King’s Peak in March beta

Will be attempting a single day snowshoe of King’s Peak (Utah) in March and looking for any beta out there. Would you recommend hiking and camping or did you find it do-able in a day? What gear aside from snowshoes did you use? Are XC skis worth considering? Casting a wide net here I know, so any info helps.
Thanks!

Austin Cotner wrote: Will be attempting a single day snowshoe of King’s Peak (Utah) in March and looking for any beta out there. Would you recommend hiking and camping or did you find it do-able in a day? What gear aside from snowshoes did you use? Are XC skis worth considering? Casting a wide net here I know, so any info helps.
Thanks!

How are your avalanche and safe travel in avi terrain skills?

Skis dude

YGD if you try this on snowshoes, seriously. Or you'll make it like 5 miles in and bail.

The Wasatch Mountain Club does a one day ascent of Kings Peak in March every year - in order to facilitate this trip, my understanding is that they spend a week or two prior to basically break trail up the river drainage and put in a skate ski track. This allows them to efficiently knock out all the approach miles, and it still ends up being an epic day.

I honestly doubt you could pull this off in a day without a track already put in, and without logistical support.

If you wanna join the WMC, Larry Swanson is the contact on the trip. You can find his information online; super helpful guy. 

Marc801 C wrote:

How are your avalanche and safe travel in avi terrain skills?

I have winter experience in Colorado on 14ers, feel reasonably confident identifying terrain, hazards, etc

David A wrote: Skis dude

My main hestitation with skiing it is I have 0 XC experience, only resort skiing. 

Thomas G. wrote: YGD if you try this on snowshoes, seriously. Or you'll make it like 5 miles in and bail.

The Wasatch Mountain Club does a one day ascent of Kings Peak in March every year - in order to facilitate this trip, my understanding is that they spend a week or two prior to basically break trail up the river drainage and put in a skate ski track. This allows them to efficiently knock out all the approach miles, and it still ends up being an epic day.

I honestly doubt you could pull this off in a day without a track already put in, and without logistical support.

If you wanna join the WMC, Larry Swanson is the contact on the trip. You can find his information online; super helpful guy. 

As I said above, not sure XC is a superior option, at least for me and my partner. I’m not opposed to making it a multiple day trip if the conditions force it..

Haven’t done kings peak but my two cents would be bring skis. Faster esp on downhills and it should burn less energy. Get some silvretta bindings for skis

Yeah, I just don't think that this is a practical objective without skis. Even on snowshoes, there's no way you could do King's in a day in August.

If you're intent on slowshoeing, I'd plan on a minimum of 4 days to attempt this - total round trip mileage is about 36 miles, and 9 miles a day (average) are pretty big days on snow shoes.

Austin Cotner wrote: Will be attempting a single day snowshoe of King’s Peak (Utah) in March and looking for any beta out there. Would you recommend hiking and camping or did you find it do-able in a day? What gear aside from snowshoes did you use? Are XC skis worth considering?

Its a long ways in the winter.  A long, flat ways.  Something like a whoppin' 1500 feet of elevation gain in the first 10 or more miles.  Grim work on snowshoes.  

I've done it a couple of times (and in a day) in the summer.  But, while I know a bunch of guys that have done it in the winter in a day, I know they don't always get 'er done too.  And, they only ski it, mostly in their "Kings Peak" rigs (custom skis/boots/bindings built up especially for use in that terrain).  

Light weight, metal edge, waxless skis.

I'd say doable if you figure you can crack off 40 miles of snowshoeing, at some altitude, in variable snow conditions in a day.

Here's what Andrew McLean has to say about it:

Kings Peak has the distinction of being the highest peak in Utah. It might also have the dubious honor of being the longest approach for the least amount of skiing in Utah - 12-16 miles each way (depending on how much of the road is open) for approximately 1,800’ of wind scoured crust. Highly unrecommended. But if you really want to torture yourself, here’s the scoop…..

Drive to Evanston, continue on until you see the I80 business loop to Fort Bridger. (details from Butch’s book). If road to the trail head is unplowed, add another 3 miles to the approach. Slog along this flat road until you reach the camp grounds. Once you reach the campground, you will be at the gates of hell. The wise will turn around here. If you decide to persist, start walking. And walking. And walking. It’s eight miles up a wooded drainage to the lakes with 1,500’ of elevation gain. Once you reach the head of the lakes, you will be able to look up to your left and see the ridge leading up to the summit of Kings. The normal route goes through a large saddle called Gunsight pass and drops way down and around a sub peak. Once you make it through Gunsight, you can skip the lower summer trail - stay high and traverse around. You can also take the direct approach and go up the much steeper notch directly at the head of the lakes. This is short and steeper, but will save you about 2 miles. Either way, gain a large basin and head up the east ridge. Ski down about 1,800’ and repeat the approach all the way back to the car. The recommended gear is a pair of metal edged waxless pattern skis (fishscales) with skins for the approach and then kick and glide on the egress. It’s relatively common for people to do this in a day, although you would absolutely want to make the snow was supportable. 

Austin Cotner wrote:

My main hestitation with skiing it is I have 0 XC experience, only resort skiing. 

When I did Denali a few years back, I skied up the Kahiltna glacier to 11 camp, (probably about a distance of about 10 miles one-way) with basically 0 XC experience. Hell, I don't even know how to ski at all, I'm a snowboarder! I made it fine. Go with the XC skis if you are seriously considering doing this, practice for a few miles somewhere to get the hang of it, and you'll be good to go. You'll be glad you went with the skis. 

Did it yesterday.  17 hours round trip on skis.  Fun trip. 32 miles.  Crap snow above Gunsight. Enjoy!

I am planning on doing it this Saturday on Xc skis. Planning on boot packing up the couloir between Gunsight and Kings. Is anyone familiar with the slide potential of that couloir?

If you are a solid resort skier, you can XC ski gentle slopes -- traverse and kick turn when needed on steeper terrain.  Certainly try them out beforehand, and realize they are greatly affected by snow conditions.

To learn telemarking, which could work well on this sort of outing, expect a long apprenticeship.  

For alpine-touring/randonee, a solid resort skier just needs to learn the bindings, skin handling, etc... though for this trip as described (and as it looks on the map) the weight vs. short 'actual ski run' is quite a trade-off.
-Peter (anyone else seen King Peak in the Yukon Territory?)

Peter Green wrote:(anyone else seen King Peak in the Yukon Territory?)

Yep.  Couple of times.  Especially impressive from the south.

Didn't get as good a look from the summit of Logan (ha ha).

I agree with those assessments.  Also unimpressive from summit of Steele.
-PGG