Alta, UT 2/21/09

Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
Day 37: Felt like spring

Warm and cloudless. Sitting on the GMD patio for a beer at the end of the day with Salida, Marc_C, Dale, Pat and others, it felt like the tropics. The thermometer only read 43 but the sun starts to get really strong at altitude this time of year. I was wearing just a thin base layer on top and I was almost too warm.

Even so, there's still soft, dry snow to be found at altitude on north-facing aspects. West-facing was crusty early in the day but softened nicely in the sun, as evidenced by our run down Jake's at 2:45. We found great snow in Catherine's Area and in Ballroom along the Baldy Shoulder ropeline. Marc_C and I went OB out Patsy Marley before lunch, which had alternating great snow and crusty snow with each turn, depending on which side of a small convex ridge you were skiing on for that turn -- northwest exposure for right turns, and west exposure for left turns.

Another day of pre-spring weather tomorrow before the next storm arrives on Monday. I'll be at Solitude for Sunday with Mrs. Admin.

Today's very short video:

[skitube2]http://www.firsttracksonline.com/modules/crpVideo/pnmedia/videos/1235272484_2009-02-21_Alta.flv[/skitube2]
 
I'll be at Solitude for Sunday with Mrs. Admin.
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I'll be there as well, like always.

If you see a guy that looks like this:

solipow009.jpg


say hello.
 
Will do, I'll keep my eye out. As I'll be with Mrs. Admin the vast majority of my day will be on the frontside blue groomers.
 
jamesdeluxe":2e516iui said:
Admin wouldn't dare introduce the Mrs. to his mistress, Mademoiselle Alta.
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Mrs. Admin wants to go somewhere else than to see Admin's mistress again.
 
I've got to post here to relay the killer day I had yesterday.

Started off at 9 at gadzoom, up to gad ii and out the white pine gate. Booted up the ridge to AF twin peaks until it rocks out, and then set a traverse up and under to white baldy, and then started a 3,500 foot decent to the valley floor and white pine parking lot. Hitched it back up to creekside, up to mineral and then boot up the ridge to baldy and skied main chute down to collins. Back up and over to supreme where we went out the catherines gate, and up to mount wolvy. Checked the chutes out but decided my quads had, had enough for one day and we skied down a creamy patsys to the GMD deck for some beers.

One my the nicest days in the wasatch yet!
 
decided my quads had had enough for one day
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Some of ours hurt from just reading that report. But props to those fit enough to seek out the goods that way. icelantic should look you up during his upcoming visit.
 
I heard the backcountry was awesome yesterday. My buddy skinned up out of BCC to Mt. Reynolds and then did another peak (I forget the name) and then skied out to Mill Creek Basin. He said the runs were soft 1-1/2' deep out there.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed about this storm......I'm hoping my $100 gamble changing my flight from last month (my week out here was in the midst of that 10 day high) to this week was worth it......

Skied Alta today. Had a pretty nice day, sounds a lot like yesterday.... We skied pretty much only northerly facing aspects until the afternoon. A few of each of 3rd's, Eagles' Nest, Baldy shoulder, Freds, Susies, a high notch and I'm sure I've missed a few.

Nice day. But, I'm hoping the rest of the week will be better! ...
 
marcski":3qnl0t8p said:
I heard the backcountry was awesome yesterday.
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It was! BobD, myself and Bobs friend Mike did a variation of Salidas descent. Boy was the snow deep, soft and fun in the trees down to White pine parking lot.

Many good runs inside the ropes to be had at the bird as well.

Good job Salida..thats a ton of hiking in a day...way to get after it.

M
 
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