Signature Line

This spring in Utah I was committed to checking out an area rumored to have some fun pillows. On a down day, I had Neil Provo meet me for a mellow mission to head up and explore. The pillows ended up being too low in elevation so we kept going not knowing what we would end up finding. We got to where the trail ended and had to turn back due to a late start. I did take a photo of this line that ran all the way from the top through a extremely spicy diagonal ramp that ended in an apron. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and I immediately put it to the top of my hit list (conditions permitting). Jump forward to a 5:30 am start – it was a solo mission, I was determined to complete the objective. With 2 ice axes and crampons I made my way up, tackling a scree field with loose rock near the top. Go time. Completely focused my mind turned off. It was me and the mountain. Coming into the diagonal ramp there was no room for error. Ice axe in hand I made it through the crux. Riding out the bottom, the stars aligned, I was thrilled that the line came together. When you’re splitboarding the connection to the mountains is like no other.

Signature line

Halfway through The Firing Squad

Photos by Zach Clanton