December 19-20,2007 Stevens

We spent the evening parked in North Vancouver and were up early and on our way to Cypress Mt. to use one of our 10 freebies with the Snoqualmie Unlimited Plus pass.  At the access road about 12km from the area, an employee explained only the beginner lift would operate due to the high winds.  We did a u-turn and headed to Stevens.  Spent the last few hours of the day skiing cut up powder in a storm.  7th Heaven opened and seems to be filling in.  The Backside opens on Thursday.  We are spending the evening in the RV on the mountain.  I have experienced the opening of the Backside in previous years and want to again watch the craziness evolve once the rope is dropped.  I prefer to be just behind the first wave that identifies the location of rocks, stumps and natural hazards.  It's been snowing hard since our arrival at 2pm.  I luckily put on the chains. 

Zap,

gotta say you're my hero.

oftpiste, Thanks for the kind words.

Zap ,

Did I see you and a lady give up on the line at Tye Mill today? I thought I recognized you from a Hogsback/White Pass day this spring, but it was a little too Lord of the Flies crazy in there to get chatty! It was my third day in a row there so I didn't mind the wait, but when they started throwing snowballs at the lifties I got worried. It was DEEP back there, and a bit too crowded for me.

We bailed on the zoo back there and did laps frontside from the top of Double Diamond/ Southern Cross. Fantastic!

Jon

Jon,
Yes, that was Jill and I with our vibrant green Kalais skis.  We waited for 20 minutes then returned after the first wave descended the backside.  It certainly was deep on the back.  Knee deep snow with skiers and boarders partially buried everywhere.  We cycled on Jupiter for a while due to the enormous lines at Southern Cross.  We also returned to the frontside and enjoyed the cut up powder.  It snowed most of the day and I noticed another 4" on the van when we finished.  After 4 days of skiing, these old bones need a break. 

We have midweek passes at Stevens, perhaps we can make a few turns in the future.

You bet on the turns- I have a pass there too. I got a great deal on a nuclear red arcteryx jacket and I am generally the only randonee-booted snowboarder at stevens with a backpack. I will say hi.

Jon