Alta pre-season

 Late Oct '21

Photo dump from the second half of October!

This October was apparently the wettest since 2006 or so. However, it still being October, most of the good, safe skiing was only in upper LCC. For the most part, for me, that meant exploring Alta which, while fun, got a bit stale after a few weeks. Gonna blame some of this on Ben, who resisted calls to leave Alta. Mental note that next time, we're going to the bird, upper BCC (>8.5k), and White Pine next to the Bird boundary. But beggars can't be choosers, and writing this while visiting family in the Midwest over Thanksgiving, I'm chomping at the bit to get back to skinning groomers if that's what it takes.

Precip this fall has ranged from 2" dusting to proper 12" storms. For the most part, anything NE or sheltered has held up well. Most people seem to go straight to Baldy shoulder, but I have found great, less-tracked snow in the upper half of Collins.

Some photos:

Local crusher AB airs it out on a bluebird Saturday. I was stoked to meet this guy, and smoked keeping up.
 
Looking towards the Cottonwood ridge. Unfortunately, the good snow N/NE shots off of Baldy are pretty short.

Night skiing is BACK! Our first time skiing down under headlamp felt so, so good 😋

Me, remembering how to ski while dropping into Tombstone on a wet storm day

The next day, Ben and I got out with E and new guy M who is a former ski racer and college runner (aka better than the rest of us on the down AND the up).

Me

Cloud formations above the Collins groomer


A great start to the season!

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