Report from August 6, 2024

Today, we went for a jaunt in the alpine.

Bad weather has kept us out of our favorite zones for the past 7-days.

Yesterday we got hoodwinked by the weather and missed out on a glimmering powder run in a fierce wind.

Today was also forecast to be cloudy, so we slept in a bit.

I awoke to stars and texted Greggy to pick me up ASAP.

Sunrise on fresh snow in Patagonia is breathtaking.

Most of the snow was a crunchy “carton” (cardboard) but we didn’t mind.

Our main goal was to get eyes on the zone and see how things had filled in.

It snowed about a meter since we’d been out there.

All the vagrant rocks were buried.

The storm had come in wet and stayed wet.

Only at the very end did we get a bit of cooling that may have sucked some moisture out of the snow.

The cold came with the classic Patagonia wind and rendered most of the snow wind-smashed.

Our first run in the Sun Chutes was very fun but the snow was sketchy and untrustworthy.

We couldn’t imagine leaving that gorgeous canyon so we went back up for another in a nearby zone.

At first, the snow appeared it would be the same wind-board frozen funk.

Then I adjusted 20 feet right and the snow felt great.

A wind-blow, dense, 4″ deep, sugar that had some potential…

I’ve been skiing here just long enough to know that I don’t know shit.

The snow changes incredibly fast here and its variety is innumerable.

My confidence grew.

I zeroed in on the mini-spines.

I climbed around the back to the tallest one and clicked in.

Greggy joined me.

I was mostly sure the snow was gonna be good until I threw a snowball.

It bounced ungraciously.

I recalculated to knowing the snow was gonna be a catchy winded cardboard.

I counted down and dropped in.

First turn OK.

Second turn not bad…

Third turn game on!

The snow was surprisingly good considering what I’d expected.

I went for the spine rollover having not examined this spine yet this season.

I veered right for the easier right fork of the spine and it still had a sizeable air.

I haven’t hit a cliff since March and my brain wasn’t sure what to do.

Luckily my muscle memory took over as I windmilled to a four-point landing.

I just kept it together and rocketed into the flats.

I hooted and turned back to have a look.

I was instantly pissed I hadn’t stayed on the spine proper in the light, but hey, gotta play it safe sometimes.

Next time…

Greggy shredded the north spine and we high-fived on the shockingly good snow we’d stumbled upon.

We skied a sandy-snowed shady slope and began our climb home.

A terrific day with a stellar buddy in some of the most shape-shifting terrain I’ve ever been in.

Thanks, Patagonia!

Photos