It’s pretty much tradition at UtahOutside to go skiing on Super Bowl Sunday. This year was no different as we joined Ron Hall and Jamey Parks from Salomon to make some backcountry turns at Alta, and test out the new Salomon MTN LAB touring boots.
It seems Juneuary is continuing into February, which mean we should call it Julyfruary? Augustuary? Either way, the temperatures and snow conditions felt more like April than February 1st. Because it was Super Bowl Sunday (Jamey wore a New England Patriots jersey on the tour) we opted for a short backcountry circuit around Sunset and Pioneer Peaks. Leaving the backcountry gate at the top of Supreme at Alta, we traversed over to Rocky Point, then climbed up Sunset Peak. The snow seemed surprisingly good on north-facing slopes, and we spied a sweet, untracked line down into Snake Creek.
The snow was variable with wind crusts and sun damage up high, but we discovered a sweet chute that held deep snow. The apron was especially soft and creamy with perhaps the best turns of the day. Not too shabby considering our last big storm was several weeks ago.
After a short skin to the saddle between Sunset and Pioneer Peaks, we summited the latter, and followed Ron to a chute on the north side of the summit. He spied the run from afar on an earlier tour, and wanted to check it out. Well, it went and boy was it fun. A few quick turns in some trees and the upper choke led to fast, sweeping turns on the apron. Again, the shady snow skied super good.
Super Bowl Sunday skiing tradition is still in tact. As for the Salomon MTN LAB boots we tried out? I’ll have a first-look article about them soon. Check back in the coming days.