| Meadow Chutes | |
|---|---|
| Drainage | Silver Fork |
| Terrain | Open, Treed, Cliffy |
| Location | 40.6140° / -111.6262° |
| Online Map | View on wbskiing.com |
The entire western slope of Silver Fork is referred to as the Meadow Chutes. It's big, broad, and beautiful.
The terrain closer to the ridgeline is wide open and tree-less. The terrain closer to the valley bottom is steeper and a little cliffy. The slope angle shown in this info table is more representative of the open areas near the ridgeline and is not representative of the more complex and avalanche-prone terrain, below. In fact, Ricardo Presnell died in an avalanche near here on January 27, 2010. The site of his death is referred to as Ricardo's Roll.
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| Meadows Chutes from Solitude Entry #1 | |
|---|---|
| Trailhead | Solitude Entry #1 |
| Ascent Vertical | 2,000' |
| Skiing Vertical | 1,200' |
| Skinning Distance | 2.5 miles |
| Online Map | View on wbskiing.com |
The basic route to the Meadow Chutes is to follow the directions to the top of Brad's Line (i.e., Peak 9699) and then continue up the Silver Fork ridgeline. You can drop in anywhere along the way, but keep in mind that some lines get steeper (or cliffy) as they near the bottom of the drainage.
Another option is to follow the directions into Silver Fork from Big Cottonwood Canyon, pass the infamous outhouse (after about 30 minutes), and then look for, or set, a skin track heading up to the ridge (i.e., bypassing Brad's Line).
About the name
The Meadow Chutes encompasses everything between Doug's Drop and Brad's Line (see the above photo). The area labeled Football Field in the above photo (a newer name) is part of the Meadow Chutes. Some people mistakenly call the Meadow Chutes, The Meadows, but that isn't the name.
The term "Chutes" in Meadow Chutes is a bit of a misnomer, maybe intentionally, because the terrain primarily consists of modest gullies rather than steep chutes.
Beginner terrain
that is good as you develop your backcountry skills and when the avalanche danger is higher. Click for details.
Intermediate
terrain that requires more experience in skinning and skiing. Click for details.
Advanced terrain
that requires strong skiing and skinning skills. Click for details.
Expert terrain that is
challenging and a small mistake can have serious consequences. Click for details.
Extreme terrain
that includes insanely difficult chute skiing and beyond. Click for details.
The difficulty of this terrain
varies widely. Click for details.
This terrain hasn't
been rated. Click for details.
