Getting the packs out of the car at the trailhead. This parking job would later cost me $35 ..who knew you needed a rec pass in the winter?

Bald Mtn, 15 miles, a little longer than the 12 we had estimated from the map. Also getting started a little later than planned. Maybe we won't make it to Bald Mtn the first day, but we should make it most of the way, right?

Dennis and I looking quite happy, unaware of how long a 15 mile skin in is. ..especially Dennis, in his Alpine Trekkers... (perhaps he should've read this review )

7.5 miles later, it's 6pm, time to set up camp before dark. A view of our kitchen on the first night. Didn't exactly make the progress we expected to. Dennis is doubting he can make it another 7.5 miles tomorrow, I tell him it'll be no problem, don't worry about it.

When the tree's farther away than your rope is long, you get creative.

Nearing the end of our second day. Bald Mountain is near, and Dennis is nearly dead. I'm not exactly full of energy myself.

After 2 days of skinning uphill, there's nothing I enjoy more than digging a giant snow pit to put our tent in. The weather is not so nice at Bald Mountain pass at 10,800ft. Temperatures are in the 20's with a stiff 40mph breeze  ..good thing our super-light tent provides about as much protection from the elements as a screendoor. We ate dinner quickly and then got into our -20F rated sleeping bags fast. What a wild and crazy way to spend St Patricks Day (<-sarcastic).

The next morning, we did some avy practice, then headed up Bald mtn. Dennis is happy to finally remover his skins and actually do downhill skiing. (Good thing you got those low-fat skins Dennis, probably made your alpine skis, boots, and trekkers feel light)

View towards Flat Top Mountain.

Looking west. Notice the cornice at the top of the slope.

A better view of the cornice above us (about 15-25' tall). As the sun beat down on the snow, the slope turned to beautiful corn, and roller balls started to come down off the cornice, ..we decided to get going.

Dennis making turns in nice snow.

Me making turns in some of the nicest corn I've ever skied.

More turns...

View east towards Mt Agassiz.

Looking back at the slope we skied. If you look closely you can see our tracks (and a snowmobile track ..grrr..)

Another view of the slope. Tracks more visible in this one. After skiing, we had a very long 15 mile ski out. Annoyingly not quite downhill enough to just coast, just a lot of poling and skating. Of course not a single flake of snow was seen in the 10 days Dennis was here, hence his nickname for Utah, "The land of empty promises".