Alta Goes Chamonix Style

This is the coolest thing ever....Yesterday Alta allowed skiing of unpatroled areas within the ski area boundary and simply warned skiers that backcountry conditions may exist in those areas. With this approach they were able to allow lift access to huge areas of terrain without the high cost of running routes and bombing.

It was a little dicy for those who were'nt used to it. If you were from Chamonix it was business as usual. The "backcountry" gate was right at the top of collins lift where you would normaly drop on to the bunny slope called Devils Way. it was a small opening in the rope with all the signage of a backcoutry gate except it didn't say "ski area boundary" It said "backcountry conditions may exist". But because it was in such familiar place, there were whole families dropping in without reading the signs and successfully skiing down the bunny hill on a long uncrowded run to the rope tow. wheee. But you could also fairly easily ski out under the castle on runs like Cecret Saddle which would normally never be open without them first thoroughly controlling The Castle. And you had a ton of people doing just that. no beacons no shovel...I think they thought they were still in the controled part of the ski area.

So in my mind the obvious prize was The Castle...210 inch base...14 new... lift served ...untracked. I was wearing my beacon and had avi gear in my pack. I wasn't even really sure why that gear was coming along when I left the house or the car. alas...Jill did not, and this may have been a blessing. Do you really want to ski the Castle in these conditions with not a single bomb hole and nary a ski cut? ...Not me...it was maybe little to hot for me to be positive.

It's similar to the Knucklehead Travers at the bird. I think that in years past they would keep it open even after Gad II closed and the boundary always gets little fuzzy out past Gad II. But this year you would just get part way over there and see little sigh with the backcountry avalanche conditions. I'm not sure at this point how that fits in with their backcounty check out with patrol policy.

Here is a picture of the billy Goat line that I have always wanted to ski. I have never seen it skied. Maybe theres still a chance. Because your almost never gonna get it with the ski area open.



Baldy looked pretty good also. Staying fairly cool I think. Steep and covered with Bomb holes...This should be a good spot in the upcoming months.

Mayuary

If Dr Seuss dreamed up a ski area he would imagine it with all kinds of twisted trees, ridges and valleys with snow stacked impossibly high into mushroom pillows. The terrain would be so intricate and varied that you could never explore every cranny in 20 years. It would be called snowbird. I love this place. What an Epic Day. I can't believe there are more than 200 inches of snow on the ground. It's a dream come true! These trees I found today in the picture below are the biggest three trees in the Alta Snowbird area and I had never discovered them in more than 20 years of exploring.

Also thank you Rossignol for the new skis which also contribute to impossible dreams coming true.

Trying to learn to tweet more. Check it out at www.Twitter.com/skimap

I'm not sure when the photo below from the Avalanche Handbook was taken. But Alta is reporting 210 inch base right now and its not as deep as this picture! 5/2/2011 update...I went to Alta yesterday and was able to take the picture below for comparision. My angle is slightly off but it looks to me like there is currently more snow at Alta than what is showing in the older La Chappel photo. In the La Chaepell photo there is more new snow but not as much total base...In my opionion..

Big Trees in Big Basin

View a Map of the hike we did in Big Basin.
Dont forget that once maps open in Google maps, you can click in the link in the upper right part of the map to view it in Google Earth.

But would you rather have the KML file than just a Google MyMap?

This is oldest state park in CA and has the feel if a National Park!
Would be great to do the Sky to Sea trail or whatever its called.

Yes Please Mr Big Sur

We did this great hike near Big Sur. See Map
The track from the GPS came out a little odd on the map so make sure you click though the next buttons to the left of the map if you want to see the whole loop.
If you adventure near this area, watch out for Poison Oak and Tics
oh ya, and know your tide tables...

Where 2.0

Jill and I are excited to be in Silicon Valley for the where 2.0 conference about the future of mapping.

&#160;<a href="http://where2conf.com/where2011">&gt;&gt; Visit Where 2.0 </a>&#160;

Don't Like The Weather?...Just Wait a Few Hours

...but if you do like the weather, don't wait around, because it don't last long this time o year!

Peter Estin Hut

>> View Peter Estin Hut and surrounding skiing in Google Maps or Google Earth