Yesterday, I joined the masses as they walked up the High Traverse and headed down Sun Bowl on their way to the base of Sherwood Chair. Most people seem to have skied Sun Bowl or CB Chute, but I wandered more toward SP Bowl and was able to avoid most of the crowd. Today, there was a chilly wind blowing as we arrived at the top of Summit Chair. We were concerned that the High Traverse might still be firm, so we skied Sunspot. Sunspot was nicely groomed and just soft enough to enjoy turns in smooth corn snow. Lower down the mountain was pretty firm. Our second run took us down Terry’s Return and Lower Rock Garden. Both of these trails were in spring corn condition.
Sherwood was next on the list. The surface was softer at Sherwood, especially on the main Sherwood Trail. After a couple of round trips on Sherwood, I ventured out beyond Chute Zero toward South Face. The snow was just beginning to soften, but it was not smooth enough for full enjoyment. Yesterday’s tracks, and associated rubble, were still firm, making the ride pretty bumpy.
Sometime between 10:30 and 11 we walked up High Traverse and dropped over the other side of Upper Saddle. We found some perfect corn on the ridge between Sun Bowl and Big Bend Bowl.
From the bottom of these two bowls, we traversed to the wide open slopes below S.P. Bowl.
Smiles were on all of our faces when we arrived at the base of Sherwood Chair. We were so excited with our first run that we decided to repeat it. We were not disappointed with our trip through fields of smooth spring corn.
When we arrived back at the base of Sherwood, we were met by a sign that indicated Sherwood was closed. We had heard that operating policy from now until the end of Alpine’s season called for Sherwood to close just before noon. Scott Chair is now scheduled to open at noon. We skied down to Scott and joined a few people who were waiting for Scott to open.
We left and rode Roundhouse. God’s Knob and Yellow Trail fulfilled our need for completing a few more slow, wide-arcing turns in corn. Scott was not yet open when we dropped down to the bottom of Yellow Trail, so we hung the skis up for the day.
We did watch a snowcat dragging a tree trunk down from the top of Lakeview Chair from the top of Expert Shortcut. Trees are being removed as a part of Alpine’s forest management plan.
Although it felt cooler this morning than yesterday morning, the temperature this afternoon feels warmer than it was yesterday afternoon. I think it is time for a bike ride.
The weather forecast for tomorrow, per the Palisades app, is calling for partly cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
Pro Tip: As soon as it’s posted that Sherwood is closing, take a short lunch break before heading to Scott. We arrived at Scott just in time to see the chair start loading. Those first two laps on the nearly untouched Ridge and Bobby’s were fantastic! We then headed to Gentian and the Promised Land for another great lap. Honestly it is the Promised Land where I first fell in love with corn skiing.
Thanks to Dr Brad for pulling my wife out of her tree well excursion. Sadly, she forgot to go feet first. All is well 😁