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Alta Ski Conditions

post #1 of 9
1/14/10 at 9:29am
Thread Starter 
I'm looking for somebody who skis Alta a lot to tell me what the ski conditions are like, not the stupid groomer stuff, which we know will be ok because the resorts remove all the rocks and trees and make snow for these runs.  Alta is known for great off piste skiing, so I need to know if the conditions on these non-groomed runs are decent enough to bother making a big drive to get to or are we talking dodging trees and rocks all day.  Unfortunately the good snow doesn't seem to be hitting the Rockies this year, I'm looking for some place to do some good mogul and glade skiing without slaloming through little trees all day.  Thanks a lot for your help.

Drunkenfrenchman   
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post #2 of 9
1/14/10 at 10:21am
How far do you have to drive?

We were there over the weekend. There are lots of rocks, yes. Snow in the shade isn't too bad. Actually I thought the snow off piste was much better than the groomer snow, but maybe that's just me. Sometimes you have to navigate some bony traverses to get to decent snow. Our trip was preplanned, and of course we would have preferred lots of pow pow pow pow, but it was fun anyway.

Pros: no crowds, good terrain, nice weather
Cons: lots of rocks in good terrain (but half the time that's what makes good terrain, no?), sunny exposures were the yuck, no new snow no new snow no new snow

Still, it's better than Colorado (front range, at least). But if I were you, I'd wait until after the pattern shift that's supposed to happen next week.
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post #3 of 9
1/15/10 at 7:35pm
 I skied there today. I used my rock skis and they were an appropriate choice as the coverage just isn't very good. That's not to say that the skiing is bad, but when you're in the trees or in a narrow gully, sometimes there are very few options and a gouge or two in the bottoms is what you get. Then again, that's why they make p-tex and edge files.
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post #4 of 9
1/15/10 at 7:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrunkenFrenchman View Post

 not the stupid groomer stuff, which we know will be ok because the resorts remove all the rocks and trees and make snow for these runs. 

Well, maybe "we all know that", but it's not the reality at the LCC (or BCC or PC areas) this week.

Manky off piste, rocks and brush on-piste.
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post #5 of 9
1/15/10 at 9:36pm
So far, this winter has been the 2nd driest in the last 30 years. The snowpack is about like what you would see in mid Decemeber -- not mid January. But the weather is supposed to be turning soon. My advice is to wait till the snows come back before you make the trip.
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post #6 of 9
1/16/10 at 8:25am
I hope I don't jinx it, but next week looks like it will bring some good base-rejuvenating weather to Utah.  A big pattern shift is in progress right now, the downside being that the East's glorious winter run is about to go on hiatus for 10-14 days.
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post #7 of 9
1/16/10 at 12:01pm
^Yesssss. I've been checking the weather report twice a day. Looks like our trip is perfectly timed: Tues-Sat, which is when all the storms will hit.
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post #8 of 9
1/16/10 at 9:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanjm View Post

^Yesssss. I've been checking the weather report twice a day. Looks like our trip is perfectly timed: Tues-Sat, which is when all the storms will hit.

I am banking on the week after next to be the *real* perfect one.  Next week's main benefit will be more base (but it sure will be great skiing regardless).
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post #9 of 9
1/17/10 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by skier219 View Post




I am banking on the week after next to be the *real* perfect one.  Next week's main benefit will be more base (but it sure will be great skiing regardless).

It looks like some storms are right around the corner. It would be ideal if we can get some really moist and productive storms to build the base and cover stuff up. Given the ammount of sugar snow out there I am wondering how quickyl they will be able to open terrain if we get a big dump.
Edited by tromano - 1/17/10 at 2:20pm
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