Storm Stoke-Day 1 @ Deer Valley 3/26/09

[rvrscum]

For this latest storm cycle, I had been working at DV until noon today. Released at 12:15, I was able to change clothes and go get after it this afternoon. The official report was 15" and we picked up a few more during the day. Hard winds also filled in lots of tracks (and stripped snow down to the ground in others). DV tracks out fast these days, but I know the mountain well and can usually find some untracked here and there.

Out of the gate, I went over to the east flank of Bald Mountain, DV's second highest point. There is a little of everything in this area, plus the most vertical of any chair. This shot is looking up that lift, Sultan:







This is getting ready to drop down into one of the steeper sections of Triangle Trees, a DV favorite for 2slickstix and myself:







Another peek down in the Triangle:







One of my favorite areas at DV, Mayflower, wasn't open today, so I entertained myself off Sultan, skiing powdery crud and trees. Before it got to late, I ventured over to DV's more famous (and heavily skied) expert area, Daly Bowl/Chutes:







By now, the snow had stopped, and the sun was coming out, but still very windy. A look across the cornice over Daly Bowl. I dropped in on the far end of the picture, where there was still some soft snow under the cornice after all of the traverse cowboys had ridden along until deciding to turn into the fall-line:







This is one of my partners with client in Chute 7 (of 10):







To get to Chutes 4-10 requires a short hike, which keeps a fair amount of traffic off the snow. Lots of wind and a look back at the small cornice I was able to drop, with a much softer landing:







Looking down from the same spot at a wind-filled line:







Back up after a few turns:







And down again. This is where my Shamans really came into their own, steep/deep trees. Plus I confirmed the bindings work when I charged around a seemingly open line and tried to push a small branch out of the way, only to get rejected (and ejected from bindings)







Mt Clayton (backside of Brighton)on left, Daly cliffs in center, Empire Lift on right, with Jupiter Peak at PCMR right above the lift station. As the crow flies, DV is actually closer to Brighton than the Canyons. The Empire area will often get snowfalls much closer to BCC than the rest of the resort:







Making my way back to base, I did the short hike to the top of Ontario Bowl. Also tried out the AT function of my Marker Baron bindings for the first time. Just need some skins, but makes a difference when hiking:







Not totally tracked out:







After taking this pic, I went for the trees and found a nice untracked line almost to the bottom:







Tommorrow is a day off and headed to either Pow-Mow or Snowbasin.

[EastCoaster]

Ugh.



One day I wont have to sit at the computer and drool over UT stoke from 2000 miles away.



Nice pics

[2slikstix]

Damn fine pix there! Nice to know that even the ski lesson Guru gets a double eject sometimes too!!!

[dreamnofpow]

+1 Haven't seen the sun in days, this snow brightens the day.

[Ski Bunny]

Great pics!

[downhillNC]

Nice! Daly Bowl and Chutes look mighty fun...too bad you Jedi Knights don't accept the Darkside at your nice resort! It's only a matter of time!

[rvrscum]

@2slikstix 175779 wrote:Damn fine pix there! Nice to know that even the ski lesson Guru gets a double eject sometimes too!!!



Oh yeah 2slik, the mountain for sure reminds me who's in charge every now and then: