Today was the first day of operations for Snowbird, Alta has chosen to not open until conditions improve. The first day of the season started optimistically enough, I got up early and had plans on hitting the Bird about 7:45. I knew that wouldn't put me anywhere near the front of the line but I'd be in the ropes at least.
I hit the light past the 7-11 and gunned it to pass a person that was attempting to snake me on the right. As I moved past them I look in my rear view to see smoke from the back of my car. Great. I pulled into the park and ride and found an upper radiator hose had blown. As some of you may know I own an auto shop, it was the typical cobbler who's children have no shoes. I had my son do an oil change on it last week, "Dad that upper radiator hose is pretty soft." We were busy and I gave him the "it'll be all right." Till it wasn't.
Times like these you find out your friends. I called Travis who was already in the lot booting up. "Dude, I just blew a radiator hose." "You want me to come get you?" "Umm, if you will?"
We still made it to the line up by about 8:15. We weren't close to the front, which took a 2:00am penalty to acquire. But, we were still within the ropes. By the time they opened the lift line stretched to below the Mid Gad Chair and beyond. It was pretty festive, lotta schwag thrown out, music, and the Ski Utah Yeti.
We had parked a couple spots from Digi Dave (Snowbird's Marketing Director.), I immediately asked him where my foam finger was. Then on the way down to the lift I spotted Burke, we hooked up with Burke and rode with him for the day (Our two runs). Riding around with Burke is pretty funny, the dude is a Wasatch institution and gets hollers from everyone.
We were about 30 chairs back and got to see people as they hit the steepish part of Bassackwards just above the flats before the restaurant and cut off to Gad 2. The sounds of loud pow and not much carving told us it was going to be a bit stiff. Burke was on his Big Feet and found it a bit firm for those. We headed to the parking lot after finding ropes down the entire trail and patrol and mountain safety patrol positioned everywhere that one might saunter off into the woods to discuss safety.
As we took off our skis up strolled Marcus Caston, I fist bumped him (bro style, and welcomed him to the 2017-18 season. Travis noticed he was carrying tele gear. Looks like the return of the turn is going to feature some tele turns, he asked and received some tele tips from my buddy. Riding at Snowbird you meet a lot of the folks in the industry, I can't think of any I've met that weren't totally chill.
The skiing and terrain open are pretty underwhelming, but the scene makes up for it. Travis had to work and I was on his schedule, so we made two runs and headed home. That was pretty much all I wanted to do, there is only one run open and it was getting a bit hectic. The choke of death is right where the Bass Highway peels off from Emma, it gets a bit thin there and everyone is forced through a chicane. Early season always has plenty of people going multiple miles per hour on the same terrain as beginners.
I'll be back tomorrow morning and I hope there are less folks. The forecast isn't looking favorable, hoping for a change.
Oh crap, someone call a tow truck.
Line
Return of the tele turn
Burke was having fun.
I hit the light past the 7-11 and gunned it to pass a person that was attempting to snake me on the right. As I moved past them I look in my rear view to see smoke from the back of my car. Great. I pulled into the park and ride and found an upper radiator hose had blown. As some of you may know I own an auto shop, it was the typical cobbler who's children have no shoes. I had my son do an oil change on it last week, "Dad that upper radiator hose is pretty soft." We were busy and I gave him the "it'll be all right." Till it wasn't.
Times like these you find out your friends. I called Travis who was already in the lot booting up. "Dude, I just blew a radiator hose." "You want me to come get you?" "Umm, if you will?"
We still made it to the line up by about 8:15. We weren't close to the front, which took a 2:00am penalty to acquire. But, we were still within the ropes. By the time they opened the lift line stretched to below the Mid Gad Chair and beyond. It was pretty festive, lotta schwag thrown out, music, and the Ski Utah Yeti.
We had parked a couple spots from Digi Dave (Snowbird's Marketing Director.), I immediately asked him where my foam finger was. Then on the way down to the lift I spotted Burke, we hooked up with Burke and rode with him for the day (Our two runs). Riding around with Burke is pretty funny, the dude is a Wasatch institution and gets hollers from everyone.
We were about 30 chairs back and got to see people as they hit the steepish part of Bassackwards just above the flats before the restaurant and cut off to Gad 2. The sounds of loud pow and not much carving told us it was going to be a bit stiff. Burke was on his Big Feet and found it a bit firm for those. We headed to the parking lot after finding ropes down the entire trail and patrol and mountain safety patrol positioned everywhere that one might saunter off into the woods to discuss safety.
As we took off our skis up strolled Marcus Caston, I fist bumped him (bro style, and welcomed him to the 2017-18 season. Travis noticed he was carrying tele gear. Looks like the return of the turn is going to feature some tele turns, he asked and received some tele tips from my buddy. Riding at Snowbird you meet a lot of the folks in the industry, I can't think of any I've met that weren't totally chill.
The skiing and terrain open are pretty underwhelming, but the scene makes up for it. Travis had to work and I was on his schedule, so we made two runs and headed home. That was pretty much all I wanted to do, there is only one run open and it was getting a bit hectic. The choke of death is right where the Bass Highway peels off from Emma, it gets a bit thin there and everyone is forced through a chicane. Early season always has plenty of people going multiple miles per hour on the same terrain as beginners.
I'll be back tomorrow morning and I hope there are less folks. The forecast isn't looking favorable, hoping for a change.
Oh crap, someone call a tow truck.
Line
Return of the tele turn
Burke was having fun.