Snowbird, UT 1/7/07

[Admin]

Day 31: More pow...and cold!

I'm finally getting around to posting this. This was the last day of Kristen Ulmer's Ski to Live clinic, and finally we saw some sun. We were still skiing powder, but man, oh man...it was cold and windy! Standing atop Hidden Peak meant getting sandblasted by blowing snow.

This was our day skiing with Kristen, as well as coach Sandy. Each day we skied a different part of the mountain, and today we were going to spend our time in Mineral Basin and Peruvian Cirque primarily, although we first all rode the Tram together and headed out the new tunnel. It was only thereafter that we split into our respective groups.

I'll just let the photos do the talking this time.

 

[Sharon]

Baldy looks pretty bald for sure.

Could use some more snow before we get out there.

Frank and I wish we could change plans to British Columbia. They are having a stellar year...but we are SLC bound, as that is where our friends and lodging are.

Hopefully you'll get some more snow soon.

I told Frank, it should be dumping while we are out there.

 

[Admin]

Hmmmm...we skied knee-deep on Baldy two days before that photo was taken.

Baldy often looks bald, and in three seasons since I arrived here I've never skied that face above Pyramid Rock that you see in that photo. That's normal, hence the name. Winds scour the crap outta that thing.

Our skiing is quite good here right now. And normal.

 

[Rikki_d]

Are the Sunday Cliffs located between Alta and the Mineral Basin..Our group is arriving in S.L.C. on Sat.,..was hoping to catch the storm while we were there..I'm sure there will be stashes at Solitude on Sunday.

 

[Marc_C]

Are the Sunday Cliffs located between Alta and the Mineral Basin..

No. They are on the west side of Mineral Basin, at the end of the Bookends Traverse (which takes off from the Path to Paradise cat track), well beyond the Hillary Step. When you look into MB from Sugarloaf Pass at Alta, the Sunday Cliffs are looking back at you from above the bottom terminal of the MBE.

 

[Patrick]

From picture #3:

Climbing down through sketchy cover in the Rat's Nest

Cover looks like the bottom of Paradise at MRG when it's open and the coverage is bad.

OR

The way to the entrance of Big Couloir or North Snowfield at Big Sky/Moonlight Basin last January, minus the steepest and the trees.

PS. I really like Kristen Ulmer's pic. Great shot of a Great Skier. \/

 

[Admin]

Are the Sunday Cliffs located between Alta and the Mineral Basin..

I see that Marc_C already answered this.

Our group is arriving in S.L.C. on Sat.,..was hoping to catch the storm while we were there..I'm sure there will be stashes at Solitude on Sunday.

I just found out that a friend is coming into town Saturday morning from NYC, so our tentative plan is Solitude for Saturday afternoon and Alta on Sunday. Should our paths cross, let me know and we'll hook up for a few.

PS. I really like Kristen Ulmer's pic. Great shot of a Great Skier.

Thanks. Cropping was involved, however.

 

[Rikki_d]

We arrive Sat. night..probably see Solitude on Sunday, is Monday a holiday in Utah?..Martin Luther King Jr. Day?..if so might avoid the Bird on Monday..if it's a normal work day will probably go there and hope there's some snow left to kick around on Gad and Mineral...Eyeing POW MOW for Tuesday..pending on the snow totals they get from this storm..We haven't had a winter up here in Ontario yet.

 

[Admin]

is Monday a holiday in Utah?..Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

It is, although I've never had the day off no matter where I've lived. It's more appropriate to ask, "Is it a holiday where destination visitors have traveled from?" A more appropriate question to ask regarding locals filling the hill is, "Did it snow last night?"

 

[Rikki_d]

Well looking at the weather for Sunday...guess the locals won't be filling the hill on Monday..just hope the wind helps fill in all the tracks after the weekend..have fun in the new snow!