Alta, UT 3/28/09

[Admin]

Day 50: Beautiful day, good friends, good times

Sima, Mira and I headed out of the house right on schedule, arriving with the posse at 9 a.m. We would have a big group today that would also include Skidog, Bobby Danger, Tele Jon, Pat, Dale, Amy and, for a few runs, Tirolerpeter.

There were still some scraps to be had and we did our best to sniff them out, heading straight for Supreme and hiking Catherine's as a cloud rolled in, cutting visibility and blowing snow. Catherine's wasn't quite what we were looking for, but Bobby Danger, Skidog, Tele Jon, Mira and I continued out onto Patsy Marley, finding untracked snow that was nonetheless an inconsistent blend of powder and onion skin zipper crust.

I was convinced, however, that the untracked left on Castle Apron would still be pleasant in the north-facing shade. We passed through the Evergreen gate and sidestepped all the way out to the Apron to check...

...and sure enough, it was. Great, great stuff.

So great, in fact, that we loaded Sugarloaf and headed out onto Devil's Castle proper, bounding down through hillocks in the trees and scoring big time.

A couple of more Supreme laps and it was time for lunch at Alf's before returning to Jitterbug to find the same smooth, steep sluff as there was on Friday afternoon. Another run down Wildcat, however, and I was feeling the effects of several consecutive days of skiing and sleep deprivation, and I excused myself to head to the truck for an hour-long power nap while the others continued. I rejoined for a few runs at the end of the day before a beer on the deck to finish out another wonderful day.

I awoke this morning to howling wind at the house ahead of the approaching cold front. I checked the Snotel data and saw winds gusting to 49 mph at the top of Collins, which was enough to keep me at home this morning. Mira and Sima headed up. Others, like Tele Jon and Amy decided to hold off like I am. I spoke with Pat a short time ago and she reports that things are still flying sideways at their place outside of Park City, but the snow has now begun in earnest in the Salt Lake Valley and I'll head up shortly. It'll be storm day skiing all afternoon, as up to two feet are predicted in upper Little Cottonwood, which is always favored on a northwesterly flow.

 

[Tony Crocker]

That's the infamous East Castle diagonal, which is nearly all step-up, not traverse, right? Reserved for the iron legs and lungs of the most powder dedicated. I've heard admin say before that he didn't think that one was worth it. I guess his stamina is improving. =D>

 

[Admin]

That's the infamous East Castle diagonal, which is nearly all step-up, not traverse, right?

No, it's the Castle Apron. Different gate (Evergreen), different sidestep/traverse.

 

[flyover]

A short shot, but the snow there is often fantastic as the apron sits in more or less permanent shadow, unlike east castle. Did multiple laps there on 3/8 finding good fluffy chowder 3-4 days after the last storm.

 

[tirolerpeter]

After Admin left for his nap, I went up Wildcat with Bobby D and Skidog and then hiked up to the Keyhole gate into Snowbird. We dropped down to the Tram and then rode back up to the top where Bobby D met a Skipatroller friend who decided to take a run with us. They immediately hit the cornice at either Silver Fox or Great Scott (I can't remember which it was.). Of course, I got a bit spooked at their choice of drop-in point until I got a chance find a spot that I felt more comfortable with. Those guys take no prisoners when they decide to drop in. Once I dropped I found the snow really nice and despite the pitch, my skis did their job and I really enjoyed the trip. By the time I got down to the Tram plaza they were sipping their drinks. I needed both a drink, and a break. After that we headed back up the Tram to try to get back to the Baldy Express in Mineral Basin before 3:30. The trip into Mineral pretty much kicked my a--. The snow was wind-slabbed and in places felt like frozen "chop" on an ocean. We made the chair in time, and then made the run back on the EBT and down toward GMD. Bobby D and Skidog made a detour into the trees but I was done and finished the run back down to my car at Wildcat.

 

[Skidog]

After Admin left for his nap, I went up Wildcat with Bobby D and Skidog and then hiked up to the Keyhole gate into Snowbird. We dropped down to the Tram and then rode back up to the top where Bobby D met a Skipatroller friend who decided to take a run with us. They immediately hit the cornice at either Silver Fox or Great Scott (I can't remember which it was.). Of course, I got a bit spooked at their choice of drop-in point until I got a chance find a spot that I felt more comfortable with. Those guys take no prisoners when they decide to drop in. Once I dropped I found the snow really nice and despite the pitch, my skis did their job and I really enjoyed the trip. By the time I got down to the Tram plaza they were sipping their drinks. I needed both a drink, and a break. After that we headed back up the Tram to try to get back to the Baldy Express in Mineral Basin before 3:30. The trip into Mineral pretty much kicked my a--. The snow was wind-slabbed and in places felt like frozen "chop" on an ocean. We made the chair in time, and then made the run back on the EBT and down toward GMD. Bobby D and Skidog made a detour into the trees but I was done and finished the run back down to my car at Wildcat.

After we left peter and took our trip into the woods, I was able to "convince" BobbyD that we should do a High Boy. Good call and a nice way to end the day.

Admin mustve still been out there cause when I walked through the parking lot I saw his car and noone sleeping in it ;-)

M

 

[Admin]

Admin mustve still been out there cause when I walked through the parking lot I saw his car and noone sleeping in it ;-)

Yeah, they got me back out there after ~1 hour.

 

[powdurdog]

Our 3rd and last ski day was Sat at Alta. 3 days after the storm, but the snow was still pretty good (we would have thought it to be great if we hadn't been skiing the previous 2 days).

