Snow was falling this morning when I opened my eyes. It was also cold according to the resort app that indicated a temperature in the teens. Six or more inches of snow fell overnight. A powder day or a dust on crust morning. A little sun peeked through gray clouds and then it started snowing again. I waited a couple of hours for the snow to stop and the sun to show itself. I think I have spring fever.
Mark’s morning photo as he rode up Scott Chair. A little gray first thing this morning.
Of course, I missed the totally untracked beautiful powder morning according to those that were at the area when it opened. Gentian Gully was prime and Bobby’s was a dream come true as it was relayed to me. I did take a run through Gentian a little later than the others and would agree it was pretty darn good.
Marks photo looking back at Promised Land
Winds were blowing atop Summit Chair in the early morning, but they calmed down by the time I rode it. I found some delightful powder that remained almost untracked on the Alpine Bowl side of the lift. The best part of today was the small crowd that showed up. There were no lift lines. I did enjoy Our Father and High Yellow. Both had snow deep enough to avoid the scraping sound that could be heard at different places on the mountain.
Looking down Our Father with plenty of places to turn in powder Looking up Our Father at smooth new powder
Under this lovely powder was a rather firm layer of hard snow. Standard Run, Lower Mountain View, and Scott Meadows proved to be just right. Although I was late to hit South Face it still offered an untracked path if you searched for it. Snow on Sherwood was getting dense as the sun worked its magic. It is spring after all.
At the top of Scott Chair I ran into a father and daughter taking full advantage of the incredible views and warm sunshine to build a snowman. I think this young lady has a very special father.
Later in the day a friend waved me over and talked me into taking a backcounty tour before hanging it up for the day. We found some nice untracked snow and some where the snow was beginning to stiffen, but the tour was worth it.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
It really was quality powder for the date. The snow level fell below 3000 feet over night, and that meant that it was hero powder or better at Alpine Meadows before the sun did its thing.