Variable Conditions

I hate to be repetitive, but today was another gorgeous spring day in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At 9 o’clock this morning the temperature at the top of Summit Chair was approximately 35 degrees. It was slightly cooler than yesterday, when it was about 41 degrees. Winds were blowing snow up Alpine Bowl and Wolverine, creating beautiful plumes of snow at the ridge top. Lower down along the road to Alpine Bowl Chair, ice crystals were flying into our faces at 40-plus miles per hour. These firm crystals do hurt when they slam into your face.

The sky was an untethered blue. Ski conditions were variable. I enjoyed sweeping downhill on the groomed slopes of Alpine Bowl (skier’s right was the best), Terry’s Return, and most of the other groomed slopes accessible from Summit Chair and Roundhouse. Weasel Trail was groomed for making easy intermediate turns.

South-facing slopes were another story. Sunspot offered a pretty hard surface, but I was able to hold an edge. Tower 19 was really not any fun because it had not been skied enough, thus leaving us with a firm, windswept surface. Many of the well-skied runs are dotted with various-sized moguls. Smaller bumps can be found on Red Ridge and Rolls and Knolls, but they were firm this morning. There are also rocks poking up in several spots on these trails. In addition, keep your eyes wide open for tips of small trees or branches that are popping up in the middle of many trails. They can easily trip you up. The morning turned out very well on the front side of Alpine Meadows, which was very acceptable. I did not ski Scott in the morning; I imagine it was pretty firm on most trails. Bobby’s Trail was nicely groomed and skied well in the early afternoon. If you want to try Gentian Gully, you have to pick your way past the Patrol Shack because there is really no way to avoid the rocks that are not currently covered on the thin trail that leads to Gentian.

We skied a few runs on Sherwood in the late morning. Sherwood Run was well-groomed but overcrowded with people skiing and riding at speeds too high for my comfort level.

Before 11 in the morning Sherwood Face was just beginning to soften, but firm snowballs were scattered over the surface. The ride was a little jarring. I believe it offered a smoother, softer ride after noon. I did see some folks skiing South Face after the noon hour, but it was difficult to see how smooth and soft the conditions were from the chair.

Yesterday, Mark and a few of his friends headed over the High Traverse to ski CB Chute or Sun Bowl. They did not get to CB Chute because of areas vacant of snow, but they did ski Sun Bowl. I believe he reported his venture yesterday. The feedback I received from the group was that it was not really all that enjoyable. The surface was rough with a number of skier tracks running horizontal to the slope. Evidently, it was also somewhat soft in certain areas, with a crusty situation in other areas. It sounded like a challenge to me. I talked a friend into giving it a try just after noon. Was it fabulous? No, but the views were stunning in the bright sunshine.

Snow conditions varied from a smooth, spring-like surface to a firm, bumpy surface where previous skiers had pushed snow into piles, followed by a couple of soft powder turns in a shaded area. Some people claim that I like almost any condition, and that is true in many cases. Of course, I did not love the conditions in Big Bend and lower S.P. Bowl, but I did not find them to be offensive. Pick where you make your turns, and you may enjoy the ride more than if you fight the mountain.

I am guessing that the weekend will bring crowds to the slopes. Ski or ride with care. Terrain is limited for most people.

Enjoy your day,

Andy