Bumpers in Utah

[indiggio]

After a late departure but early arrival on Saturday, we all got settled into a well-apportioned house in Cottonwood Heights and prepared to hit the slopes.

The weather has been very dry out here the past couple of weeks, but the mountains still have a ton of snow from earlier in the season.  The forecast originally had some snow overnight Saturday into Sunday, but then shifted to fall during the day Sunday.  Being the weekend, we decided our best bet, with the promised snow, would be to hit Solitude Instead of anything in LCC.

Arose to a dusting of snow at the house and it still snowing while loading the cars.  Outta the house & 7:30 and already there was a conga line headed to LCC coming up against us. Into BCC we fought up to only a few cars, mainly going slow because of the falling snow.

Parked in the Moonbeam base instead of up in the village which turned out perfect since we got baller front-row parking.  

Took the express quad out and cruised some 3-4” of wonderful perder down to the Eagle express.  Took a lap in the Eagle just to get loose and then headed out in the Powderhorn.  From that point on, the day was a blur. 

A number of laps on the Apex to the Summit.  Off the Summit we made our way down through Headwall Forest that had very nice snow and well spaced trees. 

By lunchtime anywhere between 8-10” had fallen and continued to snow.  Afternoon was spent lapping the Honeycomb Canyon area where you could traverse across and drop in at your heart’s content.

Skied till about 2:30 which was plenty, as the legs were pretty wobbly by then.

Having many cooks on the trip makes for delicious home-made dinners.  On tap tonight was salad, tomato mozzarella salad appetizers, pasta w/ sausage and bread. 

It’s good we got some snow today because the rest of the week looks bluebird but cold.  With the snow yesterday and bluebird today, we’re planning on hitting Snowbird tomorrow.
 

Heading up BCC

 

Prime parking

Honeycomb Canyon

 

Still snowing

 

Mealtime

 

Nice digs

[JFskiDan]

Headwall and Evergreen were my favs at Solitude.  I also remember Parachute being really gnarly.  

[mbike-ski]

Nice, lots of fun stuff in Honeycomb

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice report so far..how many people are in your group?

[indiggio]

13 hours ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Nice report so far..how many people are in your group?

8

[indiggio]

Monday - Snowbird

After the snow yesterday and a forecasted bluebird day today, my limited Utah skiing experience indicate that Snowbird would be where to go today and the Bird didn’t disappoint!

With snow falling while in the hot tub last night in Cottonwood Heights, the mountains were sure to have picked up some extra after yesterday’s close, so the plan was to get there early, take the tram and head right to Mineral Basin.  The plan worked perfectly.  Mineral basin had a good 10-12” of fresh powder.  Made the traverse around and dropped into some wonderful Utah perder.

Since the crowds were hustling back up Mineral Basin to repeat, we went off to the empty Baldy lift and found a ton of untouched that we rapidly devoured for our own.  It sure didn’t take long for everyone to fill the basin, so we vacated.

With a bit of luck, just as we got to the top of Mineral Basin lift they dropped the rope on Road to Provo, so we headed out there.  We dropped in to some wonderful soft snow.  Most went straight down, but Drew & I traversed across to a ridge line to Shot 41.  Standing at the top with some others who decided it was too much, Drew & I dropped into thigh deep blower which was easily the run of the day.  The rest of the morning we hung out in the trees off Gad 2 lift, funding all sorts of untouched goodness.

After lunch at the Mid Gad, we made our way down to and up the Gadzoom lift.  From the top, we made our way across the mountain to the Peruvian lift.  Up the Peruvian and into the tunnel since some in the group had never gone through it.

Down into Mineral Basin again and back up and then out the Baldy Traverse.  Dropped into one of the chutes off that to find more goods.  On the way down to make another lap, cruising a high-speed groomer, the son caught and edge and had a spectacular fall.  A bit of blood and a scratch to the nose was the only injury to him, however his ski binder didn’t fare as well, as he managed to break the metal plate to which the heel piece attaches.  It’s apres time!

After dropping off all the stuff, headed to a nearby ski shop for rentals.  There’s always one in the crowd!

Heading up LCC 

 

A beautiful day on tap

 

Subaru VIP parking

 

Tram line

 

Lunchtime view 

 

Salt Lake City

 

At least no leg injuries!

Don’t touch the stick!!