Started the morning off Supreme. Fairly disappointing--the snow was pretty crusty and heavy. Even a couple runs through Catherine's area were not much better, other than a few powder stashes amongst the trees. We headed over to Collins and tried the Ballroom/Shoulder traverse--much better.

High Rustler was still holding up very well, although most of the drop-in options had exposed rocks that weren't there Thurs. Also, the High Traverse getting there was starting to get beat up.

Tried a couple runs off Wildcat. Rock Gulley and Wildcat face had skiable soft snow and were fun.

Did a couple tree shots through Eagles Nest. Again, well skied but still very enjoyable, soft snow. For my last run of the day (and trip) I did the upper High Traverse hike up to Gunsight. I felt like a billy goat sidestepping up the last steep section to the summit, but the trip down was worth it.

All-in-all, it was a great 3 days in Utah. Looks like the snow train is going to keep rolling all this week, so anyone coming up soon should have good times.

 

[Admin]

Video from the day:

[skitube2]http://www.firsttracksonline.com/modules/crpVideo/pnmedia/videos/1238809886_2009-03-28_Alta.flv[/skitube2]

 

[Marc_C]

My $0.02: redo the vid with music that isn't aural equivalent of Valium with a stiff vodka chaser. I suppose there's more boring music to use, but I can't think of any. :wink:

 

[Admin]

My $0.02: redo the vid with music that isn't aural equivalent of Valium with a stiff vodka chaser. I suppose there's more boring music to use, but I can't think of any. :wink:

I therefore recommend against borrowing my MP3 player. :roll:

 

[Marc_C]

A single chord strummed in endless 1/8th notes through the entire song = pure evil.
You really need to modernize your music! \/

 

[Admin]

A single chord strummed in endless 1/8th notes through the entire song = pure evil.

Not a fan of The Ramones, are you?

 

[Marc_C]

Hey, they knew at least 3 chords per song! They also had energy, something sorely lacking in that dirge you used in the video. It even made the skiing look boring.

 

[rfarren]

A single chord strummed in endless 1/8th notes through the entire song = pure evil.

Not a fan of The Ramones, are you?

Hey, they knew at least 3 chords per song! They also had energy, something sorely lacking in that dirge you used in the video. It even made the skiing look boring.

:snowball fight:

There are at least 8 different chords in that song, including a nice chord quality/mode change...Not exactly 3 chords. :wink:

Secondly, you would have to look hard to find a ramones song that has more the 4 chords. The vast majority of their songs are simple retrograde progressions: I-V-IV, I-vi-IV-V.. etc...

I think the choice of music was fine, besides, the vast majority of pop music is repetitive. When you have to say "at least 3 chords" you realize what you're talking about. I could just as easily criticize the ramones for their lack of musicianship, or inability to expand their own style. However, they were what they were, and were awesome just for that.

I'm very critical about music, it's what I do for a living and what I got my degree in. Heck, if it weren't for music I would be out west skiing the majority of my days. I just hate it when someone criticizes someone's choice (likes) of music. Aesthetic choices that may gravitate one listener towards one artist may repel another.

Marc, just one thing: they're eighth notes. Although often written as 1/8th or "one eighth notes," they should be written as eighth notes. I've written more essays on music than I care to count: always spell out eighth, quarter, sixteenth, etc. In short hand they're 8th notes. 1/8 is a fraction, 8th note is a unit of measure.

Sorry about this, it's just one of my pet peeves!

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Wow, this thread turned south. It starts with a pic of lovely Mira, and now you're debating the merits of I-V-IV, I-vi-IV-V.

I liked the Brighton flats discussion better... :x

 

[rfarren]

Me too. I just hate when people rip on someone's music likes.

My real question is: how many days after the storm was that video played. Would any other resort have had more untracked out there? Was that east castle that look relatively tracked out?

 

[Admin]

My real question is: how many days after the storm was that video played. Would any other resort have had more untracked out there? Was that east castle that look relatively tracked out?

That was Devil's Castle, I don't do East Castle. It had been a few days. But don't worry, the 22" since yesterday freshened things up nicely. :wink:

 

[Tony Crocker]

Would any other resort have had more untracked out there?

Multiple days after a storm in April, that's a somewhat irrelevant question. It would need to be exceptionally well sheltered to still be powder.

Midwinter, Powder Mt. is the usual answer to that question.

But when they are getting dumped every second or third day, it's a tough life. :mrgreen:

 

[Marc_C]

A single chord strummed in endless 1/8th notes through the entire song = pure evil.

Not a fan of The Ramones, are you?

Hey, they knew at least 3 chords per song! They also had energy, something sorely lacking in that dirge you used in the video. It even made the skiing look boring.

There are at least 8 different chords in that song, including a nice chord quality/mode change...Not exactly 3 chords. :wink:

Secondly, you would have to look hard to find a ramones song that has more the 4 chords. The vast majority of their songs are simple retrograde progressions: I-V-IV, I-vi-IV-V.. etc...

I think the choice of music was fine, besides, the vast majority of pop music is repetitive. When you have to say "at least 3 chords" you realize what you're talking about. I could just as easily criticize the ramones for their lack of musicianship, or inability to expand their own style. However, they were what they were, and were awesome just for that.
<and a bunch of other snipped stuff>

None of this matters.
I don't care if it was or wasn't the Ramones. I don't care if there were 1, 3, 8, or 20 chords in that song. I'm not talking about the general repetitive nature of pop songs. I'm not talking about anyone's musical tastes.

I'm saying that I found that song in that video incredibly boring and droning and a poor choice. So much so that 8 chords sounding like one due to lack of interest. And the music made the skiing in the video suffer.