Alta and Snowbird Deliver Some of the Best Preseason Turns

Well, the storm has past and the Wasatch is left looking primed for the upcoming winter season. Snow totals range anywhere from 6″ in the Park City area mountains to about 15″ in the Cottonwoods, although there are wonderful wind loaded pockets that, for now, offer deep and stable conditions.

Over the past three days I have been able to hike Alta twice. Each time was memorable in it’s own right.

Wednesday, after the main shot of snow was delivered, I went up with my friend and fellow competitive telemark skier, Candy Foyer for some good hiking and ski potential.

 

 

 

The temps were absolutely frigid, with wind chills around -17 degrees. Despite the cold and howling winds we managed to get to Baldy Shoulder and wound our way to the west side of the ridge to get some reprieve from the scouring  winds.

As we took a break suddenly I saw a familiar face skinning up the ridge. It was my buddy Jim Harris. He asked if he could tag along with our two woman outing and we welcomed him in, especially because he was down to break trail for a bit

We kick turned our way up the West Face of Baldy, found a sweet open shot and decided that it was time to let ‘em rip!

Jim busted out his camera and took some sick early season shots that looked more like a deep day in January. We picked, shot, and slashed our way down till we hit Chips run and took the groomed-ish trail down to the Powder Bird heli pad and hiked it back to Alta. It was a phenomenal day!

Today, was the same program, just different characters and quite a bit earlier. It is safe to say that it was my first Dawn Patrol of the season.

My alarm went off at 4:30am I was driving by 5am and I was passing the semi crawling up Little Cottonwood by 5:50am. Light snow was falling and there was a nice little dusting of fresh on the road.

I pulled into the parking lot and there I met my buddy and phenomenal photographer Chad Spector gearing up for his first tour of the season. We exchanged few words between yawns and sips of coffee, but they were of general stoke.

A few moments passed and then another car pulled up, it was his buddy (we’ll call him, J. I forgot his name). J is this awesome old timer. He pulled up smoking a Drum rolled cigaret and bumping some super chill reggae.

The minute he stepped out of his truck you knew this guy has seen some things and that despite the chain smoking, he was probably going to kick your ass the whole way up to the top. And that’s exactly how he rolled.

We made it to the top in decent time, still needing our headlamps while snaking up the shoulder.

The sky got lighter, however the clouds that lay low and thick never broke. The snow that had been laying over obstacles on Wednesday had settled and we were now riding along the bed surface and or the bed itself. But despite the some time rough and a bit rowdy conditions, it was still a rad day and there were still some pitches of super fun skiing to be had.

All and all, it’s October and I’m skiing Alta and the Bird… I’ll take it and I’ll love every minute!!!

Tags: Baldy Shoulder, Deep Powder, Hiking Alta