Utah Windriders Association

I want to do a little more exploration tomorrow at Monte Cristo. I think this place is just a treasure box waiting to be opened. If anyone wants to go just give me a call.Phone #s Home801-475-7788 Cell801-201-8205 or try my work # till 8 or so tonight 801-586-3066. I plan on bringing a camera to post photos. If you haven't been here before be prepared to be amazed. If you have been here then you probably didn't go far enough to really check it out. I believe Chris Nestor and myself are the only people to go to the top of the ridge and peek over the side and we both think it looks like natures terrain park.

How was Monte Augie? Did you get to sled out and explore? I'm pretty curious about the right winds for that place. Any suggestions?

Windzup,
Brian Schenck

I drove up kinda early and was on the snow by 1030. The winds were supposed to get real big by the end of the day and I didn't know how long it would take to tack back to my truck. I took food, water, adjustable poles, and climbing skins (plus I'm always on tele ski's) and a GPS to track my route. I was on my 10m Turbo Diesel. The wind started out at 12-15 and probably got to 18-20 when I was leaving @1:30. The winds are usually about 5 -8 mph less than Powder Mountain but the terrain is much more varied. I was able to go 3.5 miles in from the road before I decided to turn around. I mostly stayed in the bottom of the valley where the snowmobile track is, partially to stay on course. I was actually doing a downwinder on the track for a while and staying on the track easily. There must have been at least 20-25 alternate routes pop up in that 3.5 miles that all can use more exploration. I was amazed that it only took about 40 minutes to tack back to my starting point. The area is fairly open and the groves of trees were the only thing limiting my tacks. I took some photos but forgot my camera today.I would suggest going when the winds are forecast at least 20 mph at Powder Mt. Just as I was leaving @1:30 I saw Chris and Doug out flying but I was done. 9 miles total on the GPS.

Nice!

Windzup.

I forgot to mention the terrain is really awesome. There are lots of small drops,gullies, and hills, all of them with little open paths through the trees which for the most part are still wide enough to tack back and forth through. However, for the most part it is wide open. If you go, either rig by the road or walk up the groomed cat track 1/4 mile which will then be the edge of the first mile wide bowl. If you go to the far side of the bowl then it drops off the back side (north) to another 3/4 mile wide bowl. I would say the first bowl is more intermediate terrain and the second is more expert terrain. I think the next direction to explore is to the west of the first bowl and maybe even try a little further towards Hardware ranch than the 3.5 miles that I went. With the layout of the area any direction of the wind will work, although I think you want a south breeze to do a downwinder to Hardware.