1-19-08 Mt Nebo-2nd attempt

**Trackhead** · 01-19-2008, 09:45 PM

Went back to Nebo for another attempt at skiing the NW Couloir. Summitted Nebo a couple years back, but did not ski the Couloir due to windloading.

Started out with a quaint group of seven. Suprisingly, this was the best moving big group I have ever been out with. No screwing around, just constant movement. Rare in a big group.

Nebo requires a bit of walking, starting around 6,000ft with the summit around 11,900. It's our Utah 14'er.

After about 2,000ft, you leave the road and enter destruction zone deluxe for the next 2,000ft.

Eventually safety is found in some big old growth.

We reached the saddle and the deck dropped with winds rapidly increasing.

We continued within about 500ft and 30 minutes of the summit. With the brutal winds and no vis, we opted to bail.

Not ready to leave, we skied 1400ft into the trees, then lapped a fun ridge in nice snow. Chris and Jon busted out the fuel.

Powstash enjoying himself.

Then it was back up for a look at other terrain.

Powstash finding excellent turning conditions on this west aspect. We had already skied north and east, but for some reason, west was money.

Powstash again.

Our west run ran into this ridiculously huge bowl.

After a brief rest, we decided to approach our objective (NW couloir) from below, and just skin up it.

**Trackhead** · 01-19-2008, 09:46 PM

Guy busting a move. Up, up, up. Beautiful place. We were all inspired.

The bowl seemed to go on forever.

The Wasatch Gaggle.

Jon somehow broke his beacon, and opted to ski down at the mouth of the couloir with some others. Guy, Powstash and I decided we would continue skinning up the couly to see how it looked.

It was quite variable with stout crusts, breakable crusts and soft snow. We continued until we were about 500ft from the top again, then kinda lost confidence in the snowpack.

No big deal. Just come back later. Guy, happy to atleast be in the couloir and checking it out first hand.

We fantasized about skiing it in pow one day. I think it could happen. If the damn winds leave it alone.

Powstash checking out traffic on 1-15.

Powstash.

Nebo is the high, left peak. The two on the right are the southern summits. The NW couloir is hidden.

Timpanogos on the drive home.

Even without skiing our objective fully, today was still an amazing day with a great group.

**powder_prophet** · 01-19-2008, 10:06 PM

Nice work!!!! Way to know when you've pushed enough and it's time to turn around. As always TH, you're TR's never cease to inspire!!!!

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Nebo is the high, left peak. The two on the right are the southern summits. The NW couloir is hidden.

Oh my god, the possibilities!!!

**KillingCokes** · 01-19-2008, 10:08 PM

That's one sweet lookin mountain. I love the skinning pic from in the coulie

**Dickeymotto** · 01-19-2008, 10:20 PM

Wow, beyond words

**adimmen** · 01-19-2008, 10:28 PM

Epic day. The lines I have "failed on" multiple times are often the most rewarding.

**springsproject** · 01-19-2008, 10:43 PM

Really nice job on this one, looks like a great place to be.

**JTrue** · 01-19-2008, 11:35 PM

Looks like a great time even if you didn't get to ski your objective, looks like the pow was plentiful.

**telepariah** · 01-20-2008, 12:16 AM

Nebo is HUDGE!

I have never heard of anyone skiing the giormous faces on the east side. If anything slides over there it will be an ugly scene. Is there also a problem on the east with access?

**Xover** · 01-20-2008, 04:00 AM

nice .... looks like fun up there .... but not with a group of 7 no matter who the 7 are ... nice, none the less

**Trackhead** · 01-20-2008, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by telepariah

Nebo is HUDGE!

I have never heard of anyone skiing the giormous faces on the east side. If anything slides over there it will be an ugly scene. Is there also a problem on the east with access?

The best approach is up Pole Canyon, from the west. It's very fast, very effecient, mostly safe. The road rises very steep and direct right from the valley floor.

The east faces are very accessible from the summit. The idea would be to lap the east, then climb back up and ski the NW couly. That was our intention (loosely) to do that this day, but with the vis.........This is actually a SE aspect. The turns of the summit pyramid are very, very steep, and usually wind hammered or baren.

**lionelhutz** · 01-20-2008, 08:51 AM

Great report. Wow....did you bring the mini heli with you?

**Kya** · 01-20-2008, 08:55 AM

FKNA good tour.

**meatdrink9** · 01-20-2008, 09:27 AM

You guys are just legs glued onto lungs.

I spent much of my weekends as a youth passing Nebo to and from the sand dunes. That thing is a monster.

**montanaskier** · 01-20-2008, 09:45 AM

Trackhead killin it....as usual.

**WICS** · 01-20-2008, 10:05 AM

Nice work people

**Lone Star** · 01-20-2008, 10:17 AM

my lungs hurt thinking about 8000 vert.

**Particle** · 01-20-2008, 10:18 AM

Killer work guys, and great pics as usual TH. I've drooled over that thing many times passing by...count me in for the return trip.

**Alpine Dreams** · 01-20-2008, 10:56 AM

Steller..

**hutash** · 01-20-2008, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by Trackhead

Even without skiing our objective fully, today was still an amazing day with a great group.

At the end of the day, isn't this what it is really all about? Getting summits and descents are are great, but being out in such a beautiful area with good people is what we will remember when we are old and sitting in our rockers.

Thanks for a great TR, and a reminder of what life and skiing is all about.

**Rontele** · 01-20-2008, 11:18 AM

almost as good as your Thunder Mtn TR, TH

**MacDaddy** · 01-20-2008, 11:40 AM

Wow man, thanks so much for posting that!

I can see the Nebo from house on clear days (at least I think I can) and of course on I15. I usually ask my wife to drive that section of highway so I can stare at the lines on Nebo...what an amazing mountain.

thanks again

**mtnjam** · 01-20-2008, 11:42 AM

That's a great TR!

I'd been wondering what it looks like up there after crinking my neck and almost driving off the road as a drove past Nebo on our way down to Zion last year. I saw those huge bowls up there and had been wishing I knew how to get up there from I-15.

I'm glad there's others besides me that like their salted fish snacks as fuel...