Close button

Be Polite

Speak quietly
in the backcountry.

Print button
Previous button Next button
Pioneer Main Chute
Pioneer Main Chute from Wren Hollow
Terrain Shallow Chute
Ascent Vertical 1,100'
Skiing Vertical 1,100'
Skinning Distance 0.8 miles
Location 40.5820° / -111.5874°
Online Map View on wbskiing.com

When you are riding Brighton's Crest chairlift, the Pioneer Main Chute is very visible if you look southwest after passing tower #9. The chute actually descends from a false summit that is about 500 feet east of the true Pioneer Peak.

The slope averages about 42°, but there are portions that are significantly steeper.

Snowboarders Richard Jones and Allen Chatwin died in an avalanche near Pioneer Peak on March 16, 2002.

Getting to Pioneer Main Chute

Pioneer Main Chute from Crest Top

You can get to the Pioneer Main Chute by riding Brighton's Crest chairlift, exiting through the Crest backcountry gate (the gate closes at 3 pm), and booting up Pioneer Ridge to the first peak (10321). There's rarely a need to skin up this short, 300 vertical foot climb, because the friendly Brighton boarders are quick to put in a booter.

When you reach 10321, don your skis (or board, I'm really not as ski-centric as I sound) and descend Pioneer Ridge toward Pioneer Peak, pass Green Slope (the big, treeless, open slope on the left that is about 1,000 feet west of 10321), and continue to the "false" (early) peak.

Pioneer Main Chute from Dog Lake

Another option is to follow the directions to the Dog Lake Chutes (either from the Crest chairlift or the Brighton parking lot) and then, after reaching the top of the Dog Lake Chutes, continue up the ridge to the false summit. The upper portion of this ridge is too steep and narrow for skins and needs to be booted. Also consider that cornices frequently form along this ridge—stay well to your right as you ascend.