AltaBird 12/20/09

[Admin]

Day 11. Just a quick report as I've spent the past 8 hours cleaning house ahead of family arriving for the Christmas holidays and I'm beat. I'll therefore give an executive summary:

• Skied the morning with Bobby Danger. No one else showed.
• We rode Collins to Sugarloaf straight to Mineral Basin. Grooming on Sugarloaf was superb, surprisingly better than Snowbird's.
• Lone Star at Snowbird was stiff. Couldn't get dialed in at all. Those Goliaths are too much ski for me when it isn't powder. That and my mind is playing games with me. Sucks.
• Caught the opening of the High Baldy Traverse. Arrived at the Armpit gate with only 4 tracks in all of Armpit.

 

[rsmith]

Dammit... I'm jealous. It's just awesome you can get untracked like that days after the last storm.

 

[Admin]

Dammit... I'm jealous. It's just awesome you can get untracked like that days after the last storm.

But if you believe the detractors you'd think that the place is tracked out by 10 a.m. :lol:

 

[rsmith]

Dammit... I'm jealous. It's just awesome you can get untracked like that days after the last storm.

But if you believe the detractors you'd think that the place is tracked out by 10 a.m. :lol:

Well, you've got to be in-the-know (and most casual skiers aren't). You've got to know what they're opening and when (I'm not sure how you guys know when each rope drop is going to happen???). You've got to know what traverse to take and when to exit the traverse. And you've got to know the aspects, snow conditions, wind affected areas, etc. Definitely a full-time job.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Dammit... I'm jealous. It's just awesome you can get untracked like that days after the last storm.

That was one run, and it took them some time to get there. Not that I wouldn't have done the same several days after a storm. It helps that combined Alta/Snowbird are that big, and that control work means everything isn't opened at once. Last March Day 2 after the 18-22 inch storm was still powder nearly all morning on what hadn't been opened the first day. The other lesson was that the locals with combined passes maximized the first day powder when the sequential openings of terrain were a bit slower than usual.

There is a learning curve, but you don't have to live there to get ~80% of what the locals do. Assuming you're in comparable ski condition, which is a whole different issue.

 

[Marc_C]

Well, you've got to be in-the-know (and most casual skiers aren't). You've got to know what they're opening and when (I'm not sure how you guys know when each rope drop is going to happen???)

If we told you that, we'd be giving away all our ninja secrets!
Here's the hint: there's a certain sequence of events, and after a few seasons, you kinda learn the timing and order of those events. There are also certain visual indicators that parametrize some of the variables. None of this involves an FM radio tuned to patrol frequency - they speak in heavy code anyway during xmissions, so there's little value for the weight and expense of the radio.

 

[rsmith]

Dammit... I'm jealous. It's just awesome you can get untracked like that days after the last storm.

That was one run, and it took them some time to get there. Not that I wouldn't have done the same several days after a storm. It helps that combined Alta/Snowbird are that big, and that control work means everything isn't opened at once. Last March Day 2 after the 18-22 inch storm was still powder nearly all morning on what hadn't been opened the first day. The other lesson was that the locals with combined passes maximized the first day powder when the sequential openings of terrain were a bit slower than usual.

There is a learning curve, but you don't have to live there to get ~80% of what the locals do. Assuming you're in comparable ski condition, which is a whole different issue.

Ya, I have my own strategy for Alta, but still I'm flying somewhat blind only visiting a few times per year (how do I get to Eddy's High, again?). That extra 20% is pretty critical... If it's not superb conditions, then finding that one run on Baldy Shoulder can make the whole trip for me. And, even if I do find it, the locals probably thrashed it 5 minutes before I got there...

 

[Marc_C]

Ya, I have my own strategy for Alta, but still I'm flying somewhat blind only visiting a few times per year (how do I get to Eddy's High, again?).

Psst. It's Eddies High Nowhere. Eddy's is a brand of ice cream sold at Smith's and Harmons.
Here's another Alta hint: some stuff that you see is accessed.....from the other side of the ridge.

 

[Bobby Danger]

ya that's days after a storm but it's not the busy season either !! the locals only frenze if it hasn't snowed for awhile. no more time than normal amounts when the traverse opens out to high baldy any powder morning . what was different was the four tourists that were side stepping out the traverse . tried to explane it was easier to walk and much more efficient with your energy some people just don't listen. remember this is side stepping at over ten thousand feet of elevation. betya they had no lungs afterward !

 

[Tony Crocker]

And, even if I do find it, the locals probably thrashed it 5 minutes before I got there...

If that sort of thing bothers you, I commend Solitude, Snowbasin and Powder Mt. to your attention. I'm also not quite the purist admin is about putting tracks down an unmarked slope. As long as the turns are floating in the powder I'm content. But I don't live there, so I suppose my standards are lower. :lol:

 

[Skrad]

Someday there will be an I-Phone app to notify subscribers of the expected opening times at Alta. Of course, everyone will have this app so the surprise rope drop will be a thing of the past. What is more, you will have to contend with 500 amped up local athletes jonesing to shred your line. Of course, the rest of the mountain will be empty...

 

[Marc_C]

Someday there will be an I-Phone app to notify subscribers of the expected opening times at Alta.

If we assume a stable snowpack, a decent base, 20" of new, and relatively typical bonding of new snowfall, Admin, me, Bobby D, or any one of a crapload of locals could predict those opening times right now. "Surprise" rope drops? Not really, most of the time.

 

[Skrad]

Fair enough. Still, there was the high traverse last Tuesday at about 3. Judging by the absence of the usual flying fighter squadron attack I am guessing that I wasn't the only person who wasn't expecting the rope drop.

 

[Skrad]

You probably use a heuristic approach to time your terrain choices. The accuracy of your guesses is unquestionably better than that the occasional visitor. Still, there is often a wait even if you are refining your guess with direct observation of ski patrol activity. To the frequent flier, such a wait is not objectionable. To the out of town visitor here for a long weekend, it might be.

 

[Bobby Danger]

if a visitor were here long enough they would figure times the way locals have. if i posted what i have learned over the years here i'd have to shoot you after as far as a.s.p. or s.s.p. idiology on openings. what made this weekends backside openings so special is the fact that these were first of the season openings . backcountry quality inbounds lift serviced skiing only happens this time of the year or very late in the season. otherwise there's to many people during the regular season.

 

[Marc_C]

Fair enough. Still, there was the high traverse last Tuesday at about 3. Judging by the absence of the usual flying fighter squadron attack I am guessing that I wasn't the only person who wasn't expecting the rope drop.

There were far more variables in play for why you experienced a lack of people than it being an "unexpected" rope drop.

Early season super lean snowpack. It's rare that so much of the T was bare before that last snowfall at this time of year.
Incredibly unstable, dangerous snowpack this year.
Tuesday, the day after the big powder day.
Late afternoon - many/most locals will use their work powder privileges in the morning. You'd be surprised at how the place clears out at 11:30a on a typical weekday powder day.

 

[Skrad]

Which is why it is good that there is a backcountry. At least until the Flagstaff lift or Silver Fork lift goes in.

 

[Tony Crocker]

backcountry quality inbounds lift serviced skiing only happens this time of the year or very late in the season.

The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is dead in the travel business and bargains abound. For skiers, if your home region drive-to resorts have snow it can be one of the best times to ski. Not so useful for the destination traveler who must commit ahead and won't know in early November where the snow will be adequate 6 weeks later. For those who want to gamble, December 15 seems to be the tipping point where the long-term odds turn in your favor at the most reliable places (LCC, Targhee, Whistler, Bachelor, Steamboat, Vail). Not a guarantee, as the latter 2 areas are currently less than half open for the first time since 1998-99. For areas that get under 300 inches, I would not advance commit $ to trips earlier than mid-January.

 

[Harvey]

Those Goliaths are too much ski for me when it isn't powder. That and my mind is playing games with me.

Would you elaborate on this?

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Would you elaborate on this?

Even when they've been stuck in high-pressure hell for a couple weeks and there's no fresh snow anywhere, people out west feel obligated to bring out their 135-waist skis and claim "they're my groomer planks" and then you're supposed to say "wow, that guy is so hardcore."

I'm hoping that Acid Christ will pull a similar move today at Greek Peak.