Report from May 28, 2026
I met up with Dr. Joe at 8 a.m. at the base of Gad 2.
The previous 3 times I’d skied Pipeline, there was essentially snow back to the parking lot.
Not this time.
11,489′ American Fork Twin Peak, UT
“Pipeline Couloir”
Snowbird Ski Resort
Details
- Summit (actually a ridgeline): 11,300′
- Car: 7,900′
- Vertical From Car: 3,400′
- Vertical skied: 3,000′ (1,100′ in the chute/apron)
- Max Pitch: 45º
- Avg Pitch: 42º
- Aspect: East Northeast
- Distance: 5.2-miles round trip
- Time From Car to Top: 3 hours and 37 minutes
- Car to Car Time: 5 hours & 8 minutes
- Recommended Equipment: Crampons, Ice Axe x2, skins
Hiking by about 8:15 a.m.
We trudged straight uphill on dirt to about 8,500′, then jumped on the road, did the big switchback, and stayed on the road up into the Little Cloud zone.
Patchy snow finally gave way to solid snow at about 9,200′ and we ripped off the shoes and got to skinning.
We took a weird route that Dr. Joe was into – until I discovered his plan was to boot up the headwall, walk the ridge, summit, then downclimb to the top of the chute.
I pushed back, and we cut back to the direct route up the chute.
We lost a bit of time with the odd route, but mostly it was me being overtired and slow that ate into our day.
I was spent – the big day on Mt. Gibbs, CA, three days prior and the 8-hour drive from Mammoth to Park City the day after had caught up with me.
We used an old skin track to ascend to the base of the couloir, where we switched to boots and crampons.
Another group of two rolled up behind us, sent us some good vibes, and skied the apron.
Joe hacked his way up the chute and I was grateful to follow.
The chute proper is only about 700 vertical feet – the apron is another 400 vertical feet or so.
I topped out after 3 hours and 37 minutes.
By far the slowest of my 4 ascents of Pipeline.
I took my time on top, ate a bunch, drank all my water, and organized my gear.
Joe dropped first and made it look good.
His Michigan ski racing background always serves him well.
I dropped determined to ski it all in one go despite how tired I was.
The top skied simple enough.
The runnel in the lower half was a fun challenge as I hopped from one side to the other.
A chunk of old snow in the runnel almost tossed me right at the base of the chute.
I blasted out the bottom completely exhausted and cruised big turns down the apron.
This was the only one of my 4 trips down where the apron wasn’t sticky.
I was gassed.
Joe was perfectly fine.
He skied the remaining snow patches with ski-racer grace.
I struggled and groaned through the dirt portages.
We skied all the way down to 8,500′, threw on our shoes, and happily bounced down the final 600 vertical feet in comfy shoes.
Joe vanished like a phantom as soon as we hit the parking lot.
I took my time organizing gear and engaging in seasonal reverie.
I knew that this was my second-to-last day of the season.
My 25th Northern Hemisphere ski season.
What a crazy world we all live in.
I’m overflowing with gratefulness.
Thanks, Utah!
Photos in Chronological Order
