trail but pretty bony everywhere else. We saw no other skiers, but a decent number of hikers and snowshoers. The snow was soft, but conditions did not look promising.
We traversed the ridgeline toward Mt. Aire, skied down through some trees and then skinned up to get back onto another ridge. Dropping off the second ridge, we were met with great surprise when the trees opened up into a powder-filled wonder-stash. Feeling we must have discovered the greatest secret in the Wasatch, we decided to traverse to the right and skin back up to the ridge. This side proved to be quite a bit steeper, and being an untracked powder-paradise, we had to set the skin track. This brought us close to 4 o’clock when we were taking our skins off and the route back to the car from there was a pretty big question mark.
After a few more good turns we transitioned from face-shots to face-slaps. Gambel oaks dominated the lower slopes. These trees were burly, unforgiving, and altogether determined to erase all memories of former ski-glee. Thinly covered rock piles and willows also joined their team.
With the sun getting ever lower, we thrashed on. As vegetation began to gain the upper-hand over the snow, we gave in and carried our skis. Picking our way through a rock-filled tree graveyard, we made it back to the road in the last low rays of the day and drove directly to Lucky 13 for the best burgers in town.
Go back?: Overall, it was a great day and it was nice to try something new, but until the snow has had some more time to quiet down those gambel oaks, I think I will stick to other canyons.
Lichen Life 