An interesting day, but definitely a challenge with conditions. Almost everything had softened yesterday, and it was nearly all overcast with some light snow predicted for the afternoon. Therefore in early morning the groomers were firm and anything off-piste was a coral reef. Once again altitude (with some wind assist) rules in spring and the contrast in snow surfaces vs. A-Basin was as great as Deer Valley vs. Snowbird last week.
Our group thus started with groomers. Somehow I had overlooked the winding, varied pitch of Gandy Dancer on my previous visits. A fun trail, but as it drops north off Riva Ridge and was shaded it was not encouraging to see hardpack there. Nonetheless I was eager to see Blue Sky Basin as it had been closed my previous 2 days at Vail. There was no wind and it was not that cold, so we made it over to the Skyline Chair (being careful to use the groomed Yonder and Poppyfields on the way), unloading about 10:45. Views of Blue Sky Basin from Two Elk, note the partial overcast.
There we met a group led by Vail instructor Rick, who had posted online that he would lead a bell-to-bell, no-lunch tour starting at 8:30 sharp from Lionshead. I didn't think I should be doing this, but I asked him if there was any winter snow left at Vail. He said the "Steep and Deep" trees were still dry, so I decided to try that. The snow in there was good and terrain similar to Snowbird's Gad 2 trees. But on my own I ended up on the frozen runout from hell below the steeps. When I got back to Skyline I was only 2 chairs behind Rick's group, so I decided to tag along as long as I could keep up. This turned out to be for 3 hours. We skied Champagne Glades to Earl's Express, then another Steep and Deep.
We regrouped and Rick led us to an easier traverse exit.
We took a run on Pete's Express, probably Hornsilver. This was similar to the Champagne glades, a bumpy ride on just partially softened snow through intermediate pitched trees. The snow conditions made it a challenging test, and I was generally the slowest skier in the group, but typically by only half a minute or so. By noon the overcast was 100% and thicker so we moved to the front side. Rick headed for Highline, one of Vail's signature mogul runs (another good joegm destination). I have never skied a long mogul run like that with as much hardpack, but I managed to survive OK. I guess being on my 48th day of the season makes such challenges easier than in pre-retirement years. Here's Rick on Highline.
And Lisa from Castle, where you probably never see moguls like these.
Looking down the lower section of Highline.
Now it began to snow, but very lightly so it would not change snow surfaces as on Sunday. On the way to Chair 11 Rick diverted into Hairbag Alley. This is a roller coaster gully like Upper Black Forest or Snake Pit, though at least as long as those 2 runs combined. Next were Riva Glades, similar to those in Blue Sky in terms of pitch and crunchy snow. Next we moved to Mid-Vail, on the way back to the Lionshead side. Naturally this was via the Skipper and Look Ma moguls. It was now 1:45PM and I arrived at Mid-Vail slightly light-headed. I took this as a sign that I should leave Rick's group and get some lunch. At any rate it was an enjoyable insider's tour that included only one run (Highline) that I had skied in 12 previous days at Vail.
After a 45 minute lunch break I confined myself to cruisers for the last hour. I ran into one of the other groups in Game Creek Bowl, then skied to Vail Village via Avanti and Bear Tree. Total 25,700 vertical for the day.
Our group thus started with groomers. Somehow I had overlooked the winding, varied pitch of Gandy Dancer on my previous visits. A fun trail, but as it drops north off Riva Ridge and was shaded it was not encouraging to see hardpack there. Nonetheless I was eager to see Blue Sky Basin as it had been closed my previous 2 days at Vail. There was no wind and it was not that cold, so we made it over to the Skyline Chair (being careful to use the groomed Yonder and Poppyfields on the way), unloading about 10:45. Views of Blue Sky Basin from Two Elk, note the partial overcast.
There we met a group led by Vail instructor Rick, who had posted online that he would lead a bell-to-bell, no-lunch tour starting at 8:30 sharp from Lionshead. I didn't think I should be doing this, but I asked him if there was any winter snow left at Vail. He said the "Steep and Deep" trees were still dry, so I decided to try that. The snow in there was good and terrain similar to Snowbird's Gad 2 trees. But on my own I ended up on the frozen runout from hell below the steeps. When I got back to Skyline I was only 2 chairs behind Rick's group, so I decided to tag along as long as I could keep up. This turned out to be for 3 hours. We skied Champagne Glades to Earl's Express, then another Steep and Deep.
We regrouped and Rick led us to an easier traverse exit.
We took a run on Pete's Express, probably Hornsilver. This was similar to the Champagne glades, a bumpy ride on just partially softened snow through intermediate pitched trees. The snow conditions made it a challenging test, and I was generally the slowest skier in the group, but typically by only half a minute or so. By noon the overcast was 100% and thicker so we moved to the front side. Rick headed for Highline, one of Vail's signature mogul runs (another good joegm destination). I have never skied a long mogul run like that with as much hardpack, but I managed to survive OK. I guess being on my 48th day of the season makes such challenges easier than in pre-retirement years. Here's Rick on Highline.
And Lisa from Castle, where you probably never see moguls like these.
Looking down the lower section of Highline.
Now it began to snow, but very lightly so it would not change snow surfaces as on Sunday. On the way to Chair 11 Rick diverted into Hairbag Alley. This is a roller coaster gully like Upper Black Forest or Snake Pit, though at least as long as those 2 runs combined. Next were Riva Glades, similar to those in Blue Sky in terms of pitch and crunchy snow. Next we moved to Mid-Vail, on the way back to the Lionshead side. Naturally this was via the Skipper and Look Ma moguls. It was now 1:45PM and I arrived at Mid-Vail slightly light-headed. I took this as a sign that I should leave Rick's group and get some lunch. At any rate it was an enjoyable insider's tour that included only one run (Highline) that I had skied in 12 previous days at Vail.
After a 45 minute lunch break I confined myself to cruisers for the last hour. I ran into one of the other groups in Game Creek Bowl, then skied to Vail Village via Avanti and Bear Tree. Total 25,700 vertical for the day.
