Days 15-16: Ho, ho, ho! (And tee hee hee...)
After last weekend's 32" of heavy base building snow, on Christmas Day it was topped by classic 5% Utah blower that ranged from 7" new at the start of the day to 11" and counting when I left at 3 p.m. It's these snow flakes, not sugar plums, that danced in my head as I climbed into bed at 1 a.m. after about 35 folks passed through our home during our annual Christmas Eve party.
And best of all, there was hardly anyone there this morning. Part of that was because it was Christmas morning, part of it was the road. Our white Christmas reached all the way down to the valley floor overnight and frankly, Little Cottonwood Canyon Road was slicker 'n snot. Apparently there were a bunch of folks who can't read a giant, flashing sign that says "4x4 or Chains Only". Between A and B gates there were drivers of two cars -- one with California plates, the other with Nevada -- who each decided that the middle of the hill was the right place to apply chains, not in the chain-up area at the mouth of the canyon. Just above B gate there was another 2WD car (once again California) with tires spinning madly and making about 2-3 mph forward momentum right up the middle of the road, blocking both the uphill and downhill lanes. After staying 3 cars back of this vehicle for a minute or so, and surmising that the two in front of me weren't going to pass this schmuck, I passed the two other cars in the uphill lane, then swung back across and passed the idiot on his right. If looks could kill...Seriously, you morons can't read? All you do is gum up the works for everyone else who's actually complying with the law. Over the holidays, when there are many visitors in town it's essential that the sheriff institutes a chain check at the mouth of the canyon. I understand that once the authorities discovered these idiots and got them out of everyone else's way that they did in fact set up a chain check.
OK, I'm done venting. I was able to keep a steady 30 mph thereafter until I topped Tanners, where cars ground to a halt because the Racetrack was just so ridiculously greasy. Even driving a Tacoma with off-road tires I found myself heading uphill about 30 degrees from straight. I rolled into the Wildcat lot about 5 minutes later than normal.
I was with the two Amys as well as Evan of WasatchSnowForecast.com and OpenSnow.com. Collins opening was delayed, so we hopped aboard Wildcat for a couple of Kitty laps to start the day. Orgasmic. This was the kind of stuff in which you could just point 'em downhill and be a rock star. We were skiing terrain at twice the speed that we'd normally ski it, and you could do so with reckless abandon. You weren't going to hit anything, you weren't going to lose control, you could fly off of blind rises with nary a care in the world. Every other turn delivered a face shot.
From there we moved to Greeley Bowl/North Greeley laps for more absolute untracked. It was close to 11 a.m. when folks started arriving in force, but the only liftlines we'd encounter (~5 minutes) were on Collins. Sugarloaf and Supreme remained ski-on, and TheOtherAmy and I managed to time our arrival atop Point Supreme at roughly the same time that Catherine's Area opened. That delivered absolute first tracks on Powerline Hill, the first time that I've ever been that lucky. I couldn't see a damned thing, but you didn't have to. Just point 'em and go.
We took a late lunch at 1 p.m. and were joined by rdwore, who arrived for the season last night from Saratoga Springs, NY. TheOtherAmy left and I took one final run with AmyZ and rdwore to a special little spot that still delivered untracked freshies at that late hour.
I'm not sure what we did to get on Santa's Nice List, but he really came through for us this Christmas. Tomorrow should a) see more snowfall overnight, and b) include new gate openings including Backside and Ballroom/Baldy Shoulder, neither of which opened today. So tomorrow will feature free refills, although I'd expect that the holiday hordes will be out in full force.
On a side note, I also went up Wednesday afternoon for a few lazy runs before I needed to pick up our party food from the caterer. Good soft, carveable snow and a busier ski area than there was today. But going on and on about the conditions is now pointless with the current storm.
Merry Christmas to all of our forum users!
After last weekend's 32" of heavy base building snow, on Christmas Day it was topped by classic 5% Utah blower that ranged from 7" new at the start of the day to 11" and counting when I left at 3 p.m. It's these snow flakes, not sugar plums, that danced in my head as I climbed into bed at 1 a.m. after about 35 folks passed through our home during our annual Christmas Eve party.
And best of all, there was hardly anyone there this morning. Part of that was because it was Christmas morning, part of it was the road. Our white Christmas reached all the way down to the valley floor overnight and frankly, Little Cottonwood Canyon Road was slicker 'n snot. Apparently there were a bunch of folks who can't read a giant, flashing sign that says "4x4 or Chains Only". Between A and B gates there were drivers of two cars -- one with California plates, the other with Nevada -- who each decided that the middle of the hill was the right place to apply chains, not in the chain-up area at the mouth of the canyon. Just above B gate there was another 2WD car (once again California) with tires spinning madly and making about 2-3 mph forward momentum right up the middle of the road, blocking both the uphill and downhill lanes. After staying 3 cars back of this vehicle for a minute or so, and surmising that the two in front of me weren't going to pass this schmuck, I passed the two other cars in the uphill lane, then swung back across and passed the idiot on his right. If looks could kill...Seriously, you morons can't read? All you do is gum up the works for everyone else who's actually complying with the law. Over the holidays, when there are many visitors in town it's essential that the sheriff institutes a chain check at the mouth of the canyon. I understand that once the authorities discovered these idiots and got them out of everyone else's way that they did in fact set up a chain check.
OK, I'm done venting. I was able to keep a steady 30 mph thereafter until I topped Tanners, where cars ground to a halt because the Racetrack was just so ridiculously greasy. Even driving a Tacoma with off-road tires I found myself heading uphill about 30 degrees from straight. I rolled into the Wildcat lot about 5 minutes later than normal.
I was with the two Amys as well as Evan of WasatchSnowForecast.com and OpenSnow.com. Collins opening was delayed, so we hopped aboard Wildcat for a couple of Kitty laps to start the day. Orgasmic. This was the kind of stuff in which you could just point 'em downhill and be a rock star. We were skiing terrain at twice the speed that we'd normally ski it, and you could do so with reckless abandon. You weren't going to hit anything, you weren't going to lose control, you could fly off of blind rises with nary a care in the world. Every other turn delivered a face shot.
From there we moved to Greeley Bowl/North Greeley laps for more absolute untracked. It was close to 11 a.m. when folks started arriving in force, but the only liftlines we'd encounter (~5 minutes) were on Collins. Sugarloaf and Supreme remained ski-on, and TheOtherAmy and I managed to time our arrival atop Point Supreme at roughly the same time that Catherine's Area opened. That delivered absolute first tracks on Powerline Hill, the first time that I've ever been that lucky. I couldn't see a damned thing, but you didn't have to. Just point 'em and go.
We took a late lunch at 1 p.m. and were joined by rdwore, who arrived for the season last night from Saratoga Springs, NY. TheOtherAmy left and I took one final run with AmyZ and rdwore to a special little spot that still delivered untracked freshies at that late hour.
I'm not sure what we did to get on Santa's Nice List, but he really came through for us this Christmas. Tomorrow should a) see more snowfall overnight, and b) include new gate openings including Backside and Ballroom/Baldy Shoulder, neither of which opened today. So tomorrow will feature free refills, although I'd expect that the holiday hordes will be out in full force.
On a side note, I also went up Wednesday afternoon for a few lazy runs before I needed to pick up our party food from the caterer. Good soft, carveable snow and a busier ski area than there was today. But going on and on about the conditions is now pointless with the current storm.
Merry Christmas to all of our forum users!
