November 5-6, 2005, Bullion Basin etc...

Saturday:

It was deep.  There were probably about 20 people in the Basin, in addtion to gregm and me.  Coverage was great, never hit a rock or bush all day long.  Stability seemed pretty good, no real layers except for an ice crust about 2.5 feet down (south-facing slope).  We could hear the wind on the ridgetops, but in the Basin itself the snow was not wind-affected.  I heard a skier complain the snow was heavy, but I didn't think it was - she must not have been from around here :-)  Or maybe my snowboard made it seem lighter than it was?

Runs 1 and 2 were great.  It started snowing a little more.  Run 3 was totally epic - face shot every turn, couldn't breathe, couldn't see... that's how I like it :-)  Runs 4 and 5 were more of the same - in the whiteroom all the way down, gasping for breath (is it really only November 5?).  Although so much new snow had fallen by the last run that Greg (on skis that were not too fat) started to get bogged down.

It was puking when we left - getting changed at the parking lot was a chore - howling wind, snow accumulating inside the car, etc...

Sunday:
A very different kind of day, but just as fun.  No more over-the-head faceshots, but much nicer weather (sunbreaks), a bigger group (5 of us), and just really pleasant out.  Unfortunately the snow had changed dramatically, and there was about a foot of fairly dense stuff on top of the lighter snow.  For about 20 yards, the skin track up was covered with avalanche debris from overnight.  Up in the basin, we started to go up the same south-facing slopes as we were on the day before, but it was clear stability was an issue.  The top foot was fracturing and sliding quite easily on switchbacks.

We made a short run, and headed to the other side of the valley, and over the ridge top.  The northeast-facing slopes were totally wind-hammered.  South-east was fine, except for the slabby dense top of the snow (caused by warm dense snowfall I think, not wind).  I think Mica and I heard some of the skiers complain about their skis getting caught under the denser snow, I don't know what that was about  ;).  On a board it was just beautiful surfing down punchy snow.  We made two fantastic runs - not quite face-shot material (except unintentionally) but the visibility was good.  We took care around any steep/convex slopes.  Looks like other folks were being careful too - the slopes everyone yoyo'd the day before had nary a track down them today.

Getting changed at the car was very pleasant :-)

I can't say how nice it is, in early November, to step off your skis/board, and sink to your waist  ;D
(Sam it looks like your ski burning paid off)