January 26, 2004, Alpental

Skied closed Alpental this am and OH Boy, be careful out there! We hit Shot Six and the whole slope was breaking away in beautiful 18"+ crowns as we descended. The new snow is definitely slabbing in a bad way. The sloughing was cascading down with us in unruly waves. <br><br>And of course, it was also pounding...I would imagine with more snow the avy danger will go nonlinear in the BC if ski area slopes are avalanching with abandon!

And this one goes out to Ron, the hardest working man in Washington at 8 am on a Monday morning.<br><br>

We were there slightly later and followed your skin track; skied 'Nash with very similar results. After digging a pit near the top of Chair 2 and finding weak layer at about 24-26", decided to ski cut the top of International (under the rope) and about 14-16" slabbed off cleanly about 100' wide down to the rain crust. Much cracking of snow pack on lower 'Nash as well while traversing (over packed moguls) - I can't imagine they'll have Chair 2 up before noon on Tuesday.

I rode the lifts yesterday (Tuesday). Given the weather forecast, it was surprisingly nice - calm wind, good visibility. Chair 2 opened around 10 am just as the sun was peaking out and lighting up the peaks. There were good views up the Middle Fork until the clouds closed in a little later. It was warm; all the powder from yesterday turned into what some would call "Cascade Concrete" and made the skiing somewhat disappointing. Oh well. My plan to work hard Monday and ski hard Tuesday backfired.<br><br>The clear weather revealed the extent of the control work. Many, many slabs, many of which ran quite a ways.<br><br>

I was there Monday also with my splitboarder friend Adam. I think we may have seen gregL and partner coming down? Anyways, I was sketched out about the open slopes (seems like I was proven right) so we toured to the top of the fan and dropped into breakover trees. Some surface sloughing but no slabs. Good deep powder skiing, that's for sure.

a-corey was that perhaps you in the subaru?  Ron and I saw two folks getting ready to head up at about 830 am.  we were in the f150 with the topper.  <br><br>Matt - you missed out - I hate to say it, but face shots were had, smiles were dispensed, and work was even done on Monday.  

Matt - you missed out - I hate to say it, but face shots were had, smiles were dispensed, and work was even done on Monday.

<br><br>Yea, I know I did, but you can't win them all right? I kicked myself Monday morning when I looked at the telemetry. That'll teach me to sleep in.

alpentalcorey we were on lower International about 12:15 - did you see my black '93 Montero in the lot?