BEYOND THE ROPES

• Published in: Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth p. 110
• Main Author: JIM STEENBURGH
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Utah State University Press 15.11.2014
• Subjects: Atmospheric sciences; Avalanches; Backcountry; Behavioral sciences; Biological sciences; Biology; Canyons; Death; Developmental biology; Earth sciences; Environmental studies; Erosional landforms; Geography; Geologic processes; Geology; Geomorphology; Health and wellness; Health hazards; Health sciences; Hydrometeorology; Land; Landforms; Landslides; Leisure studies; Life cycle; Mass wasting; Meteorology; Physical sciences; Precipitation; Public health; Recreation; Skiing; Skis; Sloping terrain; Snow; Snowpack; Sporting goods; Sports; Sports equipment; Topography; Winter sports
• ISBN: 9780874219500; 0874219507
• DOI: 10.7330/9780874219517.c007

Greg and Loren woke up on an early January morning, dropped their three-year-old son off at day care, and drove to Canyons. Expert skiers, they probably took a few laps at the ski area, but were lured by the untracked powder in the easily accessed backcountry surrounding the Ninety-Nine 90 high-speed quad. They spoke with ski patrollers, who warned of high avalanche danger, but ultimately the desire to ski deep powder proved too great. They passed through a backcountry access gate and booted up a ridge to Square Top, a 9,800-foot peak with northeast-facing avalanche-prone slopes of more than thirty-five