As seen in the February 2012 issue of Freeskier. Words by Nate Abbott and Jamey Parks.
Not. A. Chance. Not a chance we can show you even one percent of the spots in Utah that have dominated ski media since, well, ski media was invented. But here are three that showcase the diversity and quality of Utah’s offerings.
Park City Skateboard Park
On the first day of a weeklong photoshoot with the Orage team in Utah, a storm was rolling in and a lot of the lift served terrain was closed because of high winds. It revealed one of the great beauty’s of Utah: whatever the conditions, there is something fun to do on your skis. We ended up jumping the fences at the Park City skate park to session the summertime transitions and bowls. And we were having so much fun we stayed through dark to get this shot of Casabon sliding the outer barrier rail, then landing on a snow transition before sliding through the corner of the bowl. —NA
Phil Casabon. Photo by Nate Abbott_Level1.
Wolverine Cirque
Wolverine Cirque sits in the vortex between Alta and Brighton where Little Cottonwood Canyon meets Big Cottonwood Canyon. It’s a steep zone, holding 800-1,000 vertical feet of cliffs and chutes in its perfect horseshoe layout. Wolverine can be accessed many different ways but the easiest and most popular route is from Alta. The area is prone to wind loading (check out these photos: frsk.me/1r3), and avalanches here have claimed several lives. Wolverine Cirque is an amazing big-mountain stash that has been in numerous films over the years. The view alone is worth the hike, and you never know what action you might see on the right day.
[Left: Jamey Parks shot by Adam Clark.]
This photo was taken on Christmas eve 2010. The snowpack was still building, but the coverage was ample for a handful of lines. I skied my line and then watched Jamie Pierre shred some pow and hit a couple small cliffs. We booted up to the ridge together, and then skied down Grizzly Gulch back to Alta. I think that was the last time I skied with him. —JP
Brighton, UT
You could make a solid ski career never leaving the cozy confines of Big Cottonwood Canyon. That’s why we ended up here during the weeklong photoshoot with Orage (see spread below). On a moderate powder day (read 16 inches of fluff) the whole crew of about 10 girls and guys spread out slashing, buttering, hucking and generally having the greatest time of their lives. As we ducked out access gates we would see others from our group across a bowl and then meet up at the lift and swap crews for the next lap. Jibs in the trees, jump spots, cliffs and mini-golf lines were sessioned and none of us really knew the zone. Just imagine what you could do with a whole season of exploring and skiing here. —NA
Matt Margetts. Photo by Nate Abbott.
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