Alpental - 01/17/2013

I wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. Foggy down low in the pass early, but Alpy was in the sunshine all day. Gorgeous views in every direction. Groomers were fast in the morning, the grooming crew did a great job on the lower mountain. I didn't venture up chair 2 until I was sure the sun had done some magic up there. Stoked to find they had also groomed some on the upper mountain. Edelwisse bowl was like Cinco de Mayo.  It was near 50 degrees by noon, excellent spring skiing. In fact, it turned out to be the best non powder day I have skied at Alpy. Upper Nash was frozen, but not too unpleasant. I went out the Nash gate and skinned up to Pineapple Pass to have a look at conditions that way. Snow quality in the BC is quite variable. In Great Scott Bowl I found some powder-like conditions in the most sheltered of aspects, maybe wind transported?. The ski out from Source Lake was unpleasantly firm.  Headed over to West at 4pm to carve up the fresh corduroy. Overall a great day.

Didn't you just love that temperature change about a third the way down Debbie's? Plus the breeze blowing through the saddle at the top of one smelled slightly marine. April in mid-January for sure.

I was expecting a nice warm picnic and got it!  Then over to West for some hero worship with Glen Plake, unknown to anyone under 30 yrs old I guess.  Dads getting their helmets autographed while the kids scratched their own heads wondering who?  Great spring skiing in the Edelweiss sun, hard snow with soft dusting on International, and calf massaging courderoy at West.  Excellent break from the fresh powder that we hope is returning soon!

vimeo.com/57707839

glad to see frank's pals showed up, he looked lonely there earlier.
bobby

How long does it take to get to Pineapple Pass from top of Chair 2? I've been wanting to do The Tooth with lift assisted access. Sadly I've never gone out Nash Gate, only Elevator, so can you describe the route as well or draw up a topo? Thanks.

go way out to pp up to pineapple pass cross cornii to east down a staircase around a corner below a south wall traversing west towards the tooth. don't be a daniel and end up circling malakwa lake.
easy
bobby