Day 5: Batten down the hatches.
The five-day storm's first wave of moisture dropped about 4 or 5 inches of 10% graupel overnight. With it, though, came the horrific winds ahead of the cold front that left some areas scoured down to bare earth, and other areas deep deposition zones.
We were a crew of four today: Bobby Danger, Pat, Dale and yours truly. Dale was spending his first day on a new pair of Rossignol S6's, and was getting acquainted with them. We charged hard all morning nonetheless.
With the avalanche danger increased, Backside and Ballroom/Baldy Shoulder gates were now closed. Wildcat skied exceedingly well for our one run over there, with the rest of the day on Collins. The High T was one of the aforementioned wind scoured areas. On our first trip out there, I thought that it wasn't that bad as we pushed across Sunspot Ridge. I figured that the worst was over until we neared the fence before Piss Pass -- holy cow, the wind had taken what was decently covered yesterday down to bare ground. We stepped gingerly across the shark's teeth and pushed through the Pass, below which Pat and I scored a glorious Greeley Bowl with only a half dozen tracks in it for the run of our day, while Bobby ventured further to High Boy. It was so good that we wrapped up our day by climbing up to Thirds to repeat the experience.
The wind is honking. Around the time we left it was gusting over 60 mph next door at Snowbird's Hidden Peak. The next wave of snow should leave up to another foot tonight, so I'm hoping to have some reserves in the gas tank for tomorrow.
No stills today -- I forgot the SD card for the still camera. #-o So all you get today is a video:
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/17037350[/vimeo]
The five-day storm's first wave of moisture dropped about 4 or 5 inches of 10% graupel overnight. With it, though, came the horrific winds ahead of the cold front that left some areas scoured down to bare earth, and other areas deep deposition zones.
We were a crew of four today: Bobby Danger, Pat, Dale and yours truly. Dale was spending his first day on a new pair of Rossignol S6's, and was getting acquainted with them. We charged hard all morning nonetheless.
With the avalanche danger increased, Backside and Ballroom/Baldy Shoulder gates were now closed. Wildcat skied exceedingly well for our one run over there, with the rest of the day on Collins. The High T was one of the aforementioned wind scoured areas. On our first trip out there, I thought that it wasn't that bad as we pushed across Sunspot Ridge. I figured that the worst was over until we neared the fence before Piss Pass -- holy cow, the wind had taken what was decently covered yesterday down to bare ground. We stepped gingerly across the shark's teeth and pushed through the Pass, below which Pat and I scored a glorious Greeley Bowl with only a half dozen tracks in it for the run of our day, while Bobby ventured further to High Boy. It was so good that we wrapped up our day by climbing up to Thirds to repeat the experience.
The wind is honking. Around the time we left it was gusting over 60 mph next door at Snowbird's Hidden Peak. The next wave of snow should leave up to another foot tonight, so I'm hoping to have some reserves in the gas tank for tomorrow.
No stills today -- I forgot the SD card for the still camera. #-o So all you get today is a video:
[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/17037350[/vimeo]
