| Michigan City | |
|---|---|
| Drainage | Grizzly Gulch |
| Trailhead | Grizzly Gulch Trailhead |
| Terrain | Open Glades |
| Ascent Vertical | 1,700' |
| Skinning Distance | 1.5 miles |
| Location | 40.5968° / -111.6166° |
| Online Map | View on wbskiing.com |
Michigan City is the area on the north side of Grizzly Gulch, between Davenport Hill and Black Bess.
Depending on the line you choose, the runs in Michigan City range from the low 20-degrees to the low 30-degrees.
You can either follow the directions to Twin Lakes Pass from the Grizzly Gulch trailhead and then ascend the ridge to the top of the Honeycomb Cliffs, or follow those same directions but head up one of the subridges from the "Michigan City flats."
About the Name
Although the Alta snowcat skiers have names for all of the runs on the north side of Grizzly Gulch, the name Michigan City is usually applied to all of the runs on the north side of Grizzly that are west of Black Bess (i.e., from the "Grizzly Cup Area" through the "Freeland Area").
The name comes from the Michigan-Utah mine which was active from 1901 through 1919. The mine's entrance was on the lower portion of this slope (a little above the flats). It primarily produced silver and lead. See the discussion of the Alta Ski Resort for more information on the history of mining in upper Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Originally, backcountry skiers used the name Michigan City only to refer to the flat area in Grizzly Gulch. The name is now commonly used to refer to all of the terrain on the north side of Grizzly Gulch that is above the flat area.
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.
