Alta 2/21 and 2/22

S

Skrad

New member
Yesterday was like Alpental on Monday. An icing event at midday sent most of us to the lockers. Today was much more fun. Wind buff on the West Rustler face and Gunsight with good vis. I assume y'all know what this place looks like and that I can post without pics.
 
i also enjoyed Wednesday. First through Garbage chute with about 8" of blown in goodness. Also had a great one down Eagles nest. Conditions were primo yesterday.
 
I was considering going up this morning for a few runs but 6 additional inches of windblown 20% didn't sound attractive to me.

Sent from my HP TouchPad running Android 4.0
 
Admin":20w2ax0n said:
I was considering going up this morning for a few runs but 6 additional inches of windblown 20% didn't sound attractive to me.
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* Alta is reporting a 17" storm total
* An avalanche just above the Bravo gate at 1am went across the road, closing LCC and placed Alta in interlodge. Expected opening currently 9:30a.
 
Road's now open. Note that I said six "additional" inches. That's the overnight total. The 17" is over the past several days and unfortunately this last half a foot was the most dense yet.

Sent from my HP TouchPad running Android 4.0
 
Admin":3exbeo8l said:
Road's now open. Note that I said six "additional" inches. That's the overnight total. The 17" is over the past several days and unfortunately this last half a foot was the most dense yet.
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Yeah, there's that, along with what looks to be zero visibility.

On a different note, I fail to understand the fascination with Garbage Chute. Yeah, untouched snow, hard to find if you don't know where it is so it lasts longer but...... it's all of 2 - 6 hop turns, depending on your penchant for speed in tight places and DFU turns, and one skier basically totals it. I've always found the combo of Greeley Slot then fade left passing below Garbage into Western Air below the cliff to be more rewarding.

[Note to non-locals: no, none of those are named on the official trail map; only the area where they are located]
 
Admin":2otn8qha said:
I was considering going up this morning for a few runs but 6 additional inches of windblown 20% didn't sound attractive to me.
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6" of 20% sounds wonderful to us snow starved Easterners! And Saturday's forecast sounds even better.
 
In the old days before fat rockered skis I was at Baldy on a day with like 4 ft of 20% snow (yes I realize that's like 10 in of water), on my old AC4's, it was impossible to move or turn; miserable day. Now, with the rocker and wide skis I'd think that 20% snow wouldn't be terrible, almost would be like skiing on a sponge.
 
socal":1lw9nhqc said:
In the old days before fat rockered skis I was at Baldy on a day with like 4 ft of 20% snow (yes I realize that's like 10 in of water), on my old AC4's, it was impossible to move or turn; miserable day. Now, with the rocker and wide skis I'd think that 20% snow wouldn't be terrible, almost would be like skiing on a sponge.
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My thought process was influenced by the fact that I was going to ski for just a couple of hours before going to work. The weight of the new snow, combined with the road closure this morning, simply made it not with the trouble. Had I been on vacation I am sure that I would have felt differently.

Now this weekend's predicted storm is looking a bit less impressive. From the NWS Forecaster Discussion this afternoon:

SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE FRIDAY NIGHT AS ANOTHER SYSTEM MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE GREAT BASIN. THIS SYSTEM WILL SEND A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA SATURDAY...BRINGING COLDER TEMPS...GUSTY WINDS...AND PRECIP FOR NORTHERN AND CENTRAL UTAH. THOUGH THE GFS AND EC ARE SIMILAR WITH THE TIMING OF THE FRONT...BRINGING IT INTO THE STATE SATURDAY MORNING...THEY DIFFER AS TO HOW DEEP THE SYSTEM WILL BE. THE GFS KEEPS THE BULK OF THE DYNAMICS TO THE NORTH OF THE STATE...WHILE THE EC IS A BIT DEEPER...SPREADING PRECIP FURTHER SOUTH INTO THE FORECAST AREA. HOWEVER...RECENT EC RUNS HAVE BEEN TRENDING TOWARDS THE GFS...AND SO AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSER TO THE GFS SOLUTION. WENT AHEAD AND SLIGHTLY DECREASED POPS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA...BUT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY...DID NOT MAKE ANY DRASTIC CHANGES.

THOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AS FAR AS DETAILS...THE GFS AND THE EC BOTH SUGGEST THAT UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE INTO NEXT WEEK.

Sent from my HP TouchPad running Android 4.0
 
Not that you will be happy to hear this, but today skied great. The graupel put a thick creamy coat on top of all that fell earlier in the week. The wind scrubbed away the moguls. The road closure kept the crowd away.
 
socal":31dceuxw said:
Now, with the rocker and wide skis I'd think that 20% snow wouldn't be terrible, almost would be like skiing on a sponge.
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+1 It would ski fine on the big skis...for whoever got to it first. And noting skrad's comment even a few inches of graupel skis very easily.
 
Tony Crocker":1aqaz7pk said:
socal":1aqaz7pk said:
Now, with the rocker and wide skis I'd think that 20% snow wouldn't be terrible, almost would be like skiing on a sponge.
Click to expand...
+1 It would ski fine on the big skis...for whoever got to it first. And noting skrad's comment even a few inches of graupel skis very easily.
Click to expand...
From today's avi advisory:
UAC":1aqaz7pk said:
The riding conditions are quite challenging with dense, stiff, wind slabs at most all elevations and icy conditions at low elevations.
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Saw that from the avy report. Despite that, conditions were great again today. Backside and Ballroom opened and were smooth and soft. Took my first laps at the Bird in the afternoon. Also great. There were more people out. The backcountry can wait I guess. I just toured for 14 straight days in the Selkirks and am happy to ride the lifts for a spell.
 
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