| It's only the first week of December and Snowbird has already been for two weeks. Today is our 12th day riding this season (had to take a few
rest days), and I can finally feel my legs coming back.
At this time of year, the snow in Utah usually comes in heavy. And this season
is no exception. Our first fat dump came on Halloween and since then, we've
been getting about a foot per week. By the time the resortd on November
20, the base was at 40 inches. Since then, we've gotten some five storms
(roughly equivalent to eight powder days) and the base now sits at 60 inches.
Last year, the early snowfall eluded us here in the Wasatch for the first
time since, like 1969 or something. Everybody threw up the red flags and
cried 'Global Warming'. The 'Birdd late (after Thanksgiving, believe
it or not) and even then the coverage was thin and boney. All of our crossed
fingers have paid off this winter as we are in it deep.
The crowds have yet to show up. The tram line has been virtually non-existent
for six days a week, and even the expected Saturday tram-cram hasn't even
been too brutal. But X-mas is coming soon and the holiday skiers are beginning
to appear, so you'd better get out here now or wait until mid-January.
Oh yeah. The riding. The riding has been sick. All of the epic lines on the
upper West face off of the Cirque Traverse are filled in and fun. 'The Wave'
out on Wilbur Ridge is fatter than usual. Steep, blown-in powder combined
with 5-to-10 foot cornice drops await. The cliff drops over on the East face
by Tower 3 and P-tex point are still a bit boney and sketchy, so be careful
out there for another month or so. However, local sickos, such as Ox, Benny
and Andy Brewer have been throwing some big hucks and reporting stellar landing
conditions.
All of the gullies on the Chip's side of the mountain are in good shape and
are chock full of wall hits and slashes. "The Skatepark" out in Blackjack
is all good with more hits than Ken Griffey, Jr. Gad 2 is nowto
snowboarders ("Take the power back!"). And there is some tasty terrain over
there, ya'll. Free-riding over there last week with Flyin' Ryan got me waist-deep
in some steep tree lines and then boosting the sweet airs out into the Black
Forest.
So, here we go for yet another season at The 'Bird, riding The Greatest Snow
on Earth. Just fly into Salt Lake City and you're just a half-hour from Snowbird,
Utah (pronounced Snowboard, Utah). See ya on the tram sometime this winter,
but if it's a powder day don't expect anyone to wait up for you.
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