Ice Bergs

By:  Porter Haney
November 2, 2010 9:04 pm | Category: Skiing

Winter found it’s way into Utah last Tuesday and dropped a mere 44inches of snow upon Alta.  We took full advantage on Wednesday morning and headed up the Baldy shoulder for our first face shots of the season.  Boy, were they good.  You could hear Colby Gilmore hooting and hollering all the way from the Colorado Rockies.  However, as great as the skiing was, it only satiated our thirst for powder for about two hours.  We needed more and we needed it fast.

Saturday morning dawned a humid and cloudy weekend.  The kind of weather that turns snow first to slop, and then to veritable ice bergs as it refreezes.  We rumbled around the mountains with temperatures in the upper 30s and light snow/sleet falling below 9,000 feet.  Justin Altman and I got out and were so uncompelled by the conditions that we only took pictures of Mount Superior:

ready for schuss?

And toy powder packers (oxy moron?  I think so):

packin pow

After the foggy and soggy weekend, an early, clear and crisp Monday morning awakened.  With the sun as motivation we knew we had take a jaunt up the skin track and see if there was any soft snow left.  Or, if the entire Wasatch range had turned into something that could sink the Titanic.  Superior sure looked a lot shinier than it did from the above shot on Sunday evening.

sup

For Monday’s jaunt into the hills I was accompanied by two of Freeskiing’s brightest and enthusiastic rippers – Ashley Magnuson and Hannah Whitney.  I really believe in what these ladies, and the others at SheJumps.org, are working on, so here’s a brief interlude to give everyone the low down on their organization, and some other neat stuff in the world of female free skiing.

SheJumps.org’s mission is to “create a supportive community of females of all backgrounds and ages, inspiring them to reach their highest potential through increasing participation in outdoor activities.”  The ladies involved are achieving this goal, and working hard to grow their reach.  If you are, or know of, others who are interested, don’t hesitate to reach out.

As an aside, friends of mine, Stan Evans, Jeremy Miller, and Austin Holt have combined to create a ski movie featuring solely Grete Eliassen.  You can see more at SayMyNameSki.com.

Ok, interlude complete, back to the task at hand.  Finding some snow that wasn’t hard as a… rock? deciphering Lionel’s weather maps? a Mount Washington circumnavigation?

Baldy looked like, up at the tippy top, we might find something soft and delectible.

baldy

We skinned towards the top of the Wildcat lift, and we’re seriously doubting it would find soft snow.

wildcat

But a few steps higher, and jump into the shade, and the girls found just what we we’re looking for.

ladies

Consolidated powder was the rule.  And we were happy as can be not be stuck rattling our way down some refrozen crud.

Towards the top of the skin.  This guy even popped out.

A few steps in an icy skin track and we neared the top of the shoulder.

baldy

One of the things about skiing on a refreeze morning, is the only snow that is worth a damn, is the snow in the shade.  And, the thing about skiing in the shade, is it does not make for the best pictures.  So consume these guys with grain of snow.

grain of snow

Ahh, First day of November powder, and Hannah knows precisely what to do with it.

pow pow

Not to be bested – Ashley knew just what to do too.

ash

skiing

All in all a wonderful morning of skiing.  More snow for Utah by the weekend.  It wont be long before the powder’s here to stay!

In the meanwhile, please help support FIS by picking up the only calendar you’ll find with Allen Taylor riding a motorcycle with skis on his back.

Tags:
, , , ,

Related Stuff:

  1. SPAM #1: Flagstaff Peak–LCC, UT
  2. 100 Powder Runs
  3. Summertime Skiing on Superior

10 Comments

  1. Harvey44
    wrote on November 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 pm  
    1

    “One thing about skiing in the shade… it’s SKIING!” Lotsa nice scenery too. ;)

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Porter Haney
      wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 am  
      2

      Thanks for the reminder, Harvey. Get carried away sometimes. Can never complain about some nice soft snow during the early season. We’re pretty luck out here.

  2. powhounddd
    wrote on November 2nd, 2010 at 10:12 pm  
    3

    Snovember returns…sounds like fun!!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  3. K_C
    wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 am  
    4

    Heck yeah! Nicely done. I am also a big fan of shejumps.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Porter Haney
      wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm  
      5

      K_C you should get a hold of them.

  4. icelanticskier
    wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 am  
    6

    mmmmmmmm, girlz. way to slay shady.

    rog

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  5. Peter
    wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 1:22 pm  
    7

    Ladies in the backcountry = good

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 3:58 pm  
      8

      so many reasons too! :D

    • Porter Haney
      wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 3:59 pm  
      9

      Like when you’re yurt skinning with K_C and she’s an animal breaking trail.

  6. christian
    wrote on November 3rd, 2010 at 6:08 pm  
    10

    i think i just fell in love! with the pfeifferhorn that is, not girls in the backcountry…gross.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
Please consider visiting our sponsors.

Leave a Reply

(no login required)

Check for email notifications of new comments (valid email required)        


Next (newer) Post:
Random Post Previous (older) Post:
Home
Stay in touch: Click here to follow us on Twitter. Click here to subscribe for updates to be delivered via RSS. Click here to become a fan on Facebook. Click here to read and share real time weather observations. Learn more over at the account. It's awesome. We promise!