Goldilocks Project Part 1: Monte Cristo

The Goldilocks Project is my effort to ski three Wasatch classics (Monte Cristo, Dresden Face, Lone Peak's NE Couloir) that eluded me during the 2023 season because they require very specific conditions that rarely materialize. As Goldilocks would say, conditions for accessing and skiing these lines need to be "not too hot, not too cold, just right!" In 2023 I made attempts on all three but bailed due to concerns about snow stability. In early March 2024, after waiting over a year, favorable conditions appeared and I was able to ski all of them over a 4-day period. Thanks to Bobby Brooks, Parker Holmes, Sam Carnahan, and Brendan Nicholson for joining me on this adventure, and to Jeremy Page who was there for most of the recon & scheming.

Monte Cristo Gully is one of the longest and best ski descents in Little Cottonwood Canyon. I had previously skied the gully from the summit of Mt Superior, but skipped the top portion (Monte Cristo Headwall or "Edge of the World") due to the knife-edge traverse required to access it. The headwall isn't particularly long or steep, but it's so aesthetic that I had to go back and ski it once I felt good about doing the traverse. This video is a mashup of footage from my headwall descent from March 2024 and gully descent from Feb 2024, when conditions in the gully were better.

Music: Bon Iver, "Calgary" & "Holocene"