Report from December 20, 2023

Yesterday we went for a legendary Wasatch line that I’d never skied.

Benson & Hedges Couloir.

For those too young to remember, Benson & Hedges was a famous cigarette brand back in the day.

What’s so magical about the B&H is that it has large, old-growth trees growing right inside the chute itself

Benson & Hedges Couloir

Wasatch Mountains, UT

Details

Summit (actually a notch): 9,800′
Car: 7,400′
Vertical From Car: 2,700′ (we climbed a bit above the chute then skied down to it)
Vertical skied: 1,300′ in the chute and apron
Max Pitch: ??º
Avg Pitch: 40º
Aspect: West
Distance: 6.5-miles round trip
Time From Car to Top: 2 hours & 40 minutes
Car to Car Time: 4 hours & 30 minutes
Recommended Equipment: Skin, Crampons, Ice Axe

Benson & Hedges Couloir. image: snowbrains

We didn’t start hiking until 11:30am.

We left a car at the Donut Falls parking lot, then started hiking from the Spruces Campground parking lot.

The long flat slog wasn’t too bad due to good company (Martin) and mind-opening conversation.

I was feeling good.

73 switchbacks later I was feeling pretty spent…

We made the Reed & Benson Ridge after 2 hours and 40 minutes.

We transitioned and skied down to the chute’s mouth.

We took a deep drag of the chute’s breath.

We were very tempted to just ski right back down next to our skin track.

It had snowed 3-6″ of wet snow the night before and conditions were looking prime on top.

We did one “marketing turn” for the camera on the slide down to the chute and it was creamy.

Once finally ready for that nicotine hit, I jumped into the chute first and was stoked to find soft, splashy conditions.

2 humans had gotten into the chute before us and beat it up a bit but not too bad.

It was bonier than anticipated.

On turn #4 I hit an ice-covered rock and knocked me outta my rhythm and blasted my helmet cam with wet snow.

I got it back together and flicked my butt down the chute proper dodging rocks, trees, vertical walls, and cigarette ads.

The choke near the bottom was extra awkward as it was tighter than my skis and full of land mine rocks making my chest tight.

I wheezed my way through utilizing flying jump turns and that nicotine high.

I grunted and muscled my way down the bronchoconstrictor-esque final piece of the chute and let that smooth cigarette buzz wash over me.

I was high on Benson & Hedges!

The chute felt extra buzzy due to the rocks and choke points that aren’t usually there.

Martin tore down the chute and joined me at the bottom.

We shared one last drag of the B&H air and turned our focus at the bushwhack, rock dodge that was the apron.

Eventually, we hit the road, ducked a few boobie traps, and made it to Donut Falls and city folk in their Sunday best and wedding dresses taking photos in the snow.

Nothing beats that calm, cool, nicotine buzz of the Benson & Hedges Couloir.

SNOWPACK NOTE:

We did not see any signs of snowpack instability
The Utah Avalanche Center’s forecast for the day was LOW avalanche danger at all aspects and elevations

Thanks, Utah!