Away From The Crowd

Where to ski alone!

Skiing can become rather monotonous, especially when the snow pack does not change over a period of time. We have not had any new snow for many days. This situation creates a somewhat static cover on mountain slopes. I do not mean to say that the surface does not change during the day, but generally speaking, trails have been in similar conditions recently. Obviously, if temperatures rise enough during the day, then sun drenched slopes will soften into spring conditions. I think the current daytime temperatures are remaining cool enough to limit the creation of good spring skiing in January. According to the Palisades website, temperatures at Alpine Meadows varied between 24 and 29 degrees at the mid-afternoon hour.

I missed hooking up with my normal group of friends this morning, as I arrived just a little late, and was forced to park at the end of the Upper Lot. The good news is that one can get a good warm up walking to the lodge breezeway from the end of the upper parking lot. It helps to have a locker where skis and boots wait, instead of arms full of equipment, when parking at the end of the lot. My late arrival meant I skied alone. When skiing alone, I often looking for seek less crowded slopes.

Slopes were once again very well groomed overnight creating a lovely smooth corduroy surface for the warm up runs. I skied a couple groomed trails before the line at the base encouraged me to wander off in search of less crowded slopes. Bumps under Alpine Bowl Chair that are in the shade seem to be holding a consistency similar to firm winter snow. There are patches of ice, but in general the surface will hold a skiers edge. I skied the lower areas of the Keyhole Slopes where firm winter snow is prevalent.

I have been looking at the gully below the upper section of TLC for a week. It does not look terrible, but not many people have been skiing it, and those doing so have not looked all that good (the idea is not to look good, but to be having fun). I gave it a try, and I am pretty sure I did not look all that good making slow purposeful turn on the firm moguls. Yes, some ice, but not enough to make one want to turn around and hike back out. I traversed out toward a spot in lower High Yellow Gully where I found more firm winter snow. The beauty of skiing these trails is that I was the only person playing in the area. Nobody was screaming by me at high speed.

I always feel like a kid when attempting to ski Hot Wheels Gully, so I gave it a try. I was not alone skiing the narrow gully, but I did feel like a kid. Again, the snow was not a field of ice so an edge held.

Expert Shortcut is offering winter snow, as is Gentian Gully. There really are places to hide on a crowded day. For the second time in a week, I discovered that the line on Subway is pretty long on the weekend. I found this out when exiting Gentian Gully. Walking back to the lodge is quicker than waiting in line at Subway.

After a few warm-up runs on groomed surfaces early this morning, and tours of slopes with winter snow, a little later during the morning hours, I thought it would be fun to get off of both.

I would not recommend Power Line, but it can be conquered. Through the woods and into the open spaces that have not been well skied, or groomed, on the Sherwood Forest Slopes is not really recommended either. Firm snow heavily traversed with hard skier tracks left over from the last storm, or last very warm day, create a very rough ride for someone on two thin boards.

Perhaps the above does not sound all that uplifting, but I enjoyed the day. I think people skiing and snowboarding on such a beautiful clear day were all enjoying themselves.  Over crowded or not people were having fun.

Enjoy your day,
Andy