Alta, UT 12/30/2007

Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
Day 18: Oh. My. God.

A good old-fashioned Wasatch dump started right as I left the house for the hill this morning. I have no idea what it accumulated to during the day, but let's just say that it absolutely puked -- 2 to 3 inches per hour -- right up to about 2:30 p.m. when it started slowing up. The wind absolutely howled, creating whiteout blizzard conditions. The Canyon road closed at 1:15 until 3 p.m. for avalanche control and unencumbered plowing. Those visitors who weren't hiding in the lodge all day high-tailed it down canyon at lunch time to beat the closure, leaving the hill as the exclusive domain of those of us willing to brave the conditions.

The result? Free refills all day. Literally. Skidog was enjoying his first day on his perverse-camber Spatulas, but I still think it's a gimmick.

It's the first time I ever spent all day at Alta riding only one lift (Wildcat), as we had amazing snow and excellent visibility in the trees. Everywhere in the open was pure white room.

I only shot one still all day but used it as the intro to the video, so I'll let the video do the talking:

<embed src="http://www.skimovies.com/videoplayer/mediaplayer.swf" width="640" height="500" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&displayheight=480&file=http://www.skimovies.com/flv/Alta_2007-12-30.avi.FLV&height=500&image=http://www.skimovies.com/flv/Alta_2007-12-30thumb.jpg&width=640">
 
jeesh! looks almost like the day we hit gunstock with similar snowfall rates a week and a half ago. the roads didn't close for avy work cuz our snowpack was ultrastable at that time.
glad you got the goods, snow should be startin here anytime now-wagon hill should be epic in the a.m.
rog
 
Forgot to mention, I escaped right when the road reopened at 3 p.m., and that was one incredible white-knuckle drive. The Canyon took 45 minutes to descend, and until Seven Sisters it was 5-10 mph max. Before even reaching Snowbird I'd done two 5 mph sideways slides toward the snowbank.
 
I actually forgot that I took a photo with my cell phone driving through Hellgate this morning (like that cracked windshield?):
 

Attachments

  • Photo_123007_001.jpg
    Photo_123007_001.jpg
    33.3 KB · Views: 4,112
Probably impresses the easterners, but is pretty much standard issue for most vehicles in the mtn west :lol:

I just hope that kind of snow happens first weekend in Feb. I'll be out that way for a quick family trip over a long weekend.
 
EMSC":30w69gh4 said:
Probably impresses the easterners, but is pretty much standard issue for most vehicles in the mtn west :lol:
Click to expand...

You're tellin' me -- that windshield is only about 6 months old. :roll:

EMSC":30w69gh4 said:
I just hope that kind of snow happens first weekend in Feb. I'll be out that way for a quick family trip over a long weekend.
Click to expand...

Be sure to give me a shout when the date approaches -- you can school me with some of that race coaching stuff. :lol:
 
Admin":3ioqq3lx said:
EMSC":3ioqq3lx said:
Probably impresses the easterners, but is pretty much standard issue for most vehicles in the mtn west :lol:
Click to expand...

You're tellin' me -- that windshield is only about 6 months old. :roll:
Click to expand...

I guess you don't know Lucky Luke records with windshields (his or when he borrowed his ex's car). Don't talk to him about the number of crack windshields he had since he moved to Bromont. :lol:

Nice storm... :P
 
Nice stuff. My folks (live in Holliday) went to snowbird yesterday. Made it in right before closure. My dad said it was pure whiteout. They are having a real hard time being they where hotshot skiers from vermont in the late 60's early70's. THis powder thing is tough on there 55 year old bones. I know they need to get better equipment and get used to it.
PS I will be there this Thur till tues. One day I will be demoing skis and getting to Alta.
 
This powder thing is tough on there 55 year old bones. I know they need to get better equipment and get used to it.
Click to expand...
The last sentence is correct but the first sentence is not. I just turned 55 this month, and I can assure you that 28,000 vertical of perfect powder is much less rigorous than in bumps, variable snow etc. I also remember skiing with a 69-year old local at Alta during the 2002 Olympics, and the more powdery the snow, the harder it was for me to keep up.
 
Looks great and I am jealous. You guys are looking good on video. We skied Killington, VT yesterday. The snow on top was a fluffy 8" of new with lots of ice from rain freeze underneath. What a tease that was but still had fun. New snow in forecast and I will be in the Wasatch for remainder of season. I might have to give the reverse cambers a try soon.

:twisted:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top