Snowbird, UT: 12/16/18

With sunny skies continuing through the weekend and no fresh snow in sight, there was no reason to choose one Cottonwoods ski area over another for Sunday, so I opted for Snowbird because I hadn't skied there in 12 years and it's the home area of SLC friend BobMc. I hadn't seen him since he moved over to the Bird in 2012 after a decade and a half at Solitude, where he was the OP of the TGR thread Solisunday (still going 15 years later) and ringleader of weekend tailgate ceremonies in the far corner of the Moonbeam parking lot near the Eagle lift.

He's since become a Snowbird regular/loves it there, and we met his bud Travis and son Dylan (both on tele). Despite a few short delays, we somehow managed to make it to the first tram. As someone who works in NYC, being in a very cramped box-like space with a 100+ other people ain't my idea of a vacation; however, it's the quickest way to the top so no grumbling.



From the summit tram station, looking out over untouched Mineral Basin -- plenty of snow back there but it won't open until Friday.



Heading down from the tram, conditions were hard and fast but edgeable with some leftover loose snow from Wednesday's 14-inch storm (LCC got double the snowfall compared to BCC):







A fair portion of the ski terrain never got out of the shade:



I don't think I've ever seen a faster teleskier than Travis -- carving like no one's business and always at least a quarter mile downhill from the rest of us.



Their local's tour included heading into the woods to a secluded resting spot on top of Howitzer ammo boxes:







The big adventure for the day was taking Dylan (9 years old!) for his first-ever run down the Cirque, which included an at-times tricky traverse in:







Setting up cameras halfway down:



We congratulated Dylan for toughing it out and having a story to tell at school on Monday. I can't imagine having the stones to do that run at his age.

Boy the Bird looks empty..
Looks like a nice cruising day , kind of nice not having to deal with a powder frenzy

Looks really fun, James. I need to get back to LCC to ski...been way too long for me.

Are you going to go ski with Guido at Alta next? He'll find some soft snow even days after the last storm.
 

Jamesdeluxe wrote

being in a very cramped box-like space with a 100+ other people ain't my idea of a vacation; however, it's the quickest way to the top so no grumbling.

Ha!  Mrs. Cooper said it was like being on a city bus in rush hour.

JasonWx wrote

Boy the Bird looks empty..
Looks like a nice cruising day , kind of nice not having to deal with a powder frenzy

Seriously, what a shit show that can be.

I like powder skiing and all but I’m not into that sort of scene.

I do love the Bird though. Following locals around really makes the experience that much more awesome

raisingarizona wrote

JasonWx wrote

Boy the Bird looks empty..
Looks like a nice cruising day , kind of nice not having to deal with a powder frenzy

Seriously, what a shit show that can be.

I like powder skiing and all but I’m not into that sort of scene.

I do love the Bird though. Following locals around really makes the experience that much more awesome

I got may ass chewed out by someone, because I wasn't skiing fast enough on a traverse. Just so he could get his precious untouched turns.

Ah yes.....the Altatude. Just remember, a lot of those lodge punks don’t get laid all winter! :D

James Deluxe,


Good, good!  Keep doing what you're doing.


Happy Trails and Season's Greetings.


64ER