Backcountry Skiing Utah - Tushar Mtns (day 3)

Today we set out across Puffer Lake toward Lake Peak. It looked like a long skin standing in the middle of the lake looking up at the summit but we made quick work of it. 

Crossing Puffer Lake again...Lake Peak is on the left

Me just below the high point of the snow (photo by Rich)

Brian finishing off the climb on his split board we cut on my table saw

We skinned up on a breakable crust so we took our time at the top to let the sun soften the snow up a little. The aspens on this mountain are very well spaced making it easy to carve turns.

 

The aspen glades here are perfect for skiing



Sean cruising through glades just below tree line



Rich landing after a little air in the trees

We were able to run it out all the way back to the lake...sure beats putting your skins back on to down climb to the lake. We spent awhile hanging out at the lake hitting jumps on one of the hills along the shore.

Me jumping through the trees over Puffer Lake (video by Sean)

Sean jumping a small cornice by the lake (video by Rich)

We skinned back across the lake and grabbed the frisbee and beers. It was 73F in the sun according to my watch.  Just as the sun was setting Rich and I decided to grab our gear and hit the small slope right behind the RV for a couple laps. Sean went with us after a little peer pressure. It was a nice steep slope with enough vert to get about eight turns in (or one turn and a fall if you drink as much as Sean did...too funny).

Tushar Mtns – Lake Peak

Getting there: I-70 turns into I-15, head south to exit 112 at Beaver, UT. Take route 160 west of the highway into town, turn left onto route 153. Drive past Eagle Point Ski Resort to the road closure just past Puffer Lake.

Route: We crossed Puffer Lake to the far side. Lake Peak is easily identified by its cone shape (see the first photo in this post - taken from the lake). We skinned up the drainage to just below a false summit at around 10,800ft.

Precautions: Standard avalanche safety warnings - see Tuesday's post for more local info. Watch out for open water on Puffer Lake. You'll need to go around the lake if the ice isnt stable.

Lake Peak route marked by blue arrow, RV parked on red dot