nopoleskier
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
The long stay at Alta Lodge in April was a great way to end the 2018-19 season, which was my seventh season since popping off an ACL (not skiing). Got in 42 days out west and 16 in the northeast (mostly Wachusett, NH, Sunday River), plus a few days at Massanutten in early January.
Trips out West
Jan MLK Week: Taos Ski Week
Feb 1st week: Taos Ski Week, first hike to Highlands
late Feb: Grand Targhee (2), Bridger (3), Big Sky (6)
April: Alta (16), Deer Valley (1), Solitude (1)
Had a fair number of lessons with two Taos Ski Weeks (6 morning group lessons) plus a 3-hour semi-private at Bridger with Bill. The most effective lesson was a private lesson in early January at Massanutten with the resident Examiner, Peter Stransky, to work on my left turn. After an hour on green/blue trails (Geronimo, Lower Showtime), I could do the correct movement consistently and feel the difference. More importantly, I figured out more than one way to make it happen correctly so it made a big difference for the entire rest of the season.
The payoff for all the lessons and work on fundamentals since 2012 was being ready to really enjoy skiing deep powder. I got very lucky in February and caught powder storms at all four places. Actually got to practice skiing in knee deep powder, instead of “one run and done.” While I rented powder skis for a few days at Big Sky and Alta, I had plenty of fun skiing 10+ inches of fluffy powder with my Stormrider 85 skis very much in the snow at Targhee and Bridger. Every powder turn was pure fun, even if just a few turns in untracked snow behind trees.
Grand Targhee, 14 inches in the past 24 hours, with 9 inches after lifts closed the afternoon before, fluffy powder (6%), storm total that week was 41 inches
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The unforgettable run was making first tracks on Ballroom going non-stop and at speed. Took just under two minutes. A longer run than usual because Main Street was ungroomed so the last section I stayed in tracks to make sure I made it up the rise. When the snow is that good and there are no tracks, there’s usually a very good reason.
Getting ready to drop in. See the two people at the edge of Main Street (in front of trees)?
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Pic above taken from about where I left the traverse. Took this pic about 20 min after the rope drop.
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I miss Alta....