Alpental 11/24

author=arcticcat2 link=topic=18116.msg76614#msg76614 date=1290660303]
Made it to gun mount, and The snow was cracking 12" long and 12" deep from the tip of my ski as I skinned.  One the way down was really good powder skiing didn't hit any rocks or sticks.

Are you kidding? I skied that day from the main parking lot at Alpental Resort (the furthest access rd is still closed), up to Source Lake and the bench at 4500' below Chair Peak's ridge. There are rocks everywhere and the resort was still closed with brush alder showing on all runs. Get it right.

Just to add to the Alpental reports... friends had skied Lower I below the cliffs on the 20th and reported deep blower conditions (mixed with rock and foliage.) I was skeptical but went up there Sunday the 21st and I used the skin track from the party who went up upper Nash on the 20th and posted a TR. It was hard to follow as there was new snow but it was still very helpful.  Broke my own rule “don’t tour past good snow” by leaving Nash and touring out to Piss Pass--getting there from Nash took at least 30-40 minutes with all the rocks and undulations. We dropped the chute skiers right but the creek gully was not filled in and it did not go, and due to the later hour was worried about getting stuck in the dark. Oh well, we skinned all the way back up and back to Nash and skied it and Lower I. It was really good. Below the cliffs was thigh deep and I personally did not hit any rocks but I snagged some alder and took a header.

Wed the 24th was cold (7-10 degrees) and there was more snow and it had consolidated greatly. Met Gib in the parking lot and he was very gracious with info and a super ambassador for Alpental. He gave us the beta and the green light and we toured up Chair 1 and 2 with some other parties. The skiing was smooth and excellent all the way to the lodge—the ski area is surprisingly filled in. This is a great start to the season.

author=rockme2 link=topic=18116.msg76776#msg76776 date=1290914426]
Are you kidding? I skied that day from the main parking lot at Alpental Resort (the furthest access rd is still closed), up to Source Lake and the bench at 4500' below Chair Peak's ridge. There are rocks everywhere and the resort was still closed with brush alder showing on all runs. Get it right.

No need to be a hater. Gun Mount is at but about 5K and at a different aspect from where you were at. I also skied up towards Chair Peak Basin that day. You are welcome for the skin track up from Source Lake towards Chair. Just to add to Aaron’s comments on the conditions:  Went back on Thanksgiving with a friend and skied from the ridge above Chair Peak Basin. The ski down to Snow Lake from the base of the NE buttress of Chair did not look very inviting so we opted to skip it. It's defiantly skiable but we felt it still needs a couple feet or so.  I did notice some cracking on the top few inches of unconsolidated snow that fell overnight on southern aspects but resulted in noting significant.

author=rockme2 link=topic=18116.msg76776#msg76776 date=1290914426]
Are you kidding? I skied that day from the main parking lot at Alpental Resort (the furthest access rd is still closed), up to Source Lake and the bench at 4500' below Chair Peak's ridge. There are rocks everywhere and the resort was still closed with brush alder showing on all runs. Get it right.

Sounds like someone is a little bitter.  Seriously....  Maybe someone should make better early season choices.  Get it right.