What a weird day it was yesterday, with an arctic chill on the mountain that kept things locked up longer than usual. But today it was back to business as usual with a more normal level of overnight freeze and more predictable conditions on the mountain today. That’s good, being a weekend day with one of the most prominent of Alpine Meadows events, Snow Golf, happening today.
Things were not as busy as I predicted today. It looked like a midweek day when I pulled in to the parking lot just after 8 this morning. There was no giant line of people signing up for the Snow Golf tourney like we saw last year. Then again, I think they just hid that line inside the lodge. That said, while the line up at Summit to tee off was long, it did not stretch all of the way across Alpine Bowl as it did last year. Perhaps it had something to do with there not being a visor or bucket hat offered to golfers this year. Instead they were giving out those same Palisades Tahoe buffs that get given out all over both mountains all season. Yawn. Still, people did arrived to dress up and play golf and it was clear that most were having a lot of fun doing so.
Myself, I arrived at the mountain ready to just go skiing. Our days of skiing at Alpine Meadows are dwindling, and I did not get to all of the places i wanted to go yesterday, as Scott did not open until much later in the day. Awesome creamy corduroy beckoned on Sunspot, Alpine Bowl and Terry’s right way this morning and I grabbed a few laps before heading to Sherwood.
It’s amazing how quickly the meltdown is happening over at Sherwood and that means that sneaker line season is upon us. It took a run or two to smooth out my favorite zones over at the Wood, but one we knocked down some coral heads and ruts, it was skiing really nicely. People kept telling me that High Traverse was good, but instead I was intent on hot lapping Sherwood until it closed around 11:45.
The official Operations Blog posted yesterday does indicate that they do plan to continue the Sherwood/Scott flip schedule through the 27th.
Scott was quick to open today, and as much as I powered through a quick lunch to be there on time, I pretty much missed the first lap. Still the sloppier seconds and thirds on Ridge Run and Bobby’s were great. That said, UA apprentice intern Lenny sent his photo documenting his first tracks on Bobby’s. Maybe tomorrow I just need to skip lunch altogether and pack more snacks.
We have a bunch of family in town this weekend, so being responsible, I skipped Gentian and the Promised Land in favor of a couple of laps in Seldom Slides. The conditions there are probably the best I have skied it ever, not counting some powder days.
The DJ and Snow Golf Party was underway at Chalet this afternoon, while the band was doing their sound checks on a very busy Sun Deck. As I walked through the parking lot on the way to my car, I passed a number of parking lot BBQ’s in progress. That is classic Alpine Meadows….
Tomorrow….Golden Egg Hunt…the Easter Bunny…and Beacon and Eggs going on at Alpine Meadows. Check my last two reports for details.
It’s Time We Talked About The Weather
We have not had to think all of that much about the weather for a bit, with the only real questions being temperatures and freezes. It’s been a mostly good run of spring corn season. But it looks like we are not going to end the Alpine Meadows season on that note. It looks fine until closing weekend, next weekend. The last few model runs bring a trough into Northern California by Friday night. Right now that would lead to the potential for colder temperatures, clouds and rain or snow. That is not ideal for those of us that have no use for 3 inches of wet snow or rain showers on that final weekend.
I am just willing it away right now…but it is worth keeping an eye on the situation. See you out there tomorrow….
As I made my first ride up the summit chair this morning, I felt a strange force pulling me towards sunspot. This was the only upper mountain trail I skied today. My first run took me to charity where I got a soothing foot massage on the frozen corduroy. the 3 following runs I skied ladies slalom via the summit traverse. snowmen dotting the traverse seemed to be planted on 48” cemented postholes, they made several attempts to faceplant me. Then I made for High traverse, it was worth skiing once.
I was hoping for about 35 sherwood laps this late morning, and wound up with nine tying today’s chairlift champion Fletch. Congratulations Fletch. Once again I rode the first Scott chair which made me smile. Eventually found my groove skiing many laps on Chute that Seldom isn’t Awesome, ultimately walking away with today’s Scott championship at 16 laps.
Wound up being quite satisfied with today’s hysterical applause from the chair. Many of my friends from “the dark side” were out taking laps. I avoided joining with them as coming towards the end of the season I’m feeling existentially conflicted towards my time on the mountain. I’ve been seeking to maximize my mileage on the days I can ski, and thus have largely preferred to ride alone, though it was a pleasure to run into Mark about 5 or 6 times today.
Tomorrow I will be terrorizing the comment section of unofficialrose.com or equivalent analog.
Just got word KT, Headwall, & Siberia will be done by the end of the month
Patroller told me May 4th for KT, so I’m not sure that is right.
I sure hope not!