01.06.08 Alpental

Good day up at Alpental. Crowds came a little bit late. 3-4 inches of new. Sun peaked out for a while. Decent to snow all over.

I can't say the same of 'Nash. It was closed around 11:30. There are just about zero lines in upper or lower entrance. Everything was scraped off with a ledge and exposed rock and brush below. Ski Patrol was in place to catch the casualties. Never seen it that bad this time of year.

I was one of the last in. Jumped and spun out but recovered quickly on run #7. Probably the best news was that I didn't blow out my edge on the rocks.

It's a shame too because Nash and everything below including lower gate was fantastic. Ski Patrol was working furiously to build a ramp. Good old fresh snow will fill it in but, gotta keep those snowboards from scraping the snow off.

+1

Crowds didn't seem to arrive until 11ish.  Beautiful midday sun!

Pretty frustrated that patrol closed Nash that day. If the entrance is bad, just have a gate with a patroler warning everyone that there is a mandatory 10 ft air to get in. That will scare most folks away. Jackson Hole opens Corbett's when there is a mandatory air to ski it. Not sure why Alpental can't do the same. The resort is pretty limited when you can't access the BC. Just my two cents.

Not sure why Alpental can't do the same.

Because Alpental is not as cool as Jackson Hole?

Because Alpental is not as cool as Jackson Hole?

Considering the fact that Alpental is at 3200' and the temps often hover right around 32 degrees at the base, I'd say Alpental is rarely as cool as JH, which is higher and inland.

Considering the fact that Alpental is at 3200' and the temps often hover right around 32 degrees at the base, I'd say Alpental is rarely as cool as JH, which is higher and inland.

Is global warming factored into your equation?

I'm surprised to hear they actually closed it. Nash is always tricky, though. Even in 98-99 when there was a 300 inch base, Nash had rocks on the entrance. Price of admission, I say. Patrol has a good entrance set up now--thank you. Alpy was in classic form yesterday (Wed). Shot Six was bottomless and Elevator opened by about 10. Pete F. got the first line through through the true Elevator Shaft. I was so jealous. Was anyone there who might have seen the boulder (about the size of a 13"TV) that let loose from the cliffs and rolled right down the middle of Nash, threading it's way through screaming skiers yelling "rock!"? It tumbled right by me as I was skiing down.

Was anyone there who might have seen the boulder (about the size of a 13"TV) that let loose from the cliffs and rolled right down the middle of Nash, threading it's way through screaming skiers yelling "rock!"? It tumbled right by me as I was skiing down.

TURN BACK! before it's too late!