NASJA had the First Tracks breakfast, along with 600+ others eager to get after the 15 inches new snow of the past 2 days. First Tracks participants get to ski the Emerald and Red Chairs by themselves from about 8:15AM until regular day skiers arrive at the Roundhouse about 9AM.
I had 3 runs on the intermediate pitched Emerald and 2 on the more varied slopes of Red. Best early powder was Franz's Meadow, helpfully pointed out by a local on my first ride up Red. I was a bit tired and decided to rest after that, waiting for the Peak to open.
Peak opened with a big lineup about 10:30AM. I didn't navigate my first lap there too well, but second time up I followed a snowboarder into a foggy high entrance to West Bowl. A huge rock outcropping on skier's left provided orientation for the consistent 35+ degree slope of fresh tracks, definitely the best run of my 5 day trip.
Having observed snow piled in the village and decent snow on the lower mountain, I decided this was the right time to try the Peak to Creek marathon. The Peak to Creek trail is marked blue and looked mostly skier packed, so I opted for Big Timber, which had more fresh snow but also continuous changes in pitch and numerous moguls under the new snow. After 3,000 vertical of that you could stick a fork in my quads when I finally reached the Creekside base.
I nonetheless persisted with a couple of runs off the Harmony chair in now chopped powder and staggered into a late lunch at the base of Red. From there I limped home with an exhausting 24,800 vertical, 11K of powder.
I had 3 runs on the intermediate pitched Emerald and 2 on the more varied slopes of Red. Best early powder was Franz's Meadow, helpfully pointed out by a local on my first ride up Red. I was a bit tired and decided to rest after that, waiting for the Peak to open.
Peak opened with a big lineup about 10:30AM. I didn't navigate my first lap there too well, but second time up I followed a snowboarder into a foggy high entrance to West Bowl. A huge rock outcropping on skier's left provided orientation for the consistent 35+ degree slope of fresh tracks, definitely the best run of my 5 day trip.
Having observed snow piled in the village and decent snow on the lower mountain, I decided this was the right time to try the Peak to Creek marathon. The Peak to Creek trail is marked blue and looked mostly skier packed, so I opted for Big Timber, which had more fresh snow but also continuous changes in pitch and numerous moguls under the new snow. After 3,000 vertical of that you could stick a fork in my quads when I finally reached the Creekside base.
I nonetheless persisted with a couple of runs off the Harmony chair in now chopped powder and staggered into a late lunch at the base of Red. From there I limped home with an exhausting 24,800 vertical, 11K of powder.
