Broads Fork Twin Peaks East Face 3/13

Ever since I first saw the East Face of Twin Peaks I was drawn to the line. The face is big and steep, with several winding gullies leading through the rocky cliffs. Getting to this line is no easy matter, for me at least. We chose the Tanners Gulch approach. Parking in LCC, right by the entrance to Tanner's, Joe Brett and I made our way up this classic line very early in the morning. Since we were exiting via Tanners Gulch as well, we had to make sure that we made it out of this south facing slide path before the sun warmed up the snow too much and made travelling in this huge terrain trap a hazard. This means 1 a.m wake up, meeting up at 2, and hiking before 3. As we worked our way up Tanner's we noticed that there was not too much of a refreeze the night before and the snow was still very soft. This made the top section where we were forced to bootpack a lot more difficult, along with better reason to try to make it out earlier.

The East Face of Broads Fork Twin Peaks

We made it to the top of Tanners right as a few traces of a rising sun started to reveal itself behind the mountains to the East. We could see the East Face starting to reveal itself in the morning light. Behind it laid Salt Lake, all lit up. We scoped out our line and made our way to the bottom of it, down a north facing chute that ended having really great snow. After skinning up the apron, we threw the skis on our backs and started boot packing up the most direct couloir. The snow was also deep throughout most of the whole face and made it a bit slower, but we switched off efficiently and made a quick pace to the summit. Even climbing up this route was a blast. It was pretty surreal just being there in such terrain. There was also some amazing views from the summit.

Salt Lake City lighting up the background

Another gorgeous Wasatch sunrise

Booting up the face

Joe enjoying the views

Brett about to summit

West Twin Peak

Some beautiful mountains here

We switched to ski mode not very long after the sun made it's way over the whole run. Brett dropped first, made some turns and cut to a safe spot to keep eyes on us as we dropped. I went second, howling with each turn. It was the same snow conditions, that was deemed some of the best of the season two days earlier. It seemed to be unaffected from sun and wind the last two days and we were able to take full advantage of this. I made my way a little more than half way down the face and paused as the other two moved past. Following them down to the bottom, I enjoyed even more great snow throughout the bottom of the gully and through the apron. We exchanged high-fives and ranted about the great snow we just had. In a hurry to get back though, we quickly threw the skins back on and headed back to the top of Tanners. Exhausted from the entire morning, me and Brett switched off breaking trail about every 15 feet, half joking and half serious about how dead we were.

Joe enjoying the powder

Finishing out an amazing run

The run out of Tanners was soft and playful. Our legs were pretty friggin tired to make the most of these soft turns but we all had a blast. Back out to the road and back down to the city after another morning well spent. Doesn't get better than this!

Top of Tanners Gulch

Brett enjoying some soft snow!

GH