Some Christmas Memories

It's been a lame winter. Let's admit it. We have had a dusting of snow thus far in the valley, and the average is just under 12". Granted, we have had nearly 1" of water in the valley, but it's just not the same. I want to experience a winter in Salt Lake, not winter in Seattle. I want the northwest flow to blow in a cold front, have it snow hard for 12 hours, get some precious Lake Effect bonus snow, then blow it out the next day to blue skies and fresh powder. I want January temperatures to actually feel like January, not like March as it has.

OK. I'm done griping now. It's not me and I know it surely doesn't help the situation.

But old memories can. So I sit here reminiscing about the past with pictures that are way overdue. Sorry for the delay in posting, Lingo.

I present to you our best snow week of Winter 2013-2014 thus far for the Wasatch, the week of 12/24/2014 to 12/31/2014. The storms were regular and cold. The snow was low density, blower pow. I was able to get out on the snow twice during that week between The Eves. It felt so good. It was so real. It was the perfect Christmas surprise. And it was also so very long ago.

On Christmas Eve, we went up to 10,420. It had snowed pretty well the day before and had blown out the old storm. It all set up for a beautiful morning in a fantastic setting with good friends. A special thanks to Arie for the pics below.

10420 is one of the finest places in our Wasatch to view a winter sunrise...

Smiles abounded.

Lingo, working his way through the cream

Johnny's brother, a fine and effortless knee-dropper in his own right.

There was even a Random Santa Ski Elf sighting.

On Santa's powder-hunting errand...

After a magical snowstorm that engulfed the valley and surrounding mountains during the entire Christmas Day, we had to go try our luck again on the 26th.  Lingo and I headed back up to the High Country, this time intending on West Bowl. As soon as we saw how sweet the snow was on Emma Ridge, however, we changed our plans and skied the ridge back to the car - 4 times. We just couldn't get enough of this great terrain, exploring new lines on each of our laps.

We knew it was going to be a deep day as it got lighter out.

Free smiles

West Bowl had already been had. Leaving Emma very available.

The home run

Johnny's hero shot (taken by a rookie); look for this on the next cover of Powder magazine.

Maybird Cirque and Apron

The Maybird Cirque and Maybird Apron has always been on the list, namely because of the amazing views of this sentinel peak lording over the mini-canyon

The Mighty Pfeifferhorn under a checkerboard sky (above), and getting blasted by winds (below)

This solo adventure eventually lead me to stumble into the Maybird Apron on the exit. What a gem of a run! Often I have looked up at this Apron from the LCC Road, but never have I looked at the road from the Apron.

Unfortunately, the light was getting flat by mid-morning

I left the safety of the open slopes and descended into the deep Red Pine forest, enjoying good powder when the trees weren't too tight. 

The deep dark forest awaits; I really should have skinned back up from here...

After much ski/bush whacking amid marginal snow, I came upon the stream. I was hoping to find a stream crossing, butit was not to happen this time. I know the map talks of one, but I couldn't find the confounded bridge if I had to. So I kept the skis on and crossed at the narrowest part of the creek possible, hopping from frozen rock to frozen rock.

Stumped by the river...

The Site of the Icy Crossing

After finally making it back to the road, I looked over and realized that I had come out almost at the base of Hogum Fork (!). I got a bit disoriented in the thick forest below the Apron and turned down-canyon rather than up-canyon. Thank goodness for kind drivers who pick up hitchhikers...