Utah, March 31, 2008

While Crystal skiers were knee deep on Saturday we were en route to Salt Lake City.

Sunday at Snowbird was a pow day with 8 inches of very light snow on hard ice.

Yesterday, Monday morning we awoke to the city blanketed in snow. We headed to Alta were there was 8 inches of over night powder (on top of the previous snow) and brutally cold temperatures (1 degree at the top) and high winds on the upper parts. The sun was out in the afternoon and though the powder was quickly tracked and much terrain remained unopened (e.g., ballroom, castle, most gates) it was a wonderful day.

I was still able to get a first track at 2 pm.

At the end of the day I received a cell call from Team Wally who informed me that he too is in SLC. In fact, he's staying 2 doors down from us. Today we're again looking at brutal temps in the single digits but sunshine, hopefully, later. My son and I are off to the Bird while Wally and his and my spouse head to Brighton.

A pow day at Alta cannot be beat! Just gotta suck up the cold though.

A pow day at Alta cannot be beat! Just gotta suck up the cold though.

Suck it up we did. Until about 1:30 on Tuesday, Snowbird was bluebird. Cold and lots of powder and the skied powder was soft and light. By the late afternoon it got warmer and cloudy. The snow got pretty heavy and then a breakable crust formed as the temperature lowered and it started snowing with compromised visibility. However the groomers, moguls, and gulleys remained heavenly.

A trip to the Mineral Valley was hateful with funky chunky wet snow and ice

Wednesday and the fam and team wally and spouse are heading to Alta.

Here's a shot of me heading down Thunder Basin which had just opened.

The saga continues, our man KH and crew hit Alta, 'bird and next Brighton on the first good snow days of the past month. Ripped up the little easy stashes at Alta early today then moved up to big boy territory with some sketchy chutes and rock bands on Supreme. Amazing how light and dry this squeaky utard snow is. Also amazing how quickly it gets scrapped off. No offense intended but the non snowboard bumps at Alta are indeed different than at most open minded resorts. NEWS FLASH snowbird may stay open till July 4th PSA
Should be the ticket for easy turns after Crystal melts down on the 13th

Hurry up! That powder's not going to ski itself.

Yeah it was a great day. Here's a pic of my son Christian and a pic of Team Wally getting freshies on West Rustler in the morning. Off to Brighton today.

I plan to ski in Utah (likely Alta) for the first time on April 19. I am glad to hear that there should still be snow for me then. We are going to continue on to Arizona to photograph desert flowers; if I'm really lucky I will get to ski some more on the return trip.