Grrr Couloir

This is one of the grand daddy couloirs in the Wasatch Mountains. The origin of the name is unknown, but it’s possibly a Tony the Tiger reference in that this line is Grrrrrreat! It’s long, it’s wide, perfect pitch for skiing fast and it’s in a beautiful setting! Cascade Peak is often overlooked being dwarfed by Timpanogos and the deep powder that accumulates in the central Wasatch, however it has some of the best skiing and coolest lines in the Wasatch, but don’t tell anybody this. The line doesn’t top out on a peak, but on the shoulder of a sub ridge that runs off of Cascade Peak. There’s a nice little saddle to gear up in and then it’s couloir time. The Grrr maintains a really nice pitch of around 40 degrees and it's really wide for the upper three quarters until it tightens up a little for the rock lined choke. It then finishes with a wide apron and, depending on the snow totals for the season, some bushwhacking. If you’re lucky, the snow will have covered some of that up making it a fun escape gully.

Start at the mouth of Rock Canyon in Utah Valley, just past the Mormon temple. There is a well maintained and often traveled trail full of snowshoers and joggers. Continue for a few miles until traffic thins out and you hit the Rock Canyon campground from here hang a left to the north along the Squaw Peak road that leads right to the base. Bushwhack up from here!

Lower approach bushwhack

The Central Wasatch has great snow and it’s no secret which means it gets crowded! If you head south to get out of the crowds, then the Grrr is a fun option. With its south facing aspect it gets baked by the sun and settles out quickly making it a relatively “safe” option but getting it in good snow is harder.