Grilled chicken dinner

[RidgeRacer]

Hell yeah! I was lucky enough to be on hidden peak for rope drop on road to provo my first time there. Won't forget that run.

[JFskiDan]

Mid Gad is my fav place to stop mid day on a bluebird day.  the view is just awesome.  The view doesnt suck from the new place at the top of the tram either.  

@Ski2Live Live2Ski See what pictures can do to a trip report?  

[mbike-ski]

Nice! My day at 'bird was a bust a few years ago, need to get back

[guitar73]

15 hours ago, indiggio said:

Don’t touch the stick!!

 

 

that boulder always gives me the creeps. you'd think UDOT would do something about that, lol.

[theprogram4]

it always amazed me the access roads to LCC and BCC have almost no guard rails...hit a slick spot and die going over a cliff smh

[toast21602]

35 minutes ago, theprogram4 said:

it always amazed me the access roads to LCC and BCC have almost no guard rails...hit a slick spot and die going over a cliff smh

No kidding. I’ve been on some very scary drives on those roads in snow. 

[indiggio]

3 hours ago, guitar73 said:

that boulder always gives me the creeps. you'd think UDOT would do something about that, lol.

They did, they put the stick there to hold it back!

[indiggio]

3 hours ago, theprogram4 said:

it always amazed me the access roads to LCC and BCC have almost no guard rails...hit a slick spot and die going over a cliff smh

They’re gone in slide areas, we all commented today.  Guess they don’t want to bother to keep replacing them.

[indiggio]

Tuesday - Alta

Another bluebird day in the forecast and I’m a bit frightened of what the conditions at Alta are gonna be after a day of baking in yesterday’s sun.

Since I’ve been here a few times before, I was designated tour guide, a responsibility I really didn’t want, but took on anyway.

Drparted the house around 7:30 and up the LCC we went.  As we approached Snowbird, we had to stop due to a fire truck blocking the road and smoke billowing from the area, but the smoke was white, so it must be steam.  They finally let us pass to fina a 4-banger burnt to the ground and firefighters hosing it down.

Arrived at the lot and managed VIP parking again because of our HOV.  The temps were in the mid 20’s, which made it hard to decide on layers, but decided to drop the mid layer based in the forecast.

In the house was Slim, Drew, Mike, Donny, Rick, Rick’s girlfriend Anna, my son Erich and yours truly.  The kid & I booted up in the lot as usual, while the others went into the Gold Miner’s daughter.

Clouds obscured Mount Superior and the upper ridge of Alta.  Great!  First no snow and now clouds.  It was also quiet in line with no avy charges going off, sigh.

Waiting in like for the lift, they made an announcement that they received an update overnight and would everyone please go to the gates to have their passes checked.  A murmur in the crowd of “Probably Ikon” was heard.

After a brief delay we were on the Collins lift, with everything above socked in.  I made the executive decision to head out to Catherine’s to check it out.

At the top of Catherine’s we found the area closed! WTF??  From the looks of it from the lift, there’s no reason it should be closed, geez!  Maybe they were working on it?  Decided on a warm-up lap and back up to see.  In the way down, BOOM, an avy charge went off!  That’s promising!

Lapped the Supreme lift and ran into some other Blue Mountain regulars, so we skied with them.

Since Catherine’s was closed, we bailed to the Sugarloaf lift. I chatted up a tele-skier ahead who had on some Sick Days.  The liftie told him something just opened and they meet Defoe a run.  Trying to get the deets, I asked the liftie if it was Catharine’s, but he said no, Castle! What?  Devil’s Castle rope had just dropped?!?!  Told the others that all the times I’ve been to Alta, Devil’s had not been opened and I was going, least of all right after a rope drop!

Top of Sugarloaf the wind was howling, snow was blowing and clouds abound, but people were already piling up the traverse to the Castle.  After a bit of “Are you going?”, a few decided against, but I, along with a few others started the hike.

After a ton of side stepping and yes, more traversing (it is ALTA after all), we got to the Castle and dripped in on easily a foot or more of perder.  We traversed across and each found a corridor of untouched snow and tore it up.  Definitely the run of the day and made up for all the closed areas!!  Too bad for those that didn’t test their will for the goods!

After lunch at Alf’s, we rode up the Sugarloaf again and broke with the other Blue regulars.  We headed around and back to the main area.

