Almost Perfect

Some days are more inspiring than others. I admit that spiritually attempting to join with our mountain on a rainy or wet snowy day is not necessarily inspiring, even if turns feel good underfoot. I have skied on many rainy days when the snow is soft and creamy, forcing me to smile at my foolishness. Just being outside, one with the environment, brings some form of joy to my soul.

From the moment I looked out my window this morning, I knew it was going to be a special day. Rays of sun were striking the top of Munchkins. A peaceful, easy feeling always fills my soul as I watched the sun lighten our mountain. Skiing is sport, and I love to partake in it, but being part of this environment is what makes my life worth living. I am not sure what got me started on these paragraphs, but the early morning view sure helped.

I was under the impression that all scheduled lifts would be operating today. I was wrong. Winds kicked up early in the morning, causing Summit to be placed on wind hold. It was easy to see the results of the high winds from the lodge as snow devils were rising over the ridge tops. Yesterday’s snowfall was being lifted into the sky, making for a photo opportunity, but keeping Summit and Alpine Bowl Chair off the schedule.

Alpine Bowl did open later in the morning. Alpine and Wolverine Bowls looked so lonely as they stood beautifully groomed or lightly dusted with a few inches of new snow. We were forced to visit other parts of the mountain to find our daily pleasure fix.

We tasted various aspects of the mountain, seeking smooth untracked slopes where we could leave our marks in the snow. Scott Meadow is always a great place to find vacant space to etch our turns into blank white snow. It did not disappoint. Power Line was already tracked up by the time we added our tracks to its low-angle slope, but it still felt good.

We did ski Chicken Leg early and found it to be just right. I took a tour through Hot Wheels Gully where the snow was in winter condition. High Yellow Gully, accessed from the top of Sherwood Chair, was delightful. Enough snow had filled in between moguls, with winter snow underneath, to make this a soft winter pack. The best part of the run was that I was the only one on the slope after coming from overcrowded Sherwood.

One of my favorite runs was a short spin through untracked snow from a spot just below Three Sisters down the area between Nick’s Run and Kangaroo Ridge. This had not been skied, so it was still a virgin condition.

I received good reports from people who had skied Sympathy, runs off Alpine Bowl Chair after it opened, Promised Land, and Gentian Gully.

Everyone I spoke with today seemed to have enjoyed their day.

I sure did.

Andy

Editors Note: I had to do some heavy handed editing of Andy’s post. It’s our policy to not publicize backcountry terrain near Alpine Meadows, commonly called “side country”. Our current reader base includes many people that are not at all prepared for the realities of a backcountry experience. – Mark