It wasn’t much because I ran out of daylight, but I skinned up Grizzly Gulch and made some turns coming back, on snow. I skied! The season has begun. The base has some hazards but it is solid.
Author: Tony Korologos
2021-2022 Ski Season Highlight Video
This was a tough video to make. So many awesome clips from the 2021-2022 ski season to choose from! Some of the clips feature pow on Mount Baldy, East Castle, backcountry skiing, Main Chute (Mount Baldy), Perlas, High Boy (Alf’s High Rustler), Jitter Bug, Stone Crusher, Gunsight, Deseret Peak’s Twin Couloirs and more.
First Look: GoPro Hero 11 Black
I’ve been rolling with three GoPro Hero 7 Blacks for a few years so it was time for an upgrade. I now have my hands on the new GoPro Hero 11 Black, which I intend to use for all my mountain sports as well as some FPV drone flying.
I’m looking forward to trying some horizon lock, especially for skiing and biking. Hope to do some biking soon.
Pickle Juice
In for review is Pickle Juice. Why pickle juice? It can help prevent muscle craps.
I love pickles, but that didn’t make it much easier to try my first shot of Pickle Juice. I took it right before a very, very hot and dry mountain bike ride in which I know I lost a lot of fluids. No cramps!
Subsequent shots went down much easier and it seems like I’m feeling the benefits each time. I’ve only tried a few but I’m going to keep at it and see how the results are when I’m done with about a dozen of them.
Skied Alta’s Main Chute, one of the Baldy Chutes
What a thrilling day it was for me to record my third time “down” the Main Chute in the Baldy Chutes at Alta Ski Area a couple of weeks ago. I say “down” because I’ve only technically skied it twice as the first time I attempted it I fell 1,100 feet from the top to the bottom.
This time around was a nice spring day with mostly soft snow conditions, though some parts of the chute were icy. This was certainly my best run at it. I was in the most control, most relaxed (if that’s possible) and best turns. The first time I hit it after my fall I was terrified and was simply trying to get down it without getting hurt.
I was happy to take my buddy Mike there for his first time. As can be expected, he was psyched out at first. It is visually intimidating at the first. But after watching a couple of other skiers do it, he got up the will and did it without incident. Nice job Mike!
Slushy but fantastic day in the backcountry
Hard to put into words how rewarding and challenging climbing up a mountain and skiing down it is, not to mention the scenery. In today’s case it was very heavy slush; 52 degrees. It’s hard to turn in slush. No quick or tight turns. Have to make wide or better yet, no turns. Difficult to score style points in these conditions! I must be getting mushy because I can sense each day I get out and ski may be the real-deal last for the season. The snow is melting fast.
East Baldy Rope Drop
East Baldy at Alta Ski Area is a short side step and/or boot back hike to a big open face on Mount Baldy. Often times snow conditions aren’t great on that face, but when conditions are right it can be a pow fest. Check out the video and photos below.
A YouTube follower asked about the photos from Peak Photo Alta, so I took the opportunity to post them here:
Skiing Stone Crusher at Alta Ski Area
Skied Stone Crusher last weekend with a couple of friends from out of town. Stone Crusher is a less-known run at Alta compared to High Boy (Alf’s High Rustler) or Main Chute on Mount Baldy. Stone Crusher is right next to High Boy though, and is just as steep but not quite as long. The entrance to the run was quite difficult to navigate due to a less than optimal base and lack of new snow over the last month or so. Enjoy the video.
The entrance:
East Castle – Alta Ski Area
What a great day. The seldom open East Castle at Alta Ski Area was open today. I can’t say no to an opportunity like that. To get to the top, one must left side-step for about 45 minutes. It’s a hell of a workout.
The main face was full of avalanche debris and was a thick breakable crust. Not optimal skiing. But the face you arrive at prior to the main face had some decent snow which was much more skiable.
Mountain Biking at Gooseberry Mesa
Did my first mountain biking at Gooseberry Mesa in Southern Utah. What an incredible place. There are miles of trails which are right on the edge of the plateau. Incredible riding and incredible scenery.
Here’s some drone follow footage. Be sure to watch at full 4K if possible.