takeahike46er
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2020
What a great way to start a season! While I missed out on the free refills of opening day, sloppy seconds and sunshine is nothing to complain about!
Catskinner
I stayed on the dark side all day. Since freezing levels were approaching mid-mountain, I stuck to the Catskinner and Jersey Cream pods to take advantage of the highest elevations possible. Jersey Cream started off on standby as ski patrol bombed away at the alpine above, so I did a few laps on the Catskinner run. Even after the ropes dropped on the Jersey zone, patrol continued bombing away at Chainsaw Ridge, and I witnessed a pretty sizable slide on Saudan. Too bad I wasn't able to grab my phone in time to capture on video!
Saudan before slide
Saudan after slide
Some highlights of the day were the Jersey Cream Wall and The Spoon where I scored untracked, knee-deep snow. The top had a bit of slab, but after the roll over it was soft, wind-deposited snow. Even if it’s a short pitch, my early season legs were totally fine with it.
Jersey Cream
An ungroomed Cougar Milk
Despite the trail report showing no advanced terrain available, the Coyote Road traverse was open, and I had some great runs on Blowdown and The Bite. Some caution was needed to avoid open creeks and the crevices in the talus fields—even if the mid-mountain snowpack is currently sitting north of four feet. But these obstacles were avoidable and will soon be buried, and it was great to be skiing this terrain so early in the season.
Looking up at the closed Glacier chair with The Curl and Pipeline on the upper-right
The Bite
Blowdown
The alpine wasn’t open—not for lack of snow, but because ski patrol needs some time to get it prepared for the masses. Coverage is apparently great for this time of year, so word is it might start opening next weekend. However, even without the alpine, it was a great day. To be skiing this kind of terrain on opening day was a blessing!
Bark Sandwich
Catskinner
I stayed on the dark side all day. Since freezing levels were approaching mid-mountain, I stuck to the Catskinner and Jersey Cream pods to take advantage of the highest elevations possible. Jersey Cream started off on standby as ski patrol bombed away at the alpine above, so I did a few laps on the Catskinner run. Even after the ropes dropped on the Jersey zone, patrol continued bombing away at Chainsaw Ridge, and I witnessed a pretty sizable slide on Saudan. Too bad I wasn't able to grab my phone in time to capture on video!
Saudan before slide
Saudan after slide
Some highlights of the day were the Jersey Cream Wall and The Spoon where I scored untracked, knee-deep snow. The top had a bit of slab, but after the roll over it was soft, wind-deposited snow. Even if it’s a short pitch, my early season legs were totally fine with it.
Jersey Cream
An ungroomed Cougar Milk
Despite the trail report showing no advanced terrain available, the Coyote Road traverse was open, and I had some great runs on Blowdown and The Bite. Some caution was needed to avoid open creeks and the crevices in the talus fields—even if the mid-mountain snowpack is currently sitting north of four feet. But these obstacles were avoidable and will soon be buried, and it was great to be skiing this terrain so early in the season.
Looking up at the closed Glacier chair with The Curl and Pipeline on the upper-right
The Bite
Blowdown
The alpine wasn’t open—not for lack of snow, but because ski patrol needs some time to get it prepared for the masses. Coverage is apparently great for this time of year, so word is it might start opening next weekend. However, even without the alpine, it was a great day. To be skiing this kind of terrain on opening day was a blessing!
Bark Sandwich
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