You've Heard About The WURL, But What About The WUBL: Wasatch Ultimate Bar Linkup?

The Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL) is a gnarly ridge route that traces the shape of Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon. It is ~36 miles long with ~18kft of elevation gain and challenges even the most elite athletes.

Recently, Wasatch splitboarders Jake Filarski, Megan Matheson, and Gracee Dalton decided to put a spin on the WURL by creating (and completing) the first known Wasatch Ultimate Bar Linkup (the WUBL). I ran into this crew on the top of Patsy on Friday as they were mid-WUBL and was curious to hear more details. See a Q&A below with Gracee about what the WUBL actually entails.

Q: What is the WUBL?

A: Wasatch Ultimate Bar Link-Up

Q: What inspired the WUBL?

A: The WUBL was inspired by the WURL (Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Link-Up) with an inkling of a Beer Mile. We wanted to make a challenging adventure that connected all of the 4 beloved resorts and a bar at each along the way!

Q: What was the route of the WUBL?
A:

• BCC Park & Ride
• Solitude & Thirsty Squirrel
• Brighton & Molly Greens
• Twin Lakes Pass
• Patsy Marley
• Alta & Gold Miner's Daughter
• Snowbird & Tram Club

Embarking on the WUBL, we started at the Base of Big Cottonwood Canyon where we had a choice to make, bus or hitchhike. Fate had other plans and before we knew it we were cuddled into the back of a Honda CRV, our chariot to Solitude.

We enjoyed some laps at Solitude then we were ready for the Thirsty Squirrel. Cue the fireball shot-ski, our spirits were fueled for the next leg of our journey. Unfortunately, due to the recent hot weather, we were unable to tour from Solitude into Brighton. However, a lovely group of patrollers from Solitude overheard our mission, loaded us up into their van and shuttled us to our next stop, Brighton.

At Brighton, we met with some friends to enjoy some warm spring laps and refreshing beverages at Molly Green’s- but Little Cottonwood Canyon was calling and we had a mission to finish. Skinning from Brighton, we set out for the Twin Lakes and skurried up Patsy Marley. At the summit, we made a toast to the spirit of exploration and the amazing connections forged along the way.

We whooped and hollered as we dashed down through Alta to the Goldminer’s Daughter where Alta-bombs awaited. Live music rang as we laughed and danced with friends. Now it was time to set our sights on the final frontier: Snowbird Tram Club. We celebrated the victorious moment of success over a game of pool and beer. We were on the final stretch now, thanks to the good samaritans who took us under their wing and helped us complete this loop down the canyon and back to our car.

Q: What were the conditions like for your first WUBL?

Spring boarding isn't for everyone, fortunately, our sprits were high and we enjoyed every turn along the way. It was a beautiful bluebird day. We started at 11:00 to allow things to warm up a little for us, fortunately, the weather wasn't too warm so wet slides weren't a threat.

Q: What were your highlights/challenges on the WUBL?

A: Highlights: savoring the late-season touring with friends, meeting new people along the way, heckling people along the way, and of course, all of the heinous inside jokes that are born from an escapade like this. We also collected prizes along the way for one another, we had a very thrilling awards ceremony once we returned home. Challenges: due to the hot weather there were a few sections that we could not complete due to little to no snow coverage.

You can’t plan an event like this too far in advance, ensuring snow conditions and snowpack were safe along the whole route requires flexibility and demands a group that is ready to rally spontaneously.

Q: Would you recommend the WUBL?

With spirits high and hearts full, we unanimously pledged to embark on this grand expedition again next season, hopefully adding a few stops along the way, or maybe even turning it into an overnight excursion! Surrounded by a stellar crew, we reveled in the essence of the splitboarding industry: thrilling adventures, irreverent camaraderie, endless laughter, and memories we hope will remain etched in our minds, forever.