January 15, 2005, Alpental

Alpental is finally open!

rode it first chair<br><br>only the lower mountain open, and nothing out the cat track. Pretty cut up from all the backcountry use, but a few clean spots at the beginning of the day.<br><br>3 inches of very cold graupel on top of soft snow. Pretty much felt like riding in sand and should add yet another weird layer to the snowpack.<br><br>lots of bushes, rocks, stumps and contour.<br><br>fun enough if you have a pass but definitely not worth paying for yet.<br><br>

I think they want some skiers to pack it down before the rain next week . . .

I think you are right -- saw patrollers ski packing some areas, either that or they just can't ski very well this year