Jan 14 – 20

Jan. 14 
Rattlesnake Gulch
:30 min
700' Gain
5º at the TH. Ran up the gulch and headed out on the Pipeline trail to the overlook. Went hard enough to stay warm, but not to sweat, because frozen sweaty clothing is absolutely miserable.

Jan. 15
Cardiff - Ski Tour 
2hr:25
2600' Gain
Red air in the valley again. Decided to strap on the skis for the afternoon. Caught up with Brody while I was out there. Skied some really good snow on all aspects. Really cold. Messed up my toe nicely from the ski boots.

Jan. 16 ~ Off/sick + Red Air. Sore throat. Headaches. Tired. Finished up a new TV unit for the house.

Jan. 17 ~ Off/Sick + Red Air. Same.

Jan. 18 ~ Off/Sick + Red Air. Same.

Jan. 19 AM
Mineral Fork - Ski Tour/photos
5hr:30
3500' Gain
Feeling about 85%. Head still has some drainage but my body needed to do work. The valley is still under a Red Air quality alert so getting up and out of this muck is a huge priority. Met up with Brody and Vanessa for a little look-see adventure up to a zone called the Room of Doom in upper Mineral Fork. Pretty mellow walk on some pretty inconsistent snow. Really excited to venture back up there when snow conditions are more consistent. Developed some (3) wicked leg cramps from my ski boots. I haven't had a leg cramp in years, so that was a really weird experience. Gaaah… ski boots.
PM - Blister Hill
1hr
2025' Gain
Air seemed a little better above Wasatch BLVD. Started at the standard TH up to the top of Blister Hill for the sunset. Trail is in prime snow packed condition.

Jan. 20
Mineral Fork - Ski Tour/photos
5hr:45
4500'
Nice day. Lots of walking with the cameras again (this is what I'm hauling in my pack if you're at all wondering). Pretty much the entire basin to ourselves which seemed weird since it was so nice out and the valley is still socked in with the "haze". Shot some pics and skied some good consolidated powder. We didn't get to gain any ridge lines or summits but still managed a good day. Taking pride in getting familiar with a new zone before punching it into the boldest line possible. - btw… these new boots are driving me absolutely crazy, however no cramping today.

Overview: Mostly skiing this week, which is fine and probably good for training since I get to carry around some extra weight. Not much to do in the valley with this awful air. When the SL valley gets the inversion and one still plans to be active and run, I feel it would be a freak accident if you stayed healthy. I felt the brunt of the sickness come on Tuesday evening, it hit the sinuses and throat hard on this go.
Time: 15hr
Vertical Gain: 13325'

Shot some extra pics for y'all this week since I left you hangin' last week.

Room of Doom area. Mineral Basin. Wasatch Powderbirds (heli guides) drop skiers here often, hence all the tracks in the upper bowl. 

Vanessa following the thin white line.

Looking back down Mineral Fork towards Big Cottonwood. Peace.

Brody doing work. Pretty cool to still notice the faint undulations in the snow from the old 19th century mining road. 

Familiarizing.

5º. Lets make this as quick as possible.

Handy work.

Blister Hill. That's borderline maroon air quality.

Headed out of Cardiff back to Alta with 2 more ridges to cross. 

Rattlesnake/Pipeline trail. Most running trails look like this currently and are packed down quite well.

Video I filmed and edited for work. Shots are from a day in 2012 with Brody.