Sunday, April 24th was Alta’s last day of the ’09/’10 season. As always, the end of another ski season and the beginning of spring was marked by the High Boy party at the top of High Rustler. This year, there were two High Boy parties, one the weekend before on the 18th, mostly initiated by Alta employees who were leaving after full-time operation of the mountain ceased. The other saw mostly locals out for one last hurrah.
The weather this year was a bit chilly for wearing skimpy outfits that would make some parents think twice about bringing their children to the “free after 3” program. But there was enough sun in the afternoon for perfect spring snow and beer atop High Rustler. The gathering seemed smaller than in years past, probably due to the fact that there were two parties this time around, but the scene was just as fun and the costumes were inspired.
Below High Boy, the parking lot was overflowing with tailgate parties scented by grilled meat and cheap beer. Hordes of yelling, dressed-up skiers bombed runs down the mountain and channeled ’80s hot doggers attempting daffys and backscratchers on every small jump. Lift operators accepted “tips” of beer by generous skiers. The atmosphere at Alta was filled with joy and a little sadness for the end of skiing.
The best way to chase off the sadness is to party. So before that final run of the season, a cold beer in hand, hundreds of costumed freaks gathered atop a mountain peak, snowballs hitting you in the back of the neck, and the clear view of the Wasatch from High Boy will set you right.
Every resort sees costumed skiers on the final day, but only at Alta does this sort of debauchery occur, and as a result, Alta’s last day of the season creates memories that should last through the sweltering summer months when skiers dream of cold air and deep powder.
High Boy is the biggest on-mountain goodbye party in the Wasatch. As resort crews shut down the lifts for good, skiers head to the top of the Collins chair, traverse to High Rustler, and gather in celebration of another incredible season in Utah.
Beer is passed around, music is playing, snowballs are flying, fireworks are exploding in the sky, people are laughing, cheering and cavorting, and costumes run the gamut from neon ski-suits, to gorilla outfits, to semi-nude, all for the sake of prolonging that glorious final day in the Wasatch.
The final day of the ski season is bittersweet, but hanging out with fellow skiers helps take away the thought of summer months. Our dress-wearing brothers and scantily-clad sisters on High Boy let us forget that we are there for the last time. As we all sit above High Rustler and watch the sun set behind Mount Superior, we get to realize how lucky we are to live in such a place.
Until next season…