Utah update, January 29. 2010

Monday, January 25: to Snowbird. Very crowded as a trade show was happening and participants received half price tickets, plus a snowboard competition was taking place. 45 minute tram lines. No new snow and everything was tracked, chopped, or bumped. Watched as ski patrol worked on Mineral Basin for Tuesday opening.

Tuesday: to Alta. 6 inches of sugar snow on bumps. Whiteout and fog by 1 PM. Mostly tracked but some powder patches to be found.

Wednesday: back to Snowbird and normal weekday numbers.  Huge bumps, thigh high in places. Snowing in earnest by 2 . Fog and visibility issues.

Thursday: bluebird day at the 'Bird.  4 inches of new over the packed. Immaculate grooming. Patrol working to open Road to Provo for Friday. Snow was heavy and thick by Utah standards in Mineral but remained light and fluffy in the shade.

In general, the cold temperatures all week kept the snow mostly light and easy to push around. Did not ski on ice at all.

Much of the terrain at the Bird and Alta was closed due to the severe avalanche danger. Huge slabs were visible all over the resorts. There were 2 avalanche deaths this week, one at Snowbasin in a closed area, and one close to Solitude. Plus there were a couple avalanche  incidents with patrollers.

Off to Brighton today for more bluebird skiing. Tomorrow I head to Big Sky, a couple rest days, and hopefully new snow to ski on in Montana on Monday.

Picture 1: the tram at the Bird. The tram is something of a hassle and buying a tram ticket is not really necessary. There were skiers climbing the mountains shown on the other side of the valley despite the very high avi danger
Picture 2: looking across the valley
Picture 3: the High Baldy Traverse is on the left ridge, Mineral Basin is on the right. The tunnel to Mineral is barely visible close to the top of the Peruvian Express Chair below

These are difficult times in the PNW.  Last Sunday's storm cycle provided a bit of nurishment for those of us with a powder addiction. But we're back in the "dry and warm cycle".  Jill is trying to convince me that checking the weather forecasts numerous times an hour is a bit troubling.  Thanks for sharing the sunshine and powder images.  Hopefully, Big Sky will be as rewarding as the Wasatch.   :'(

Keith,

Dave forwarded me the following link to the avalanche death near Solitude.

utahavalanchecenter.org/accident_meadows_1272010

The avy report with photos by Bruce Tremper were interesting. It required saws to clear debris to reach the victim. 

A few years ago, Jill and I toured to the top of that same slope.  We approached from the treed ridge "lookers right".  I remember standing at the top and the sun warming the slope and deciding to backoff and not ski the slope.  We skied our climbing route in a more northly aspect in boot deep powder. 

Thanks for the link. A very detailed and informative report.

The allure of powder is so strong. On Thursday, the day after this death,  I rode up the Milli Chair with an ancient ski patrollor and we watched skiers who had hiked from Alta come down Twin Lakes Pass. He said it was "just crazy" in light of the avalanche danger and the slope they were on.