Info About Mount Superior
Mount Superior is an 11,045 foot peak located just 35 minute drive from Salt Lake City. The mountain is located on a divide with the South facing slopes draining into Little Cottonwood Canyon and Big Cottonwood Canyon to the North. The normal access is via the South Ridge Trail with the trailhead at Alta Ski Resort. The South face is a steep headwall which runs almost 3,000 vertical feet to the valley below.
Leaving from Alta Ski Resort
I arrived in Utah not knowing what to expect. I had been contacted by Bucky who was putting on the Wasatch Splitboard Fest and asked if I wanted to put on a presentation. Though I had only skied at Snowbird for a day before I knew that the surrounding mountains were filled with great ski tours.
Driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon the skies were clear. We parked our car at the Alta ski resort parking lot and couldn’t help but to look at at Mount Superior. The slope gave way to over 3,000 feet of fall line ski turns back to the valley.
We made our way up the Cardiff Pass Trail before heading south on the ridge. The route was relatively easy as we made our way up the broad shoulder. Being my first ski tour in Utah I felt spoiled with the weather.
Arriving on the summit of Mount Superior we had a great view of Little Cottonwood Valley. From our vantage point we were looking directly across at Snowbird and Alta. There was a lifetime of ski tours easily accessed from the road.
Riding down the South Face of Mount Superior
Standing on the summit of Mount Superior was a bit intimidating. We could see the road all the way in the valley but the middle section was a blind roller. Sitting there with our boards on our feet I didn’t know what type of snow we could expect.
Snowboarding down into the south face I was happy to find a few day old power. We made our way into a small chute before traversing over to the ridge. While it was steep conditions made for easy riding all the way to the valley.
Walking back to the car I couldn’t help but to look back occasionally. the South face of Mount Superior stood tall with our snowboard tracks on it. Here i was on my first day of ski touring in Utah and it was the run I was starting with. I wondered if it was going to be the highlight of the trip or if the good adventures had just begun.
Thank you for reading this trip report and to Bucky for putting on the Wasatch Splitboard Festival.
If you are ever touring in the Wasatch Backcountry make sure to keep up with avalanche conditions by follow the Utah Avalanche Center