Linking Trad Routes with Ski Descents around Lone Peak

[Mark H]

I love objectives that involve multiple sports. The Lone Peak Cirque in the Wasatch is the perfect venue to combine trad climbing with skiing.

This route climbs "Triple Overhang" (5.10a, 4 pitches) and then descends the "Lars Line" with a 200 ft rap in the middle.


After gaining 5000 vert over 6 miles we reach the base of the Lone Peak Wall near 11,000 ft (This trip happened last year in May, pics from this year's trip will follow)


No, Tony isn't free soloing. The rope is in the crack. This is actually pitch 1 of a climb called "Vertical Smile" then we merged onto Triple Overhang.


Loving pitch 2!


Sussing the next pitches. You can see the triple overhang feature directly above us which many people say is the "best pitch in the Wasatch" because it has amazing hand jams and exposure.


traversing to the dihedral leading to the triple overhang


It was only fitting that a snowstorm caught us on the final pitch


summit!


the first short section of descent followed by 200 ft rappel



Andy Dorais did the first descent of this line the year before and left a good anchor


happy rappy


home free


Now here's this year's trip (just a few days ago.

This time we climbed the Lowe Route (5.8, 3 pitches) on the Question Mark Wall and descended the ramp to the Pete's Staircase rappel.


The crack on pitch 1 was wet so climbing it while hauling ski/splitboard gear was full value!


the zig-zaging pitch 2


Starting pitch 3 which almost too good to be true. Awesome exposure with tons of patinas! It was heaven.


Near the top.


summit!


down the ramp



2 raps



home free!

[seano732]

Awesome.

[mall walker]

Holy shit lol, way cool.

[LightRanger]

Great stuff. Leading 5.8 (and 5.10!) with ski gear on your back = badass status.

[NW_SKIER]

Way cool. Good work.

[brutah]

Great stuff. Leading 5.8 (and 5.10!) with ski gear on your back = badass status.

my thoughts exactly...... I complain about a heavy rack, I can't imagine hauling ski gear up a rock climb. Well done as always Mark!

btw, where are you on your mission to ski all of the county highpoints in Utah?

[Soups]

Great stuff. Leading 5.8 (and 5.10!) with ski gear on your back = badass status.

Uh yup. Damn.

Although supposedly this ain't shit. I guess JPio can out do all of this.

[spankthepow]

Damn! 5.10 with all that shit on your back?

[Meadow Skipper]

That.
Was.
FKNA.
Cool.

[Supermoon]

That's rad. Nice TR!

[zion zig zag]

Damn! 5.10 with all that shit on your back?

No shit. I've struggled to follow that climb (triple overhangs) in a t shirt.

[adrenalated]

10a trad with skis on the back? FUCK THAT.

Superb work.

[detrusor]

That's the stoke!


Killing it with the 4-5 year old crowd!

[zartagen]

Damn, this is rad!

[406]

Wow! Nice work.

[Mark H]

Thanks guys. It's fun to think of all the possibilities with this combo style.

Brutah I have about 10 counties left. I'll wrap up that project next season when hopefully there will be actually be a decent snowpack below 8000 ft....

[cat in january]

That was seriously bad ass.

[Arno]

Very cool - threads like this are what keep me coming back to this place

[enginerd]

Oh yes, that was awesome! 5.10 with skis/boards!

[Yonder_River]

Dude. I'm just here to say what everyone else is saying. 5.10 with skis??

[mud]

Looks like a blast, thanks for the trip.

[Bromontana]

Very nice work

[I've seen black diamonds!]

This should be in a James Bond movie.

[claudia]

Nice, that's so sick

[hutash]

Shouldn't you have just been able to skin up 5.10b?


FKNA, well played sir, well played.