Snowbird, April 1, 2009 !

Yesterday, April 1 at Snowbird was a red letter ski day for me.

The report said winds from 40-60 mph at the summit and only 1 inch overnight.

The road opened at 8:30. On the ticket windows were posted signs, "Black Ticket Day," warning that all runs were considered Black Diamond and that there was no grooming. And the inch was actually 1 foot. Temps were in single digits on the top. These conditions kept many skiers off the slopes.

My son and I were on an early tram to the top. The summit was frightful with howling winds and virtually no visibility. But as soon as we dropped right onto Regulator Johnson the visibility improved as we headed to the Gad Chutes. From the top to the bottom of the chair was untracked.

The whole day we ski light deep powder. Around noon I saw patrol working on the gate to Thunderbowl and a line forming. I jumped in and was number 5 in que and didn't have to break trail (arduous in the deep powder). The bowl was thigh deep and untracked. Every turn in the steep trees produced a slide and soon I was surfing in a sea of foaming powder.

During the day it snowed mostly until the afternoon, then there were periods of intense sun, whiteouts, snow, ripping winds, and periods of calm.

At 2:45 the big event was the opening of the Road to Provo which had been closed for a couple of days. We hi-tailed to the Little Cloud Chair and waited in the line (2 minutes) and joined the throngs headed across the very long traverse above the Gad Valley and below the massive American Fork Twin Peaks. Couple of tricky sections of exposed rock crossing a couple ribs up high. What a way to end the day!

Mineral Basin was somewhat disappointing in that the snow was heavier than on the other parts of the mountain.

A day to remember.

Pic 1: my son Pic 2: at noon there is still untracked powder everywhere and not another skier in sight! Pic 3: my son skiing down the Gad Valley

Digging those fatties your son is rocking! What's he skiing on?

Digging those fatties your son is rocking! What's he skiing on?

To my teenage son's chagrin, we have matching skis: 1080 guns.

Yesterday, Thursday we went to Alta. No new snow. I skied with my wife and took it easy--nursing my knee a bit--and saving it for the big event: the predicted foot plus of snow on Thursday night.

My son headed off on his own and did laps for freshies hiking up the Baldy Shoulder. 35 degrees at the base in the afternoon. Howling winds on the ridges caused whiteouts by blowing snow.

Friday and our last day to ski in Utah. The predicted snow did fall: 13 inches fell overnight and it is snowing now at Brighton with another 3 to 7 inches expected during the day with a base temperature of 28. Should be epic...

Back in Washington and ready for some spring skiing. Yesterday, Friday, at Brighton it was still dead on winter weather.

The mountain was covered with sugary snow that would fall through the fingers if you tried to pick up a handful. It snowed all day long and temperatures lowered as the day progressed. The snow retained the same wonderful consistency throughout the whole day. Thigh high powder was the norm.

Visibility and high winds were an issue at the higher elevations but managed a couple of runs down Mt Millicent's face and for the first time encountered the exit chutes filled with snow-- no icy side slipping required. Best though was the tree skiing, especially Hard Coin and Tantamount trees.

An incredible week in Utah. Six days of skiing and five powder days! I'm already dreaming about next winter and Utah skiing...it's going to be a long summer.

I think Brighton is a very under-appreciated mountaiin, and frankly I hope it stays that way!

Back in Washington and ready for some spring skiing. Yesterday, Friday, at Brighton it was still dead on winter weather.

The mountain was covered with sugary snow that would fall through the fingers if you tried to pick up a handful. It snowed all day long and temperatures lowered as the day progressed. The snow retained the same wonderful consistency throughout the whole day. Thigh high powder was the norm.

Visibility and high winds were an issue at the higher elevations but managed a couple of runs down Mt Millicent's face and for the first time encountered the exit chutes filled with snow-- no icy side slipping required. Best though was the tree skiing, especially Hard Coin and Tantamount trees.

An incredible week in Utah. Six days of skiing and five powder days! I'm already dreaming about next winter and Utah skiing...it's going to be a long summer.