Alta, UT 3/6/2010

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Day 37: The moron tax.

That's what I paid today, $10 to be exact. I was standing at the bottom of Wildcat waiting for the others, as I got hung up in traffic on the way up this morning, when I realized that my season pass was sitting on the kitchen counter. #-o My Park City pass is also RFID, and in order to avoid hangups at the lift access gates I deliberately took my Alta pass out of my jacket pocket when I went up there yesterday, and it wasn't until standing in my skis this morning that I remembered doing so.

I walked into the administration office and asked how much I got to pay for being a moron. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was only $10, far cheaper than going back home. I coughed up two five-spots and walked back outside to meet Bobby Danger, Tele Jon, Skidog, and two of Skidog's eastern friends, T.J. and Eric.

Both Alta and Snowbird were packed today, a sunny morning following a big storm. We rode Wildcat one more time to give the Collins line time to die down. Besides, Patrol was still working Ballroom/Baldy Shoulder and Backside. I think that they got a bit more than they bargained for today, for there was a stiff wind out of the south that hadn't been in the forecast. As soon as they'd make a bomb run, the wind would fill things back in.

01 alta baldy 20100306.jpg


Eventually, though, both would open. We enjoyed untracked windslab for a couple of runs on Backside.

02 alta backside 20100306.jpg


After lunch, I just couldn't go any further -- I was too shot from yesterday. So was Tele Jon. Tomorrow's scheduled to be a full day at the Bird with Crocker and crew.
 
Waited at the gate for High Notch for 40 minutes in that wind. Had dressed for a day of vigorous hiking so I froze. Thought the slab was at least passable. Castle never opened and Ballroom closed about noonish so went over to Snowbird. The best snow of the day was the line under Pyramid Rock on High Baldy. Just perfect soft wind sift that was way better than the slabby powder at Alta. Forecast is encouraging though the Tuesday storm may split earlier and further west than earlier prediction.

Looked at the Heli tracks on Maryellen from the notch at Sunday Cliffs. Not sure that I would have paid $1000 to own a set of them. How was it, MBaydala?
 
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