Clouds still socked in most of the peaks, so knowing that Ballroom, below Baldy, can sometimes be clear, I suggested we head out there.  Across the traverse (getting the gist yet?) and navigating a few bones, we dropped into Harrold’s that still held some wonderful snow.

Off to Wildcat area to hit some tree runs.  Rand into some kids hucking a jump and had some fun with them.  Decided it was time to initiate a few in the group with the tow rope between bases.  Up the Collins and down to Albion, forcing them the drudgery that is the tow rope lift.

At this point the clouds broke and decided it was the perfect time for the (yes) High Traverse.  Took the HT out to the end and crossed over the ridge and down into High Greely.

After dropping a few hundred feet, I told everyone to stay on a high (again) traverse over to the end of the ridge.  From there we dropped into Eagle’s Nest, Hourglass chute, Regal Chute, Rustler Four and Lower Rustler and down to the base.

At this point my legs had had enough and was ready for beer(s).  Decided to take the shuttle over to the Peruvian to show one of the guys the place and get a drink at the P-Dog, but it didn’t open until 3:30, so we checked the place out and headed bAck to the Gold Miner’s daughter for beers on the patio to complete yet another great day of skiing in Utah!
 

Must be in the front row!

Alta from GMD

 

As seen on a lift chair ( Just for @GrilledSteezeSandwich)

 

Smiles galore after skiing Devil’s Caslte

 

Reppin’ Blue in Utah!

 

And tagging it too!

 

Another delicious dinner

[toast21602]

Nice! I’m waiting for pics of these epic powder runs you speak of

[mbike-ski]

What did E ski?

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice report. Maybe an action shot or video today???  Looks like a hard drinking hard partying crew lol

[GSSucks]

7 hours ago, indiggio said:

(it is ALTA after all), 

Another Long Traverse Ahead

[guitar73]

jelly....

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

21 minutes ago, guitar73 said:

jelly....

Are you going anywhere out west this season?

[indiggio]

17 hours ago, toast21602 said:

Nice! I’m waiting for pics of these epic powder runs you speak of

Nobody wants to stop to take pics of them.

[indiggio]

15 hours ago, mbike-ski said:

What did E ski?

Ended up renting a pair of Blizzards for him.

[indiggio]

Wednesday - Deer Valley

Yet another bluebird day on tap.  Wow it’s been dry out here lately, and so we’re off to groomer Nirvana!

Departed the house a bit before 7am and arrived at Deer Valley somewhere near 7:40 and pulled into public parking lot 4.  A talk w/ the attendant, we found that lot 1 is open and free, so we pulled into baller parking in the front row!

The kid & I parking lot booted while the others went inside to make use of the facilities.  Hope they don’t kick me out because of my rip-seen jacket and hand-sewn gloves.  With all the women dressed to the Ts, I feel the need to lay low.

Up the Silver Lake Express and its already starting to feel warm.  Up the Sterling Express and we get the views of the groomers.  Well, they do look good, but don’t look as good as the pictures.  WTF?

Off the lift, we head down Birdseye and quickly overtake the few people on the chairs ahead of us and put the pedal down. Now this is some spectacularly groomed snow that is totally grippy and fast, wow!  We repeated the fun down Nabob.

Next up was another high-speed cruiser Wizard that had some nice drops like Falls, but had dark sections forcing speed checks.

Up the Wasatch Express we heard the Jerry quote of the day.  A women had fallen and lost both skis and slid a few hundred feet down Wizard.  One person stopped to pick up the lower ski, while another picked up the upper ski and then proceeded to ask the lower person if “he should bring it down”?

We ran into the other Blue crew and skied the Triangle trees with them.  We headed to the Silver Lake lodge for lunch, where I had the best white chocolate chip cookie ever, mainly because it was from Deer Valley.

After lunch we headed to Empire peak to check out the bowls and chutes. To get to the chutes you had to take a wi Jed whoop-de-dood traverse through the woods that was littered with skiers who had fallen.  Pretty ugly, kinda like the entrance to the Hobacks at times.

The rest of the afternoon was spent noodling around the woods in Lady Morgan area, looking for untouched stashes.
 

At the base 

 

The funicular

Scenic views

Bottom of Mayflower Chutes

Lunchtime view

 

Pasta & sausage dinner

[AtomicSkier]

Did someone say funicular?! @toast21602