| South Monitor | |
|---|---|
| Drainage | West Monitor Flat |
| Terrain | Open Bowl |
| Location | 40.6337° / -111.5735° |
| Online Map | View on wbskiing.com |
The South Monitor and West Monitor are northeast-facing bowls (the West Monitor faces a little more to the east and the South Monitor faces a little more to the north). Although they are in Summit County, they are much easier to access from Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Due to their high elevation and northerly aspect, the Monitors often have dry, cold snow that hasn't been affected by the sun. And they're steep, with long sustained slopes that are close to 40°. And they're big—it's more than 4,000 feet between the outer flanks of the two bowls.
Big, steep and good snow? That sounds like fun! And they are, but the elevation, the pitch, and the northeastern aspect (which contributes to cornices and windloading) make them quite prone to avalanches.
Follow the directions to Willow Knob from Solitude Entry #1 or #2. When you get to the usually scoured Willow Knob, continue up the East Willow Ridge to the Park City ridgeline. You'll end up on the ridge above the South Monitor as shown in the above photo.
Follow the directions to USA Bowl from Solitude. Aim for the Pacific Northwest as you ascend the good ol' USA and you'll arrive at the top of the South Monitor.
About the Name
The name West Monitor is not intuitive, because it is almost due north of the South Monitor. If you named them while looking at a map, they'd be the North and South Monitors. (Click on the map shown here to see the relative positions of the Monitors.)
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.
