It was another warm spring day on the slopes at Alpine Meadows. According to the website, temperatures ranged from the upper 40s to the low 50s. Winds ranged from 37 mph to 49 mph at the top of the mountain. It was warm enough for some skiers to bring out the short-sleeve shirt and short pants. I noticed a few of them on the hill.
We started the morning by riding Summit Chair and making use of the groomed sections of the hill. Sunspot was as smooth as a baby’s rear end. We took two or three laps on Sunspot before moving on to Wolverine, Alpine Bowl, and Terry’s Return. All of the sun-blessed slopes on the upper portion of the mountain were just soft enough to bring smiles to our faces. Lower down on Charity, Dance Floor, and Red Ridge, the snow was a little firmer and covered with cookies.
Someone must have been baking cookies all night to create this many on the slopes. The trails were not ice hard, but the ride underfoot was a little rough. The most exciting part of the day was the slide over any flat area. The sticky snow slowed to a near stop at the base of Terry’s Return and Sandy’s Corner. It is entertaining to watch people with speed as they flail widely upon hitting sticky snow on the various runouts.
After a few laps on Summit Chair, we headed to Sherwood in hopes of finding smooth groomed trails and some spring corn on off-piste slopes. We did not find many groomed areas because we were a little late. Other skiers had worked the corduroy to the point where the top few inches were becoming soft and just a little slushy. We took a couple of enjoyable laps on the thin spring slush before wandering off to the hinterland. The skier’s left of Chute Zero has skied well the past few days. We tried it. Slushy is a kind word for the deep mush that we encountered in Chute Zero. Looking stylish in this type of snow takes a lot of effort, as the snow consistency wants to split your skis apart. Eventually one either stops from exhaustion or falls face-first into the wet snow.
You would think one venture off-piste where the snow was rather unpleasant would be enough, but one of my group suggested a run down Power Line. Getting to Power Line through the trees and over rather level areas was a grunt. Skiing down the Power Line slope was another exhausting fight to keep speed up, skis together, and make a turn or two without falling. The weather is changing, but I would not try this again until it does change.
Outer Limits, Ridge Run, and Bobby’s trails were pleasant around 11 this morning. soft enough, but not slushy. I imagine Lakeview and Scott trails would have remained pleasant for another hour or so before they became too slushy and sticky.
I returned to Summit Chair at noon for one more run. I decided to try Palisades and the lower section of High Yellow Gully. Both of these trails are filled with good-sized moguls, but neither had a firm surface. In my opinion, the snow on these runs was the best of the day. The surface felt like corn to me. The snow consistency allowed me to enjoy turning slowly over and through the moguls on a reasonably steep slope without fear of falling and sliding down the hillside. If I did not have to leave the mountain, I would have skied these runs three or four more times.
It is 3:30 in the afternoon, and the sky is beginning to turn gray. Perhaps we will receive a few inches of new snow tomorrow.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
I almost missed skiing today…almost. There was the morning dental appointment followed by a midday trip to Reno. But on the way back to town, we realized that with a quick turnaround, we could be skiing by 2PM. Not that it was great idea, as everything we tried was really sticky by that time. We had hopes for Yellow, Jorgs and other sun sheltered spots. All were like glue.
I am looking forward to the possibility of less stick-tion ahead.