Winter Mountaineering in the Wasatch, Cache National Forest

Over three months in winter 2015-2016, learning the art of mountaineering in the Wasatch. Avalanche awareness — shovel, beacon, and pole — became the most important lesson. Growing up in the lowlands meant getting acclimatized to 6,000ft and 8,000ft for vascular purposes. Summits completed: Mt. Olympus 9,026ft, Dromedary Peak 11,107ft, Lone Peak (Bell Canyon) 11,253ft, Phifferhorn 11,325ft, Twin Peaks 11,329ft, and more. Gobblers Knob was turned back on due to avalanche danger from all directions. Lone Peak's summit revealed the entire Salt Lake Valley below. The Wasatch offers an excellent array of ice and traditional climbing, hot springs, backcountry skiing, and even cave systems in the limestone segments around Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood canyons.