Afternoon Delight

An Afternoon at Alpine

I missed the morning turns today, but I was able to catch a few this afternoon. The good news is that most of the south and east facing slopes that get morning sun, while we wait for them to soften, were soft and spring-like by the time I hit the hill.
I was on the hill between 12 and 2pm, cruising around the mountain wondering why my thighs were aching. Perhaps it was riding moguls yesterday, some of them frozen and very rough, especially during the morning tour of the mountain.

In any case, they got another workout today, but not on as many very firm bumps. Sunspot was covered in a creamy spring-like snow. I would not call it corn, but it was not slush. Easy turns, over and through moguls in the mogul field, brought a “Peaceful Easy Feeling” tune into my head. The right tune floating inside my head makes a field of moguls much easier to master and enjoy.

After playing on the bright sunlit slope of Sunspot, I headed into Wolverine Bowl to try the area under Idiot’s Delight. It was similar to Sunspot, as one might expect. Both slopes are blessed with sunshine beginning early in the morning. Those two areas were the best for spring-like snow, but who wants to ski spring snow all day in December.

Shaded slopes that are not blessed with bright sunshine, in early December, often retain their cold snow surface longer. Chalky bumps that hold an edge bring a tentative smile to my face as I maneuver through the slope. The area under Alpine Bowl Chair offered just those conditions this afternoon, shady and a little more difficult on the eyesight, but lovely to ride.

I also found D7, skiers right in Werner’s Schuss, and the skiers right of Wolverine Bowl pretty darn good. In the afternoon, areas that were perfect corduroy laid down overnight, they were well skied-out by the time I slipped down there slopes. Alpine Bowl, Rock Garden, and Dance Floor were pretty slick in spots as the thin top layer of soft corduroy had been pushed to one side or another by mid-afternoon. This leaves a firm smooth area that loves to take skis from underneath a person sending them sliding downslope on there side.

The good news was that the slopes were bare of skiers, at least not too many were on the hill. It was a pleasant uncrowded afternoon. You will hear no complaints from me today.

Andy