For most of us, we can’t always be in the mountains. Things like work, errands, and familial obligations keep us valley-bound. This is especially true in the Wasatch front of Utah due to very limited housing opportunities in Little and Big Cottonwood.

As a result of all this valley dwelling, the faithful spend many hours staring up at the mountains dreaming of lines and monitoring the snow to see if they're filled in enough. I’m amongst that crowd. As someone who used to commute daily from Salt Lake City to Provo, I’ve analyzed the Wasatch Front on many drives from I-15 - the highway that runs parallel to the mountains. I’m just lucky to have survived those drives despite my constant mountain rubbernecking.

Perhaps due to my constant surveillance, I’ve made an attempt to ski the most eye-catching of lines as seen from I-15, with several left to go. I like to think of them as proud lines. Something you can point to while walking the dog and say, “yeah, I’ve skied that.” Usually, no one is impressed, but I don’t let that deter me. I’m proud.

Obviously, there exists an infinite amount of lines to be skied that are valley visible. It’s kind of like looking into space - the longer you stare, the more stars that become visible.

In no particular order, here are my top four proud lines as seen from I-15 with a touch of beta for your scheming pleasure.

Tolcats Couloir:

Any skier with an affinity for couloir skiing will immediately recognize this one from the valley. It is the very obvious white strip of snow sandwiched between two parallel rocky ridges that create the north and south summits of Mt. Olympus.

Approach - Technically you can start up Neffs Canyon, wrap around the backside, climb Memorial #2 to the saddle and then ski Tolcats. But I think the proper way is to start at Mt. Olympus Trailhead so that later you can reminisce on both the skiing and the heinous ‘shwacking. Follow the summer trail until you cross into Tolcats Canyon and then fight your way up the drainage to the line. Be forewarned, the scrub oak bushwhacking is brutal. Without that deterrent, this line would probably be much more popular.

Skiing Vert: ~1,700’ depending on snow coverage

Slope Angle: low to mid 30s

Ascent Vert: ~4,000’ from Mt. Olympus Trailhead

Lowest Elevation: 4,810’

Highest Elevation: 8,750’

Aspect: West

Cold Fusion:

This one can only be glimpsed for a few miles when driving south on I-15 around Point of the Mountain. But that’s more than enough time to be lured in. Starting from the north summit of Mt. Timpanogos, this massive avalanche path begs to be skied. From this highway vantage point, there are two slide paths that diverge from the summit. Cold Fusion is the more direct, looker’s left one.

Approach - Cold Fusion is usually skied in the spring when lower elevation snow has melted and you can park at Mutual Dell Campground up American Fork Canyon to shorten the approach. Some folks ride their bikes up UT-92 as far as the snow allows and then skin westward on the Timpooneke road. For foot traffic, start from the campground in hiking shoes and go up Bear Canyon Trail, where it eventually intersects with Timpooneke. At some point, you’ll most likely switch over to skinning. From the intersection, travel west 2-2.5 miles along the northern end of Mt. Timpanogos Massif. Cold Fusion slide path crosses this road on the left so keep an eye out for it. Once at the base, skin or boot to the top. From the ridge, be sure to admire the views over Utah Valley to the west. If you have time and want to make Cold Fusion feel flat in comparison, walk a little ways south on the ridge and stare down into the insanely steep Grunge Couloir that drops off to the east.

Skiing Vert: 2,820

Slope Angle: 40

Ascent Vert: ~5,000

Lowest Elevation: 6500

Highest Elevation: 11380

Aspect: Northwest

South Face of Lone Peak:

Visible from just about anywhere in Utah County, this big blank face taunts all valley-bound skiers. Almost as if it’s wondering what you’re doing with your life by not carving turns up there. Or maybe that’s just me.

Falling south from the summit of Lone Peak, this face offers several thousand feet of pure blissful skiing. Not too mellow, not too steep. Perfect for big open turns! A pure delight in both powder and corn.

Approach: Start at Schoolhouse Springs Trailhead in Alpine and start skinning up the road. Ideally, the snow line will reach the trailhead but that's not always the case, especially in the spring. It's recommended to bring a pair of hiking shoes in case you need to walk for a ways. Head north along switchbacking roads and trails. After awhile, you will get to meadows labeled as "Hamongogs," (A cursory Google search reveals that this word is an Old Testament biblical reference for meadow.) Keep chugging and the line will come into view. Seeing the line in all of its glory should give you additional motivation to journey on. Continue straight up. Roughly 6,000' vert later, you will get to the ridge. The true summit of Lone Peak requires a few spicy moves but it's not necessary to summit for this line, just drop in wherever looks good!

Skiing Vert: 3-6,000’ Depending on snow coverage

Slope Angle: low to mid 30s

Ascent Vert: 6,000

Lowest Elevation: 5,520

Highest Elevation: 11,230

Aspect: South

West Couloir of Kessler:

In the midst of a sea of brown and green, a thin straight vertical line can be scoped from the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. From afar, the couloir looks impossibly steep. But once in it, the slope angle is fairly cruiser, for a couloir anyways. Just watch out for the rocky crux partway down. Some years it takes a bit of sideslipping and traversing to successfully skirt around, usually to skier’s right.

Approach: Drive roughly seven miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and park at the roadside pullout on the southside of the canyon that acts as the Argenta trailhead. Skin the Argenta slide path, up the headwall, and to the ridge. Follow it east to the true summit of Kessler Peak. From there, the West Couloir is, well, the west fall line. Dropping in, it feels like a wide face but it quickly funnels into a distinct line. Ski it and exit back to the road via Mineral Fork. If you didn’t set a shuttle, walk or hitchhike back to Argenta.

Skiing Vert: ~2,700 to Mineral Fork trail

Slope Angle: Mid to upper 30’s

Ascent Vert: 3,400’

Lowest Elevation: 6,700’

Highest Elevation:10,388’

Aspect: West

Up Next: The Dolphin

From northern Salt Lake Valley, find Lone Peak and look to the right. A dolphin will appear and once you see it, you can’t unsee it... 'til you ski it.