spectacular spring skiing

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous and the spring skiing was about as spring-y as you can get.  It was warm from the get-go, with bright sun and cloudless skies.  After slathering on the sunscreen (and making sure we packed the tube in our pack for re-application), we headed up the canyon.  The parking lot was about one-third full - and we were just amazed that more people weren't there - and the trails often empty.  The only lifts running now are Collins (the main lift out of the Goldminer's Daughter base) and Sunnyside (the bunny lift out of Albion base).  Oh, yes, the tow rope between Sunnyside and Collins was running too ... and we did actually avail ourselves of it on occasion.

Springtime chairlift self portrait

Although the Sugarloaf lift was closed, patrol was letting people ski down into that side of the resort, posting signs warning skiers that the conditions were classified as "backcountry" out there, i.e., no patrol. We did several runs out there, often finding ourselves the only ones within sight.  The snow softened very quickly on the flatter sections.  Unlike the spring conditions you find back east, the snow was not (for the most part) turning to "corn snow" and bumping up: it got softer and denser and heavier and stickier, such that it was nearly impossible to make our usual turns and mandating huge, sweeping turns.  I was struggling a bit, finding the heavy snow difficult to push through, and the sticky spots would grab my skis, nearly stopping me short and sending me flying.

Steep and soft

We did several runs in the Ballroom (my first ever at Alta, I was so intimidated by the Ballroom; now, it almost seems like a bunny trail) which was nice and soft, and a number of runs all over the front side, seeing how that was all that you can get to with only Collins running.  We did, however, on our last run, venture out along the High Traverse.  I'd intended us to go down through one of the wide bowls in lower West Rustler.  Instead, we ended up on top of the ridge, then following the traverse around the end of the mountain, and coming down Alf's High Rustler.  That's a really steep trail and yet the snow was so soft and slow that it was a ton of fun.

Finishing the day on High Rustler

There were a few people cranking tunes and tailgating in the parking lot.  We joined in somewhat, each had a beer while changing out of our ski clothes and loading up the truck.  Down in the valley it was nearly 70, so H took a two-hour road ride while B and I did our long loop.  That evening, as the sun went down, turning the mountains a lovely pink, we enjoyed our first gin and tonics of the season and toasted a very outstanding day.