Doesn’t get much better …
As per the norm this week a dusting of fresh in town and 5 cm on the mountain. Bid a sad farewell to the Downtowner and presently surprised when I got to the parking lot that visibility had actually improved. For the first time since Dale had shown me the mountain layout I could see well enough to tackle some more challenging terrain. After a warmup on Inspiration and Hogans back to the summit and headed for the double black East Rim. No, I had not lost my mind – while the signposted run was extreme (cliffs and all), Dale had pointed out the slightly friendlier East Rim Face that while steep was wide with only a few widely spaced trees. Snow was still fresh and deep and although relatively short it was fantastic. Only problem with runs on this side of the mountain is that they’re finished up by an interminably long cat track back to the base of chair one.
Chuffed with the way that one had gone headed for Gray’s Golf Course – diverts off the traverse that leads into HellFire. Top part was easy and fun but then it got seriously steep – I challenge anyone to play golf here – and just enough trees to get a bit twitchy. Ended up having to traverse a bit to get out but still worthwhile. Next gave Big Face a try – down through the snowghosts just below the summit. Much more manageable and while the slope was trashed was still skiing really well. After another run down East Rim Face that was almost as good as the first time second lunch was in order.
While visibility had been good on the runs the cloud refused to lift enough to reveal the vistas of the Rockies and Glacier that everyone assures me are all around you at the summit. Took me three visits to Targhee to see the Tetons and looks like it will take several tries here too. Took another run down Big Face but light had gone really flat and it proved that I still rely pretty heavily on being able to see where I’m going – much tougher that the first run and by the time I was back to the groomed on the lower mountain my legs were just about trashed. One more ride to the summit then a 5.5 km run to the car to finish off the visit. Good powder great groomers and being able to see where you’re going – a great day.
Back for final visit to my favourite local coffee trader then it was south toward Missoula. Now having a fairly full day sking meant that I wasn’t going to get to Missoula till about 8 but as the weather was pretty much blown out for now shouldn’t be a problem.
WRONG
Just south of Polson at the end of Flathead Lake its started snowing and didn’t let up till the suburbs of Missoula. Tricky enough in daylight this type of driving but not a lot of fun at night – no road clearing since this fall started. Much of Hwy 93 here single lane and overtaking just too difficult to contemplate so pick a car and stay a long way behind it. When there was 2 lanes some of the keener types would try to overtake but when they pulled out to the second lane found the snow thick enough to make life difficult and would just about run you off the road as they passed. On a big downhill 15km out of Missoula saw break lights coming on ahead so started to brake and felt the car start to slide, even though I was being pretty gentle about it. Backed off and tried again with an even more delicate touch and for the next couple of minutes left indelible fingernail marks in the steering wheel as nursed it down to the flat.
Then got into the suburbs, the snow stopped and the only challenges left for the day were not slipping over in the motel parking lot and finding something decent for dinner.