Alta Skiing Journal, Vol. 7: “Blue Skies and 19-inches of Classic Wasatch Hero Snow”

Martin Kuprianowicz | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

Brought to you by Alta Ski Area

Report from Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2021

Thundersnow raged all the night before. We knew what was coming before we woke up to a foot-and-a-half of snow on our cars in the morning.

Alta opened at about 9:30. 19-inches overnight. Blue skies and some crowds.

We started by taking up Wildcat. An anxious mob of powder-horny skiers mobbed down Westward Ho in sheer ecstasy. We joined them.

Light, dry, ultra-fluffy frozen water particles poured over us like a waterfall—Hero snow. Almost two feet of it.

The sunshine and blue skies were the icing on the cake. After the best run we’ve had all year in the trees near Wildcat, I went and scoped out a line off the High T.

Immaculate snow, few tracks. I charged as fast and hard as I could down a continuous break in the trees near Stonecrusher. I surfed and flowed and felt invincible for a moment.

One Kitty lap a day keeps the evil away. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

Classic Wasatch hero snow at Alta. This is why I never want to leave Salt Lake.

After a few runs in Fred’s Trees with my old man and a couple more High T steamers, we all went to check out Supreme.

Similar story there—soft, deep powder and sunshine. We scoped a couple of tree stashes and slashed powder around Three Bears for a while.

Cezar in the pow. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

My dad’s mechanical, powder-seeking style that he’s refined over tens of thousands of days of skiing was flawless.

Gavin was going full speed through the pow like he was Alta-Bombing again.

Alta lift foreman Tom was very kind and let me try out his skis at the end of the day—his ON3P Cease and Desists skied wonderfully (thanks, Tom).

POW day at Alta. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

We all laughed and felt gratitude yesterday—seemingly everyone at Alta did. It’s hard not to on days like yesterday. It’s hard not to at Alta.

They call it “Alta Magic” but it’s not magic at all.

SnowBrains CEO Miles Clark shredding High Boy at Alta yesterday. | Photo courtesy of SnowBrains

 

Snow Numbers

Screenshot courtesy of Alta Ski Area 12/16/21

Weather

Screenshot courtesy of NOAA 12/16/21

Photos courtesy of SnowBrains


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