Day 45: Spring tan.
Today was a day of optimal weather and "sub-optimal" snow, as Marc_C put it. Despite the bright spring sunshine and blazing temperatures reaching 50 at the base most aspects never quite softened the way that I would have liked. Nonetheless it was a marvelous spring day in the Wasatch, and I've got a sunburned face to prove it.
Met up with the gang at GMD this morning: rfarren, his father Richard, Pat, Bobby Danger, Tele Jon and Skidog. After a few runs the latter three headed to Snowbird, while the rest of us stayed put. We never did bump into them when they returned to Alta later on.
The morning was filled with fast cruisers on Sugarloaf and Supreme as we waited for temperatures to warm. I was a bit underdressed, planning for later and things were a bit chilly. What to do when you're waiting for the sun to work its magic? Why, head for a latté under the sun on the Alta Java beach, of course!
After an exceptional grilled trout for lunch at Rustler Lodge, some aspects finally did begin to soften. We tried Backside, finding the latter not quite ready even though the Yellow Trail lead-in was, so we went back for a full-length Yellow Trail...
...and a Left Ventricle, both of which were softened nicely. Power Pole Hill yielded absolutely perfect untracked corn, while the Garage Aspens were a bit past their prime. A late effort into West Rustler, unfortunately, yielded not-quite-corn, so rfarren still has yet to ski a High Boy. Shaded northerly aspects like Harold's and Armpit still held soft chalk so that's where we wrapped up our ski day.
rfarren and his father were perfectly pleased by the snow, but the jaded locals weren't, a point that was discussed at length over après-ski beers at the Rustler. It felt wonderful, however, just to be out there on such a beautiful day.
Today was a day of optimal weather and "sub-optimal" snow, as Marc_C put it. Despite the bright spring sunshine and blazing temperatures reaching 50 at the base most aspects never quite softened the way that I would have liked. Nonetheless it was a marvelous spring day in the Wasatch, and I've got a sunburned face to prove it.
Met up with the gang at GMD this morning: rfarren, his father Richard, Pat, Bobby Danger, Tele Jon and Skidog. After a few runs the latter three headed to Snowbird, while the rest of us stayed put. We never did bump into them when they returned to Alta later on.
The morning was filled with fast cruisers on Sugarloaf and Supreme as we waited for temperatures to warm. I was a bit underdressed, planning for later and things were a bit chilly. What to do when you're waiting for the sun to work its magic? Why, head for a latté under the sun on the Alta Java beach, of course!
After an exceptional grilled trout for lunch at Rustler Lodge, some aspects finally did begin to soften. We tried Backside, finding the latter not quite ready even though the Yellow Trail lead-in was, so we went back for a full-length Yellow Trail...
...and a Left Ventricle, both of which were softened nicely. Power Pole Hill yielded absolutely perfect untracked corn, while the Garage Aspens were a bit past their prime. A late effort into West Rustler, unfortunately, yielded not-quite-corn, so rfarren still has yet to ski a High Boy. Shaded northerly aspects like Harold's and Armpit still held soft chalk so that's where we wrapped up our ski day.
rfarren and his father were perfectly pleased by the snow, but the jaded locals weren't, a point that was discussed at length over après-ski beers at the Rustler. It felt wonderful, however, just to be out there on such a beautiful day.
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