Due to flight cancellations, delays, and diversions, I finally reached Aspen around 11:15 last night. Then I waited 45 minutes for them to unload our bags from the bus (flight was diverted to Grand Junction), but my ski bag was nowhere to be found. It took at least an hour to file a lost baggage claim, so as a result I got about 5 hours of sleep and had to get skis in the morning before skiing.
I ended up demoing Atomic Automatics, which I like less than my normal Moment Bibby Pros, but were good for the conditions. I met a friendly local on the first lift up who showed me around through the trees down to the Deep Temerity lift. I have no idea what run we took (or if it was even a named run), but there was about 5 inches of snow on top of a fairly soft base. It's great terrain over there: nice steep, long runs. I took another run on Deep Temerity and then started lapping cruisers on the Loge Peak lift waiting for Highlands Bowl to open. The wind had clearly increased the avalanche hazard, and it took until about 10:30am to open the bowl.
I timed the opening really well but didn't know the procedure so I missed out on the first snowcat. Instead, I was one of the first people to begin the hike from the bottom. I made pretty good time on the hike but definitely felt my lack of sleep and acclimatization. I passed a few people, got passed by others (particularly people who had packs to carry their skis--I didn't), and was probably about the 15th person to get to the top. I didn't time it, but I'd guess it took me a bit under 25 minutes.
Much of the bowl was wind affected, but I ended up getting the first non-patrol line down White Kitchen or Steep and Deep (I'm not sure which one) and skied foot-deep untracked pow all the way down. Probably one of the best runs I've ever had, so I immediately headed back for a second lap. This one really killed me and and after skiing a choppy G-2 (the hordes descended after my first run), I was completely exhausted and took a long lunch break. The second lap was probably one too many and I had no energy all afternoon, so I stuck to mostly groomers and low-angle moguls.
I'm definitely a big fan of Highlands. It was incredibly uncrowded for a bluebird powder Saturday, was easy to navigate, and has some legitimately great terrain. The steeps have longer fall lines than at Mammoth.
Tomorrow will be Ajax as I have a flight in the afternoon and logistics-wise, Ajax is the easiest for that. However, there is 4-8 inches of snow expected during the day tomorrow, so I'm hopeful my flight will get cancelled and I'll be able to ski another day on Monday (which will likely also be Ajax for the convenience)!
I ended up demoing Atomic Automatics, which I like less than my normal Moment Bibby Pros, but were good for the conditions. I met a friendly local on the first lift up who showed me around through the trees down to the Deep Temerity lift. I have no idea what run we took (or if it was even a named run), but there was about 5 inches of snow on top of a fairly soft base. It's great terrain over there: nice steep, long runs. I took another run on Deep Temerity and then started lapping cruisers on the Loge Peak lift waiting for Highlands Bowl to open. The wind had clearly increased the avalanche hazard, and it took until about 10:30am to open the bowl.
I timed the opening really well but didn't know the procedure so I missed out on the first snowcat. Instead, I was one of the first people to begin the hike from the bottom. I made pretty good time on the hike but definitely felt my lack of sleep and acclimatization. I passed a few people, got passed by others (particularly people who had packs to carry their skis--I didn't), and was probably about the 15th person to get to the top. I didn't time it, but I'd guess it took me a bit under 25 minutes.
Much of the bowl was wind affected, but I ended up getting the first non-patrol line down White Kitchen or Steep and Deep (I'm not sure which one) and skied foot-deep untracked pow all the way down. Probably one of the best runs I've ever had, so I immediately headed back for a second lap. This one really killed me and and after skiing a choppy G-2 (the hordes descended after my first run), I was completely exhausted and took a long lunch break. The second lap was probably one too many and I had no energy all afternoon, so I stuck to mostly groomers and low-angle moguls.
I'm definitely a big fan of Highlands. It was incredibly uncrowded for a bluebird powder Saturday, was easy to navigate, and has some legitimately great terrain. The steeps have longer fall lines than at Mammoth.
Tomorrow will be Ajax as I have a flight in the afternoon and logistics-wise, Ajax is the easiest for that. However, there is 4-8 inches of snow expected during the day tomorrow, so I'm hopeful my flight will get cancelled and I'll be able to ski another day on Monday (which will likely also be Ajax for the convenience)!
