I wouldn’t exactly call them turns, but many powder-starved skiers flooded Alta over the weekend for a taste of winter before the 2014/15 ski season’s official start. With all uphill traffic at Alta closed as the resort prepares to open on November 21st, skiers had only the summer road to Catherine Pass to play on. I joined in on Sunday, where the snow was plenty deep for skinning up, but not so good on the ski down.
With my old backcountry skis (rock skis) on hand, I used the trip as an excuse to work out the kinks, gather together gear, and assess what needs fixing – turns out my summer legs and lungs need more work than my equipment. Mostly though, it was an excuse to break in my new Scarpa Freedom SL boots before going on a real tour.
God it felt good to be on skis again. Just the feeling of skinning through snow was worth the drive. The powder was deeper than I thought, at least 8 inches to a foot, and that is after the storm snow settled for a day and got really tracked out. While it wasn’t the horde of people after the first snowfall last year, there was a sizable crowd. Like minded people were not just on skis, but snowshoes, sleds, cross-country skis, and even simply on foot. The snow tribe was out in force, and good vibes were everywhere.
Upon leaving the road and skinning over the snow-covered summer trail to Catherine Pass, the snow became less compacted and rocks were a concern. On the slope that actively climbs up to the pass, exposed rocks peppered the aspect, and ski tracks left evidence of cringe-worthy scrapeage. I hope those people brought their rock skis too.
Due to the rock exposure, and the fact that I was alone in the backcountry, I didn’t go any further than the lower meadow below Catherine Pass. With no desire to blow an edge on my skis, as old as they are, and to practice good backcountry protocol, I ripped skins and skied back down the road. While I only got a few turns in, it was simply good to get high in the mountain air, share the moment with other stoked skiers, and see Alta covered in snow again.
Opening day at Alta is November 21st, so get your gear (or legs and lungs) ready, because the 2014/15 ski season is almost officially here!