Everyone and Their Mothers

Everyone and their mothers showed up today. I can understand why anyone who was able to take the day off, or at least a portion of the day, came to the mountain to ski or snowboard. Why would someone decide that this Tuesday in March was the right day to slide down slopes at Alpine Meadows? The answer is simple. A cold morning temperature, almost no wind, sunshine out of a clear blue sky, and a few inches of new snow that fell overnight. A cold, sunny, powder morning tends to push people out the front door. Parking lots were close to full by afternoon. The good news was that lift lines were not long. I never really stood in a lift line for more than a couple of minutes. On a day like today, when most lifts are in operation and the entire mountain is open for skiing, people tend to spread out. When people spread out from Grouse Rock to Bernie’s Bowl, slopes are not overcrowded, and lift lines are moderate.

Visibility was not as good yesterday, but the skiing was just a little better. I felt, and could see, bumps under the new snow that obviously represented moguls created yesterday. This was true on trails that were open yesterday. God’s Knob, Gunner’s Knob, Sympathy, Peril Ridge, and The Face contained various size bumps under the sparkling layer of new snow that greeted us this morning. High Traverse was closed yesterday, so there were no bumps under the new snow in CB Chute, Sun Bowl, Big Bend, S.P. Bowl, and the remaining areas out to Grouse Rock. Plenty of people took advantage of these pristine conditions.

The snow consistency on the south-facing slopes was a little stiffer or heavier. Sunshine, and the warmth it creates, began to condense snow on south-facing slopes relatively quickly this morning. Even with the more condensed snow, I sure enjoyed making turns on the ridge between Sun Bowl and Big Bend. The lower section of S.P. Bowl offered a lighter field of snow as it had not received as much sun when we tackled it.

Scott Meadow held a lightly used palette for most of the morning, giving me time and space to smile while making turns on its soft, smooth surface. Scott Chute was in excellent condition, as one could see by the number of people skiing or boarding down its steep slope. Most of the participants were turning without making a sound.

Chute that Seldom Slides held some nice powder between tightly spaced trees. Of course, Gentian Gully and Promised Land did not disappoint.

Keyhole Slopes, High Yellow Gully, and Palisades were killer today, as were the hikes to Beaver, Estelle, and far out to Bernie’s Bowl.

A good day on the slopes deserves a wide smile from all participants.

Enjoy your day,

Andy