Fresh Tracks for a Change

Snowfall is continuing this afternoon, adding a few inches of wet snow to the thin existing base. As of 2:15 pm, approximately 8.6 inches of snow have fallen at the base lodge area. I assume additional accumulation has built up at the top of the Summit lift. What a difference a day makes. Yesterday it was sunny and warm, and today it is cooler and snowing.

It felt good to be sitting on a chair with white flakes falling onto my clothing. The temperature was not particularly cold, and the snow was falling gently and quietly from low-hanging clouds. Visibility, especially on the upper mountain, was dismal at times. The low visibility did not stop people from riding to the top, but care was needed to avoid flying over firm moguls, causing a jolting, uncontrolled ride. Most people I spoke with today seemed very happy with the skiing, even though we have not had enough new snow to dissipate the icy conditions just under the surface.

With the exception of access to the crest of Wolverine Bowl, most of the Alpine Meadows slopes were open. Of course, the backside bowls were closed because Sherwood was closed due to a lack of snow. High Beaver and Estelle were also closed. I presume they were closed due to low visibility and avalanche danger. If you looked around as you rode any of the lifts this morning, you should have noticed many short natural slides. We spied many small crowns where snow had broken loose from steep rocky outcroppings. This condition was most prevalent in the Roundhouse Chair. Hard, icy slopes do not hold snow very well, so be careful out there when jumping off cliffs or wandering too far off the beaten path.

I enjoyed the first few runs in untracked powder, even though I could feel icy conditions underneath my skis. Skiing through forested conditions increased the visibility but also increased my chances of skiing over rocks, branches, and fallen trees. It is a little frightening skiing through the trees between Bobby’s Run and Standard Run because I know how thin the coverage is from skiing through these areas the past few days.

The top of TLC opened today, allowing travel through Sherwood Forest and other slopes attainable from the top of TLC. Scott Meadow, with its low angle, brought fresh tracks to the base of my skis, but it also brought unpleasant jolts to my back when crossing icy tracks made on previous days. Trails that were in good condition yesterday were in better condition today. Peril Ridge, D8, D7, and the Palisades (if you could see where you were going) were pretty sweet. I did take a run through D8, where soft snow met my feet. Gentian was on my mind, but I did not want to venture through one of my favorite runs alone. I have a feeling it was pretty enjoyable.

Tomorrow is a question mark, but snow will be falling, and winds that were not strong today will be blowing tomorrow. Skiing should be getting better each day for the foreseeable future.

The other day I mentioned that a section of trail between Yellow Trail and Hot Wheels Gully was named SKADI Hill.  Once again, the reason was that ski patrol used the area for avalanche rescue training. Below is a photo of a SKADI transceiver.

Enjoy your day,

Andy