Report from November 9, 2021

Dark.

Ominous.

Alone.

Main Chute at Alta, UT in powder today.

I only saw one other human on the trail. 

I passed him just as the storm was picking up, then he was gone.

Alone on top staring into the throat of Main Chute with visibility coming in and out felt ominous.

It felt dark.

I was hoping there was just enough wind-blown snow to cover up the ice moguls that humbled me last time I was in here. 

I was nervous, so I gave it a ski cut to make sure it wasn’t a wind-loaded canon waiting to fire.  It wasn’t. 

I dropped in tentatively, slashing turns to test the snow while still feeling and hearing the firm layer claw my skis from beneath.  Once in the choke, elation, fear of my incoming sluff, and knowledge of the wide-open area below took over and I let ‘er rip a bit.

Smooth, lightly textured snow greeted me after the choke and allowed space to both control my speed and feather the throttle. 

I tried to hoot, but it came out hoarse. 

The apron was glorious, but I couldn’t see a thing.

In a mini chute on the lower mountain, I was able to squeak out a weak hoot. 

That hoot felt like the beginning of the season…

RECENT REPORTS:

• 11/8/21:  Alta, UT Report: Booting Up & Skiing Down High Rustler in Scratchy Conditions…
• 11/7/21: The Alta Skiing Journal, Vol. 4: “Soft Snow Stashes in the Castle Apron”
• 11/6/21: Mt. Superior, UT Report: “Suicide Chute” – As Much Rock As Snow Yesterday
• 11/5/21: Alta, UT Report: Tight & Spicy in Little Chute…
• 11/4/21: Alta, UT Report: It’s Amazing How Much Snow Is Up Here Right Now… Gunsight Mini-Pow!
• 11/3/21: Alta, UT Report: Main Chute Top To Bottom on a Gorgeous Day
• 11/2/21: Alta, UT Report: Embarrassed & Humbled on Day #1 in Main Chute Yesterday
• 11/1/21: The Alta Skiing Journal, Vol. 3: “Trick or Treating in the Ballroom”

AVALANCHE FORECAST:

We didn’t see any avalanche activity nor instability this day. 

While the UAC isn’t generating forecasts, former UAC avalanche forecaster Mark White has been submitting great avalanche observations:

• Mark White Avalanche Observations

WEATHER FORECAST: