Park City Mountain Resort - Pine Cone Ridge 26JAN2008

T

TeleProphet

New member
1st Post here. Have been a regular on other forums but have become tired of their 'popcorn' nature. No real serious discussion on conditions/weather patterns at those sites, so I hope to find more substance here.

--------------

1st bluebird day in a while for the Wasatch. Decided to hike Pine Cone Ridge (in bounds - controlled area at PCMR). Probably 12" total new accumulation since Pine Cone was last open. Medium density, with good consolidation and adherence to earlier January snows, so no real fears of avalanches. Ski Patrol control work (bombs & ski cuts) further solidify this positioning. Decided to ski Two Goons, an E exposure open face, about 38 deg steepness, with a rock band near the top. Found good untracked. Due to snow farming concerns, had to ski through collateral damage from a bomb crater, but the snow was surprisingly consistent even there. Lots of skiers headed up to Pine Cone today, as I suspect new accumulations Sunday-Monday will close it off for another week thereafter. Good to get out and ski a little SlackCountry for a change. La Nina conditions (colder than normal) have provided excellent turning all season.

Tele
 

Attachments

  • img006-711353.jpg
    img006-711353.jpg
    9.7 KB · Views: 2,253
I think Utah may be in line for our current storm (originated off Baja) in the next day or two. It won't rain, but it will probably be more cement-like and not the La Nina fluff of the last month.
 
Yes it will, possibly up to 8000 feet today before dropping back down with the cold front.

Welcome, TeleProphet. You should enjoy the high signal-to-noise ratio around here.
 
GFS has mountain snow, valley rain (starting around 7K') today, and all snow Monday as cold air form the North joins up with the Baja low. NAM has all snow, but GFS has been far more accurate this season. Given that it's a;ready 32 deg F at my house in PC, I going with GFS. Indeed the snow that falls today will be of the wet heavy variety.


GFS


NAM

Tele
 
The rain/"snow" line in LCC right now is just above Seven Sisters, and the "snow" falling at Alta is primarily comprised of wind-driven stinging graupel pellets.
 
TeleProphet":14dc3dgy said:
1st Post here. Have been a regular on other forums but have become tired of their 'popcorn' nature. No real serious discussion on conditions/weather patterns at those sites, so I hope to find more substance here.

--------------

1st bluebird day in a while for the Wasatch. Decided to hike Pine Cone Ridge (in bounds - controlled area at PCMR). Probably 12" total new accumulation since Pine Cone was last open. Medium density, with good consolidation and adherence to earlier January snows, so no real fears of avalanches. Ski Patrol control work (bombs & ski cuts) further solidify this positioning. Decided to ski Two Goons, an E exposure open face, about 38 deg steepness, with a rock band near the top. Found good untracked. Due to snow farming concerns, had to ski through collateral damage from a bomb crater, but the snow was surprisingly consistent even there. Lots of skiers headed up to Pine Cone today, as I suspect new accumulations Sunday-Monday will close it off for another week thereafter. Good to get out and ski a little SlackCountry for a change. La Nina conditions (colder than normal) have provided excellent turning all season.

Tele
Click to expand...

I have always been very curious about Pine Cone Ridge at Park City.

I have never skied it, but it looked very promising. Since it is east-facing, mid-winter seems optimal. Can you describe any typical opening/closing routines? Or how long hike/travers to get there?

Why do you think skico has not run lift up that ridge yet?
 
Pinecone Ridge is a unique experience. Not many resorts have 1000+ acres set aside for hike to skiing that is routinely patrolled and avalanche bombed. It gives a true BC experience with much less risk. Indeed, the E facing nature of Pinecone means that it is optimal in mid winter and must be skied early day when the sun comes out.

Normal opening patterns are that it opens several days after a big storm cycle. Watch the patrollers do the avy work, and be ready to hike once the drop the rope. There is no big hurry to get up the 20 min steep hike, as crowds are never a problem. Lap the upper section first, as it feeds directly back to Jupiter.

I never want to see a lift up there as it is such a great experience as it is. PCMR has talked about cat/lift service up there for years, but there are more pressing infrastructure needs to be taken care of first.
 
It seems to open most often on first sunny or partly sunny day. Probably because the patrollers can open lift served areas during inclement weather sooner.

Hey Tony, I used to ski Mt. Baldy when I was a kid growing up in SoCal. Although we lived along the beach, my friend's grandma lived in Claremont and we would stay there the night before. Was a lot of fun. Always dreamed of skiing the BC terrain off of Chair 4, into the drainage on the backside. Alas, I had no BC skills and never did it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top