No, it wasn't the wine...I just woke up. Amy got home pretty late and I didn't feel like doing it. As far as photos...well, you'll have to take them off my camera for me because Amy does not have a card reader or usb cable as far as I know. This is her work computer, so I can't really do much about that situation. I'm lucky I have any internet time.
So, to continue my TR....back to No Name
At the top of the tram we took in the view of Ogden and the valley below and took some photos (be patient...in just a few days I'll fill in my TR's with the pix). We then traversed over to No Name and hoofed up to the top for good measure. There was a traverse around the side, but we decided to go all the way from the top.
While most of it appeared to be north-facing, the snow in there was mostly cut up and somewhat stiff from wind and cold. There were a few fresh shots, but they were few and far in between, though we tried to link a few tuns in them when possible. These were some of the better moments. We had to tread upon many different types of snow surfaces, from dry chalk to stiff windblown, to lightly cut up powder. There was some smooth windblown in the narrow chute that I made as many hop turns in as possible until I was sucking wind and sweating. There was avi debris hidden under this smooth snow, which added to the challenge. The terrain is steep and it narrows down. Many hop turns were required and it took everything possible to lift those skis from the grabby snow. I got so warm I had to drop a layer. It was very hard work and the skiing was the most challenging I've encountered in my 10 days of skiing. Each channel chokes off tightly at the bottom. We tried to traverse to the next chute to see if the snow was any better, but we only found more of the same. On our traverse back, Mira found herself in a pile in the bottom of a ditch. I didn't see it happen, just the aftermath. It was difficult climbing out, just in case this wasn't already hard enough.
We eventually emerged at the bottom of the auxiliary parking lot and thankfully there was a shuttle coming around to pick us up. It was lovely to sit and have the cool breeze give some relief from the heat we worked up, even just for the 2 minute ride. We got back to the base lodge in time to meet the guys for lunch on the sunny deck. I stripped off my damp jacket and tried to dry out. As I waited for my chili-lime beef stir fry to be made, I chugged some cocacola, as I was quite thirsty and trying to recover from that last run. I gave myself an ice-cream headache instantly. Lunch was very delicious and satisfying. It is worth buying the food at Snowbasin, even if it is a little pricey, it is good fresh and healthy food.
After lunch we tried to herd the cats once again. Sima was trying to be a good host and hanging with his friends who were at very different paces. Mira and I were as patient as possible and we were able to board 6 people on the gondola. Sima wanted to take us to a run he did before lunch which he claimed was very nice. It was off the John Paul lift. He dragged 2 snowboarders and a skier with him and it turned out to be much more than any of them were happy with. The snow conditions were either firm bumps, cut up set up snow, windblown or steep dry chalk. Runs all narrow down in there and did not make the snowboarders too happy. The saving grace of this run is that it is skied out enough that it is easier to ski than No Name was with the lightly tracked variable snow. Mira and I waited at the bottom. Eventually Allan on snowboard came out and he splayed himself out on the snow. He said that run did him in and he needed to go dry out. The others eventually came limping out.
Mira and I very much wanted to go back to the Lone Tree Chute over by Strawberry, the one we did in the morning with Charlie. Mira wanted to bring Sima but he doesn't trust her. Apparently she's taken him to some uncomfortable places on a mountain in the past. We convince him he can do this one, so we head up the Gondi over to Strawberry. When we cross the divide into the Strawberry drainage, there is a sign that says Lift Closed. It's only 3pm, so we thought we'd be able to get on the Straw berry gondi for one run. We looked at the gondola and it was not moving. We waited and watched and we had dejavu of the Collins lift. It was stopping and going and they were bringing people down instead of up it seemed. We were happy we weren't stuck on that lift and went back down to the John Paul lift for another run..
The best snow was under that lift, so we stuck to the lift line. Bumps were dry, some very firm. But it was better than trying to swing the skis around in the cut up crud to the left and right of the lift line.
On our way down we came upon a guy who was sitting on the snow with his skis stuck in the snow, crossed. We stopped to see what was up and he said he broke his leg. Seemed to be a tib-fib...above the boot. I suggested to put some snow on it to keep it from swelling and we waited with him until the ski patrol arrived. He was visiting from Texas and he was a very unhappy guy as he realized his season was over on the 2nd day of his first ski trip of the season, the 2nd trip will have to be cancelled. We tried to keep him distracted until help arrived.
We got down to the base at 3:58 in time to hop on the gondola for one last ride. We were the last on the gondola. I asked the liftie for a "club car" and he chuckled and obliged. We got to the top and took Pork Barrel down. There were some of the nicest soft bumps we had encountered all day. We stayed under the gondi line for the nicest snow. It was wonderful.
Half way down we stopped. I noticed there was no one around. Not a single person in sight. We were expecting the ski patrol sweep, but none came. It was dead silent. The lifts had stopped. It was 4:20 and we were taking in that moment in the peace of the quiet mountain. Then Mira's phone broke the silence. The boys were waiting for us.
I took a video of the silent moment. It was pretty cool. Maybe Admin can help me find a way to post it...otherwise it will be in my Picasaweb album when I get back to NY and can upload my photos and videos.
Snowbasin was the most challenging skiing of the 10 days I've had so far. I enjoyed getting my ass kicked, as did Mira. We really enjoy skiing together and I think that young woman is probably the only person who can ski me into the ground, however, thus far, I am able to keep up with her. She was on day 3 and somewhat fresh. I was on day 10, a little worn, but feeling as strong as ever. This trip has been quite empowering to my skiing. I manage to pull it off day after day, even when I think I have little left, somehow by afternoon I can really turn it on, and before I know it, we are boarding the last lift of the day.
Alta today.
