August 20, Hood S. Side

This is my first post but thought it might have some interest for some in these lean turn times.  I was at a wedding on Cooper Spur this past weekend and knew that the Palmer lift had finally closed.  I figured I could hike up and get some nearly freshly groomed turns on the glacier with no people.  I was right.  I left Timberline at about 3:30 and made it up near the Bergshrund by dawn.  I did not go higher.  No one else appeared to be on the mountain and rock fall up high was readily apparant.  I began my ski descent on a finger of the Zig Zig that  began at about 9600 ft.  It was bulletproof but not as suncupped as I'd expected.  I decscended 500 ft or so (I had no altimeter) and then cut over to the top of the Palmer.  I marvel that as of last Thursday people were paying 41 bucks to ski a pretty sad looking patch of glacier.  However, the snow was still flat and relatively groomed (ie. no suncups).  I made my first run at seven and was pleasantly surprised by nice corn. I happily made a second lap.  For those that know the area, you can ski down to the halfway lift entrance on the Palmer -- probably about 600 vft.  I took two laps, and though the snow was dirty I left without any base damage.  I was back at my car shortly after eight and faced the puzzled looks of people at the lodge who asked "they still skiing up there?"  I'd say there is a week of relatively suncup free skiing for those who want it.  Not too exciting but really easy and fun to be up there with no one else.