Ho hum, just another 19 inch storm.
I normally make it a rule to avoid lift skiing on Saturdays as it just gets a bit too crowded, but rules are meant to be broken. 15 inches reported overnight to add to what we got yesterday – very exciting. Was packed up and out the door at 8 – Trevor, lacking the same obsessions that I have was planning a more relaxed start. The bus was running late and it was a slow trip out so 8.45 before I was walking up to the lifts. 9am start for the lifts here and figured being a powder day AND a Saturday the queues for both the tram and the gondola would be pretty bad so headed for Teewinot to get to Apres Vous. Unfortunately I was not Robinson Crusoe. Was finally up the top about 9.15 and the first run down was one of the best I’ve ever had.
It wasn’t the blower powder that was advertised but just beautiful to ski – when you’re doing teles through it you’re going waist deep at times. Although there were already a fair number of tracks through it it was soft and perfectly skiable. A long queue for a second ride up Apres Vous and more of the same – the top section was a bit more chopped up but the middle was just as good. Already more than justified the day.
Back to the base to meet up with Trevor, more queuing and slowly started moving across the hill. Lost of avalanche control work going on and many lifts slow to open. The tram didn’t get going till about 10 and people would have been in the queue since 7.30 – crazy. The whole hill got trashed very quickly but still lots of fun – but doing endless teles in big soft bumps wears you out very quickly. Took a break about 11.30 and Trevor decided to head down, but I was determined to try to get a non-threatening run down Laramie Bowl – something that eluded me last trip.
Was already feeling a bit spent heading down lower Ampitheatre and horrendous queue at Thunder Chair. Snow and visibility had been coming and going all morning but of course as I got to the top it really closed in and couldn’t see anything in the bowl which is treeless and featureless. Just dropping into the bowl was akin to an act of faith – you dropped over the edge and couldn’t even see where your first turn was going to be. Best snow since the first run of the morning but lack of visibility kept the challenge level right up there. But at least I wasn’t just skidding from one turn. Well worth it even if it did suck just about all that was left in my legs out of me. From there had a great finishing run down blacktail and Sundance with out a single tele – the thighs were cooked.
Had been aiming for the 1.20 bus back to town and was about 5 minutes late and missed it. Several buses for the other parts of town came and went but no sign of the next Red Line bus – eventually turned out it had broken down. So ended up over an hour late meeting up with Trevor back in town. Had been so focused on skiing that hadn’t even had a coffee yet – if I’d known the bus saga was going to happen could have had time for a couple while waiting. So before leaving town had to pay a final visit to the local roaster. Must say have been disappointed with their coffee this trip – first one I had on arriving was OK but last two have been very strong and bitter – great for keeping the caffeine levels up but not at the standard of last trip.
Anyway, finally away heading up the Hoback valley on snow covered road with snow falling steadily. No closures or significant incidents reported this morning so took the direct route and ended being pretty benign. Though snow covered it was good surface and could maintain 80KMH most of the time quite easily, and eventually were even on to dry road. Had intended to stop for a snack in Pinedale but nothing really leaped out so kept going – one downside to this being I never quite got around to looking up and storing the address of the motel 6 we were heading for. So when we got to Rock Springs, pulled over to check on the web. Guess what – no reception. So onto the interstate, drive out of town, take an off ramp, get straight back on and drive back into town so you get presented with the usual cavalcade of signs promoting motels, gas stations, KFC etc. Once found and checked in drove down through town checking the array of take away options. Having chosen, doubled back and I turned across the road to enter their car park – only to discover that I’d actually turned into the on ramp onto the interstate – which of course you can’t really reverse out of. So it’s back onto the interstate, take the first off ramp …..
Eventually get our food and back to the salubrious confines of our motel room. Rest day tomorrow – all we have to do is get ourselves to Glenwood Springs. Not many photos again the last few days but will hopefully get something up tomorrow night