Alta, UT Report: Topless in “Main Chute” off 11,000′ Mt Baldy in 70ºF Temps

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report

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Report from April 30, 2021

I rolled up to Alta Ski Area in Utah yesterday at the crack of 1pm yesterday after getting my 2nd COVID Vaccine (check out the red bandaid on my left arm in the video above).

It was hot.

70ºF at the base…

Alta is closed for the season, but they are allowing uphill travel, which is terrific.

Chris in Main Chute. image: snowbrains

It had just snowed at Alta 2-3 days ago so I knew the snow was going to be sticky and nasty but I hoped that Main Chute had gotten skied up just enough and had gotten just enough shade throughout the morning that the snow would be ok in there…

A snowboarder in the lot said that he skied off the lower shoulder of Baldy and it was sticky the entire run.

There was only one way to find out for sure.

Signs signs everywhere signs… image: snowbrains

I headed up.

Only T-shirt and shorts required.

I was moving slow in the heat and I was still feeling very tired from a string of backcountry days in Alaska this week.

Salt Lake Valley. image: snowbrains

I’d just landed back in SLC on Thursday and was eager to get out and check out the Wasatch snowpack yesterday.

1 hour and 45 minutes of sweat-dripping, slow-walking brought me to the top of Mt. Baldy and the entrance of Main Chute.

The views of the Salt Lake Valley, Snowbird, & Mt. Superior are always grand up there.

Chris grinding up. image: snowbrains

I met a cool local cat named Chris and Portland, OR voyager named Alex.

We all hoped it would ski better than the snow we’d just climbed up but we were skeptical.

I took off my shirt & dropped first.

Snowbird from top of Baldy. image: snowbrains

After 2 turns yelled back “It’s not too bad!”

I kept ripping down the chute and it was true that it wasn’t too bad.

About 1/2 way down the snow did start to become thicker and a bit stickier…

Mt. Superior. image: snowbrains

But it was still very much skiable and rhythm could be found.

On the apron, I cut right over to the wiggle, but it wasn’t that fun at it was super sticky and slow.

The ski down the upper groomer was sticky but fine.

Up and down. image: snowbrains

The lower groomer skied pretty well as skier traffic had scraped off the stickiest snow.

It was really good to be back at the car getting those boots and socks off.

Another great day at Alta.

I’ll most certainly be back this week after this little bit of weather clears out.

Avalanche Forecast:

Avalanche forecasts are done for the season in UT. image: UAC, 5/1/21

Weather Forecast:

image: noaa, 5/1/21

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One thought on “Alta, UT Report: Topless in “Main Chute” off 11,000′ Mt Baldy in 70ºF Temps

  1. Bro it was never 70 at the base. Even if the car thermometer read 70, that was just pavement heat.

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