Cloudveil Couloirs (first descent?)
As I continued my daily commute to Ogden, I began to realize the vast possibilities that lay within the expansive and picturesque region known as the Wasatch.
Nestled along the southwestern slopes of Ben Lomond, two narrow strips of terrain remain largely untouched, rarely experiencing complete coverage. Despite my familiarity with the local area, these particular lines have seemingly eluded any recorded descents. Granted, it's the Wasatch—a mountain range teeming with countless skillful snowboarders & skiers alike. It's difficult to definitively confirm whether these lines have indeed been conquered before. However, lacking any information to the contrary, I present my personal recollection of a Friday evening ride after a day of work.
Sunset on the Cloudveil Couloirs #1 & 2
The two prominent lines nestled above the Bonneville Shoreline.
During my return ride along the shoreline after descending the south face of Ben Lomond, I caught sight of the two enticing lines. It was right after Johnathan and I completed a challenging descent through a whiteout, where low-hanging clouds veiled the lower slopes of the mountain. In that moment, Johnathan spotted the lines piercing through the cloud cover. To our amazement, a hawk soared above them, confirming our belief that we had stumbled upon something remarkable.
However, it took some time before I had the opportunity to ride those lines. On my first attempt, I made the rookie mistake of forgetting my boots, rendering the endeavor impossible.
Eventually, the stars aligned, and I seized the chance one Friday evening after work. Accompanied by Frank, a friend who served as a ski patrol at Snowbasin, we embarked on the adventure. Navigating to the lines proved relatively straightforward, despite a minor detour through some dense foliage. Within an hour, equipped with crampons and verts, we stood at the base, ready to embark on the low hanging fruit.
The left couloir appeared particularly captivating as a snowboarder.
Frank taking the last bit of trail blazing.
Photo courtsey of Frank’s iPhone:
Board strapped and verts on, we sent the left couloir.
My view from the start of the boot pack.
Frank in full skimo mode ready to follow my vert step ups.
As we progressed, we encountered the sole crux move of the night. Frank took the lead and eagerly volunteered to tackle it first. With remarkable ease and a touch of flair, he effortlessly conquered the crux, making the mixed climb appear deceptively effortless.
Having successfully surmounted the crux, we continued our ascent, following the boot pack that extended straight ahead. Eventually, we reached the summit under the veil of darkness, our efforts rewarded by the achievement of reaching the top.
Upon reaching the summit, we were greeted by a roll-in feature that provided the opportunity for a single heel-side turn before venturing into the chute to photo left.
Frank mid hop turn with the Ogden shining in the background.
This image captures the moment when I had just hop turned over the crux and successfully landed at the base.
As Frank maneuvered through the rocky and icy terrain, his skis produced mesmerizing sparks, creating a captivating sight on the mountainside.
With the completion of the crux, Frank and I continued our descent down the remaining portion of the chute, enveloped in darkness. Eventually, we reached the bottom and concluded our ride, making our way back to the car along the Bonneville Shoreline.
