On Tuesday the high pressure continued. We went out of the Wasatch to the Stansbury's in order to climb the highest peak in the range, Deseret Peak. As a not particulary interesting piece of information Deseret Peak is one 57 mountains in the lower 48 that has more than 5,000' of prominence.
The range is located west of SLC, past the Oquirrhs, near the sprawling metropolis of Tooele.
Deseret Peak is the one on the left side.
From the trailhead at 6,000' we had a quite tedious 4 mile walk up the lower part of South Willow Canyon.
We didn't feel like booting up one of the couloirs, so we took a more gradual approach up Mill Fork before swinging round and gaining the peak at 11,031' from the east. The wind-effect was already obvious.
Ascending the ridge towards the summit, with our chosen descent route entrance in the foreground.
Peace and quiet on the summit. Looking west across the Great Basin.
Looking north up the Stansburys.
Looking east over the Oquirrhs towards the Twins.
Where we dropped had been wind-blasted.
Skiing the Couloir towards Dry Lake Fork.
About halfway down it switched into a nice breakable crust.
we ascended the ridge between Dry Lake and Mill Forks, taking it to the prow before dropping the NW facing trees into Dry Lake Fork. Here the powder was quite good.
