11,068′ Mt. Baldy, Alta, UT. image: snowbrains

Report from April 18th, 2019

Contents

I casually rolled up to Alta Ski Area, UT yesterday tired, satisfied from 3 powder days in a row, and not expecting much more than a nice spring day.

As soon as I looked up, I saw that 11,068′ Mt. Baldy was open wall-to-wall.

Instantly, I was fired up and in a hurry.

I rode up the Collins and Sugarloaf chairs and ran up Baldy.

Well, I walked slowly up… My legs were still tired even though my mind was highly activated.

I’d only ever skied Main Chute off Baldy.

My first line was in here.
11,068′ Mt. Baldy, Alta, UT. image: snowbrains

I dropped in somewhere near the top, billy-goated a short spine and jumped off the spine into a chute that didn’t reach the top that no one had been in yet.

After the drop, I carved a big left turn and ripped a few turns on a little wind spine above a cliff.

So Fun!

I stopped below, looked back up, and soaked in the impressive amount of sexy lines that lay before me.

I hiked up with this ski patroller then happened to get his crash on film. He was laughing at himself out loud and sitting on the snow for a while. Fun day! image: snowbrains

The snow was good on Baldy – not deep, but powdery, soft, supple and responsive.

I crawled up top again and dropped into Little Chute (which isn’t little this season) and cut out of it high and right and skied a tight chute to a wide chute then traversed over to neat off-angle cliff drop.

Crazy Fun!

Hannah ripping Little Chute. image: snowbrains

Too tired to hike up again, I relagated myself to fun, soft, fast, cruisy Collins lift groomer laps where I could gape at Mt. Baldy and watch others pick out shifty lines.

Yesterday was a special day at Alta.