Day Two
Today's about as good as one can expect for an opening day. Alta was running its Collins, Sugarloaf, Wildcat and Sunnyside lifts to access most of the mountain. Devil's Castle was closed, but East Greeley and Ballroom were closed not for a lack of snow, but for slide conditions. Supreme remained closed, as it always does at the beginning and end of the season, but will open for Thanksgiving.
We all met up in the solarium of Goldminer's Daughter at the usual meeting time of 9 a.m., and wishes of "Happy New Year" were exchanged all around. It sure felt good to boot up and head out, for we were back home again.
Our first run headed down Mambo, but we quickly ventured off-piste wherever snow depths allowed. We found creamy wind-buffed untracked in amongst the trees thanks to the 103-mph winds that blew earlier this week. Divine!
Back up Collins, and we headed out the High T to reach Greeley Bowl. To say that the High T was sketch would be understating it a bit :shock: -- I'm not heading out there again until we get another dump without wind. It was particularly nasty at Sunspot Ridge and again at the snow fence. But then again I understand that the patrol was out there late in the day shoveling snow onto the thin spots.
It was worth the trip, though, as we stood atop Greeley Hill with acres and acres of untracked below our skis. All of that snow had to go somewhere, and this week's northwesterlies deposited it on the other side of the Greeley ridge. And yes, it skied as good as it looked.
Up Sunnyside and Sugarloaf, we sped down the perfectly groomed Devil's Elbow to hang a left onto Rock and Roll and through an impromptu gate to reach more untracked on lower Extrovert. Back up Sugarloaf, it was time for lunch, and we headed for Watson's via more trees to skier's right of Main Street.
My only regret was burning my legs yesterday in Park City. I awoke with Gumby thighs this morning, and getting up from the lunch table they actually hurt. I thus called it a day, skiing back to the truck. Bob Dangerous took my camera and headed up Baldy Shoulder for a hike and ski, while Marc_C took another run or two on Wildcat. The Kid kept going until the closing bell at 4:30 after hooking up with school classmates - it must be nice to be 15! :roll: He took the 5:12 UTA bus back down to the Little Cottonwood Park & Ride, where I picked him up. (Buses only run once per day up, once per day down until next week, when a limited schedule kicks in until December.)
We'll be back out again in the morning with more friends and family in the posse. The Wife and friends Sam, Dean and Kelsey will join today's group. Good thing that The Wife will be along, for my legs need a day of gentle cruising even after a healthy dose of Vitamin I.
Today's about as good as one can expect for an opening day. Alta was running its Collins, Sugarloaf, Wildcat and Sunnyside lifts to access most of the mountain. Devil's Castle was closed, but East Greeley and Ballroom were closed not for a lack of snow, but for slide conditions. Supreme remained closed, as it always does at the beginning and end of the season, but will open for Thanksgiving.
We all met up in the solarium of Goldminer's Daughter at the usual meeting time of 9 a.m., and wishes of "Happy New Year" were exchanged all around. It sure felt good to boot up and head out, for we were back home again.
Our first run headed down Mambo, but we quickly ventured off-piste wherever snow depths allowed. We found creamy wind-buffed untracked in amongst the trees thanks to the 103-mph winds that blew earlier this week. Divine!
Back up Collins, and we headed out the High T to reach Greeley Bowl. To say that the High T was sketch would be understating it a bit :shock: -- I'm not heading out there again until we get another dump without wind. It was particularly nasty at Sunspot Ridge and again at the snow fence. But then again I understand that the patrol was out there late in the day shoveling snow onto the thin spots.
It was worth the trip, though, as we stood atop Greeley Hill with acres and acres of untracked below our skis. All of that snow had to go somewhere, and this week's northwesterlies deposited it on the other side of the Greeley ridge. And yes, it skied as good as it looked.
Up Sunnyside and Sugarloaf, we sped down the perfectly groomed Devil's Elbow to hang a left onto Rock and Roll and through an impromptu gate to reach more untracked on lower Extrovert. Back up Sugarloaf, it was time for lunch, and we headed for Watson's via more trees to skier's right of Main Street.
My only regret was burning my legs yesterday in Park City. I awoke with Gumby thighs this morning, and getting up from the lunch table they actually hurt. I thus called it a day, skiing back to the truck. Bob Dangerous took my camera and headed up Baldy Shoulder for a hike and ski, while Marc_C took another run or two on Wildcat. The Kid kept going until the closing bell at 4:30 after hooking up with school classmates - it must be nice to be 15! :roll: He took the 5:12 UTA bus back down to the Little Cottonwood Park & Ride, where I picked him up. (Buses only run once per day up, once per day down until next week, when a limited schedule kicks in until December.)
We'll be back out again in the morning with more friends and family in the posse. The Wife and friends Sam, Dean and Kelsey will join today's group. Good thing that The Wife will be along, for my legs need a day of gentle cruising even after a healthy dose of Vitamin I.
Attachments
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00 S6 data alta 061118.jpg -
12 snowbird mineral basin 061118.jpg -
11 alta baldy shoulder end of the line 061118.jpg -
10 alta wildcat from baldy shoulder 061118.jpg -
09 alta sugarloaf and east greeley 061118.jpg -
08 alta the kid piss pass 061118.jpg -
07 alta bob dangerous 061118.jpg -
06 alta LCC 061118.jpg -
05 alta greeley hill 061118.jpg -
04 alta greeley hill 061118.jpg -
03 alta high t 061118.jpg -
02 alta the crew 061118.jpg -
01 alta wildcat ridge 061118.jpg
I guess I would need to read the manual again in a test environment. I just need some ski areas to open NOW. :roll: