April 8, 2010 Alpental

We just returned from Whistler late on Wednesdayand it was pouring along the I-5 corridor from the border to Marysville. I dragged myself out of bed and saw the ski reports that were very encouraging everywhere but Alpental.  The 5am report was 1" new and 32 degrees BUT then I looked at the radar screen and webcam at The Pass.  Oyeah, the masses weren't going to Alpental.  There was too much new at Baker, Stevens and Crystal.  At 8:45 there were 5 vehicles in the upper parking lot near the restroom. There was about 5" new in the parking lot.  Armstrong had no lines and and I heard the first "bark" of the morning.  A few more "yahoos" during the ride and it's snowing hard.  3 untracked runs and everyone's wearing a smile.  At 9:30 chair 2 is loading and there are 4 folks ahead of me. There's 8-12" new on top and for the next 7 runs I only cross a track while getting on and off the chair.  I rode up with another TAY'er"Matt" and we exchanged the "powder grin".  I had only 2 hours to play until I had a physical therapy appointment but it was a wonderful 2 hours of powder.  The snow continued during my brief visit and there were no lift lines at all.  The backcountry gates were closed when I left at 11am. The coverage is excellent.  It was strange to return to the car and find only 15 vehicles in the upper lot.  When I got on I-90, I saw that the eastbound lanes were closed for awhile due to vehicles blocking the roadway.  I walked into the physical therapy office with a BIG POWDER SMILE.   

Good to meet you on the lift Zap. Have fun in the Sierra! Snakedance and Elevator gate opened about noon for more freshies. Good skiing.

we seem to be cosmically in sync. It was a great morning.

At about 9 there was some kind of fracas at the botom of the quad. Anyone know what was going on?

Today was easily my best day at alpy.

With the wind refilling lines and the occasional sucker hole of sun and skiing right on to the lift.  Doesn't get much better.  What month is it again??

Thanks for the Janak's Zap.  Great meeting you this afternoon.

Was on first chair, felt very lucky to be at Alpental today. If you don't go, you don't know.

One of the few there as well on Thursday. It was so seriously epic. Best lift served in my life, so I timed it right for the 1st time.

The lift fiasco was something about some guy did not have his pass on him and ther older lifty (Kim) was giving him a hard time and then they tried to take his board away from him. Not cool, not sure why or what the story was.

Runs of the day: Breakover, shot six and elevator shaft