Wasatch Range, UT Report: A Murder-Suicide on Mount Superior

Martin Kuprianowicz | Post Tag for BackcountryBackcountry | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

Brought to you by 10 Barrel Brewing 

Report from Thursday, May 13, 2021

Often the best things in life are unexpected: relationships, job opportunities—Chuting Gallery couloir link-ups.

This morning at 11, two buddies and I set off for Suicide Chute—a Wasatch-classic couloir on Mount Superior. 

I’ve already skied Suicide several times, so I figured I’d take a look at Homicide Chute on Suicide’s backside and try for that if it still looked “in.”

When I got to the top of Suicide via a booter from the apron, Homicide looked good—it was filled in as far as I could see and the sun was making the snow perfect corn. 

It was calling my name. 

The booter up Suicide Chute is direct and usually well-set by the many other people that inevitably will ski it before you on any given day in the Wasatch. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

Down at the bottom of this temptress, the chute wrapped around a corner I couldn’t see past.

From the road, it looked like it could “buff,” as my good friend Landon likes to say, but I couldn’t be sure. 

With this uncertainty in mind, I went anyway, blindly hoping I wouldn’t have to boot back up it. 

You’ll know you’re at Homicide Chute by the few witnesses (trees) standing at its entrance. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

The snow was hero-corn and I charged down it swiftly, with an ear-to-ear grin plastered across my face the whole way down. 

It was textbook corn: fast, smooth, and wildly satisfying. 

When I got around that ominous corner, the snow abruptly ended and it was hundreds of feet of downclimbing over sharp rocks to more snow down below. 

I had to hike back up it. 

Homicide Chute skied way better than Suicide Chute today—the corn snow was epic. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

“Shit!” I exclaimed when I arrived at the decision point. 

Not sad that I’d now get another lap in on Suicide, I threw my crampons on, put my head down, and started booting back up Homicide as quickly as I could. 

The booter was steep but direct and I made it back to the ridge dividing the two couloirs in about 15 minutes. 

I enjoyed the lovely weather for a moment then threw my skis on and charged down Suicide. 

The drop-in to Suicide Chute never gets old. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

The snow in Suicide was far worse than her sister’s—heavy, sticky, slushy snow that got increasingly more difficult to ski as I descended. 

However, I was still able to slash fun, fast turns, especially at the top.

Suicide Chute is a lovely ski no matter the conditions.

Today’s adventure ended up taking two hours and 15 minutes. 

It’s always a great day when you get to rip down not one, but two chutes on Mount Superior—in a t-shirt. 

God, I love Spring in Utah. 

Avalanche Forecast 

Photo courtesy of the Utah Avalanche Center 5/13/21 (This is the date I checked it but the forecast hasn’t been updated since April 27.)

Weather

Photo courtesy of NOAA 5/13/21

Photos

This photo was taken at the bottom of the chute when I realized I’d be booting back up it. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains
Halfway up Homicide, I looked through this gap in the rocks and saw the Pfeiferhorn. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains
There’s a waterfall halfway up Superior’s south face right now. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains
Superior is getting bare but she still buffs. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains
After skiing, we went for some aprés bouldering in Little Cottonwood Canyon. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains
Posted by Martin Kuprianowicz |

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