There is only one word to describe this day, and that word is hot. It is 47 degrees at the summit and 55 at the lodge at Alpine Meadows early this afternoon. I skied from 9 to 11:30 this morning and enjoyed every minute of it. The snow surface softened earlier today than yesterday. After one run down Sunspot we decided to give the High Traverse a try. Our hope was that with the very warm temperatures it would be corn first thing in the morning and that the surface would be relatively flat as the run had been closed for a couple of days. Other than a few isolated spots where the snow was very sticky, our run was excellent. Sun Bowl was just right. It consisted of a soft corn surface that was relatively flat. A perfect spring surface for my tastes. We traversed through the trees to the lower section of Big Bend Bowl and continued our wonderful tour back to the base of Sherwood Chair. It was good enough to do a second time which turned out to be just as good as the first.
After our second tour down from Upper Saddle we hung out at Sherwood for awhile. We skied Sherwood Face, and Chute Zero (one of Mark’s favorite) along with a pass through the groomed run. The snow on both runs is getting more narrow and thinner with each day, but the surface was again just right on this day.
I headed back to the barn via Lakeview Chair sliding down Bobby’s Trail on the way to the lodge. The surface on the main Lakeview and Scott Chairs is getting more narrow and thinner as rocks, dirt, and bushes are showing more each day.
Sources have indicated that today may have been the last day for Lakeview for the season do to the lake of snow and ability to groom. We have also learned that today may have been the final full day of operation for the Sherwood Chair. It will remain open in the mornings for High Traverse laps, but close in the afternoons. Scott Chair will be operating in the afternoon according to our sources.
There were not that many people on the hill today which made it most enjoyable for those who love spring skiing.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
Promised Land still had not softened by 12-30 – 1ish. Peter’s Peril was very soft at 1:15.
A couple of things…The photo above that Andy has marked as Chute Zero is actually Chute One and it is super narrow. Chute Zero is skiers left and runs right next to the rock band. It might go another day or two. I did 5 runs there today. I ended up staying out until 1pm today and all south facing slopes were great corn today. The frontside slopes were less sticky in the afternoon due to some corn conversion going on. Although Scott chair will be offered afternoons only, that also will not last long as the rate of snowmelt is somewhat spectacular. The upper section of Bobby’s was 1/2 wide yesterday and today that upper section was a 10 foot strip. A big rock patch is sprouting right near the slow sign where Ridge and Bobbys meet. Get it while you can!