The Heart of Darkness

Crimson light bathed the snow underfoot in a soft, heavenly glow as we crested the summit of Cardiff Peak in Little Cottonwood Canyon, the summit of Mount Superior and the Cardiac Ridge shining brightly as the first rays of sunrise peeked over the top of the eastern horizon. Although the wind was gusting in the 40mph range, we took a few moments to admire the beauty so carefully spread before us by a considerate Creator. After a brief repose, some water, and some photographs, the long slog to the top ensued.

High winds from the previous night made the skin track and boot pack quite treacherous in places, having to toe-in for a good portion of the ridge line approach. Andy and Hayden took turns breaking trail until finally we reached the summit of Superior (11,050′). About the time the four of us reached the top, Mother Nature decided to give us a show, and the thick clouds that had been buffeting us all day decided to clear away, giving us blue skies for the final push to the summit of Monte Cristo (11,132′).

Hayden and Andy on the final Push

The Hero Shot

View from the Summit

Andy and Hayden getting ready to ride down

Hayden Price on first drop down MC

After dropping Monte Cristo, we headed over to the Heart of Darkness on the north ridge. This has to be one of, if not the all-time coolest descents I’ve ever done. If you’re stoked on ski-mountaineering, this is a must do. There was a faint buried track heading over to the entrance to the Heart of Darkness, which is a 40 foot rappel into a chute that exits into a 4 mile trek down Mill B South. This was our road. Andy hitched the rope he had brought to the rappel anchor on the skier’s right of the entrance and started to not-quite-vertical rappel into the chute. It was my first rappel of my life, so I was slightly nervous, but Andy, Hayden, and David all have a lot of experience in these types of things, so they walked me through the technique and everything worked out perfectly.

It was quite unlike anything I’ve ever done with snowboarding before. The whole mountaineering aspect is what we’ve set out to accomplish this season with the Summit Project, and it was very gratifying to be able to finally get to do some of it.

The next part of the trip was the best/worst experience of my whole life. The slope angle was too shallow for us to snowboard down, so we had to put the kit into ski mode. Problem: I don’t know how to ski; especially a 158 rocker board in nipple deep pow. Andy did a little write-up which I’d care to forget. But the scenery in Mill B South was more amazing than anything I’ve ever seen in Utah before. Getting deeper into the Wasatch Mountains into zones where few people ride has been, and will continue to be an unbelievably rewarding part of riding my split-board, but as Marcus would say, “Nobody cares that you split-board, bro.”

Hayden thumbed a ride down to the mouth of BCC from the Mill B South exit, and Andy, David, and I enjoyed some delicious Sour Gummie Worms. I’d call that a good day.