Slow Down

There was a surprise for those that ventured out to the ski area today at Alpine Meadows. The parking lots that we heard would fill quickly did not fill at all. In fact, the upper lot at Alpine did not fill to the brim. The lower Deer Park lot was basically empty.

The parking lots were not full, but the slopes were not empty. Perhaps the number of people (maybe families) per car was in excess of the norm. Crowded slopes were an issue in my mind. This was especially true of the beautifully groomed slopes. Many skiers and boarders were skiing very fast; many over their ability level. This was true as we watched people traveling down The Face from Summit Chair. Some were screaming down making wide turns that looked like fun, but there was little room for error. Others were inching down because the steep, slick, slope was beyond their ability. We noted a number of near misses on many of the groomed slopes.

I noticed a word of caution pop up on the area app asking patrons to follow the skier code of ethics (or something like that) by slowing down and paying attention to the areas surrounding them. I did not see it long enough to note the exact wording. Edited for content: There was a serious accident at Palisades requiring a helicopter evacuation.

The weather in the morning was cool, but soon warmed with bright sunshine filling the blue sky. However, thin clouds moved in slowly as the afternoon progressed and slightly increased winds brought a chill along with them.

I guess we will see if more people show up overnight, but as of this hour the traffic is not all that bad.

The photo above was provided to me by Peter Leonard, a long-time local skier. This is another photo of the original KT22 ski lift with family members sitting on one of the chairs in 1961. It looks like summer. It is difficult to tell if they were just sitting on the chair or if they were getting ready for a summer sightseeing tour. In any case, this are fun photos from earlier years at Squaw Valley. You can see a couple of horses in the background from the Squaw Valley Stables.

The photo above is of John Reily and his wife sitting on the railing of the Cornice Shack at the top of KT22 in 1960. It was the front of a post card (see below). The building was to be used as a warming hut for the Olympic athletes and the judges during the Olympics.  In the summer of 1960, the building was transformed into the Cornice Cafe where one could sit and have a bite to eat while looking at the future Alpine Meadows. The building burned down some years later.

Above is the back of the postcard discribing the future Alpine Meadows Ski Resort and asking for help to create it from investors.  A picture of the post card was provided to me by Troy Cauldwell.

The featured photo for today was taken by Kim Lynn of me making turns on the down the short piece of corduroy leading from the ridge between Summit Chair and Ward Peak and the road leading from Summit Chair to Alpine Bowl Chair.  We noted 7 short slots that were made by the groomers when they groomed Alpine Bowl the night before.  This was the 3rd slot.  My thought was to ski all seven today, but I only got as far as the third slot.  Sometimes I wonder about myself.

Enjoy your day,

Andy