Mt. Superior

[rutt]

Across the road from the Alta ski resort, is Mt. Superior. This is definitively not lift served skiing. It's 3000 vertical feet. To ski it, you must first climb it, which takes a very fit person about 3 hours.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/58017129-L.jpg

I've skied all my life and I'm a good skier and love to climb for challenging runs, but this this is way out of my league. Look down 3000 feet between your skis and see the road. Nevertheless, there are people who ski this mountain routinely. Here is a detail of the headwall at the very top:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/58017158-L.jpg

There is a good New Yorker article (http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/writings/Dangerous_game_web.pdf) about skiing this mountain and others in the area.

Here is a different view of Mt. Superior. This was taken on the way to the top of Mt. Baldy across the road. This is also not lift served skiing, but is in bounds at Alta, which means the ski patrol takes responsibility for avalanches and will help you if you have an accident.

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/57995827-L.jpg

[Edit: took Kdog's advice; this is no bowl.]

[kdog]

Oh my.

Across the road from the Alta ski resort, is Mt. Superior. This is definitively not lift served skiing. It's 3000 vertical feet. To ski it, you must first climb it, which takes a very fit person about 3 hours.
Ok. I seem to remember the climb up to Tuckerman's Ravine took almost that long. But it's been a while.

Here is a detail of the HEADWALL at the very top:
Fixed it for ya.

Great shots. The snow there looks unreal. Recent pics?

-joel

[rutt]

These were shot Friday.

Tuckerman's is steep all right, but I don't think there is any comparison with Mt. Superior. You only get about 1000 feet of steep skiing at Tuckerman's and really much less headwall than that. This is like the steepest part of Tuckerman's X 6.

Did you see this: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=27589

[DavidTO]

Whoa.

OK, I gotta ask.

3 hours up, how long to get down?

[rutt]

Whoa.

OK, I gotta ask.

3 hours up, how long to get down?

Depends on who, I guess. Read The New Yorker article (http://www.pawprince.com/pawprince/writings/Dangerous_game_web.pdf). It's a great read.

In any case, anyone who could get up in 3 hours could probably get down in less than 20 minutes, maybe much less. Just a guess, though.

[wxwax]

Another good set, Rutt. This skiing business inspires you, I reckon.

[Thusie]

Beautiful shots Rutt, really like how you deal with snow. INHD often films some unbeliveable sking on some pretty incredable mountains, I never pay attention to what MT. Spend the whole time watching with a case of vertigo.

[kdog]

Tuckerman's is steep all right, but I don't think there is any comparison with Mt. Superior. You only get about 1000 feet of steep skiing at Tuckerman's and really much less headwall than that.
Of course. I was comparing the length of the the hikes, not the run.

The New Yorker article was a good read. Thanks for the pointer to the Bradford Washburn thread as well.

Why do I feel like I need to go skiing now? :dunno

[Awais Yaqub]

Weldone great captures beautiful place