Rustic and quirky Powder Mountain, Utah day 5 (Feb 22)

This morning started out a little different from all the rest. Dan, Ray and Ken were frantically trying to catch up on the blogging and fretting over the lack of promised inches of snow. We fueled ourselves with eggs, french bread and microwavable bacon for the the original adventurers (Dan and Ken) ... this is Anita.

Off we went, driving up the small two lane highway to Powder Mountain. The visibility was terrible so we couldn't see what we were driving into. We stopped off at the small ski school and ricketty chair lift at the bottom of the mountain at around 8,000 ft., thinking that was the main ski lodge. We were redirected further up the mountain to the lodge, which wasn't much larger. Turns out the layout and rustic quirkiness of Powder Mountain would continue to baffle us for much of the day. After a couple of quick 'warm up runs' (this is the normal daily routine) through gently sloping and nicely dusted trees (spruce), we decided we were most interested in doing runs in the 'Powder Country'. Dan was feeling pretty good. Ray remarked on seeing his smile peak out of all of the ski gear. The trees runs were so lovely but also unusually bumpy and I went for a little flight and landed skiless. After that, I was really warmed up and ready to go!

We entered Powder Country off the backside of Hidden Lake Express. The first minute of our powder experience was comprised of elation and shock. In our haste to get off of the trail (as per usual), we ended up in some luscious and light foot-deep powder. Unfortunately it led to an only partially snow covered paved road with huge chunks of ice and pebbles that pointed upwards and into our skis. After our elation from floating on cloudlike creamy powder, the scratches that Ray and I found in our skis were a rude awakening! Staying on the trail isn't always a bad thing.

When we were finally where we wanted to be, the skiing was as blissful as could be. We were laying down fresh tracks in a cloudy haze. The snow was so light that it peeled away from you as you sliced through. The trees were old, large and beautifully spaced for leisurely turns. The skiing was so effortless that it was hard for me to keep my heart rate up and keep warm (not like any other day this week when the pitches were generally more steep, the snow a little heavier, the trees a little closer and the traverses a little more uphill!). I took a a tumble that Dan couldn't get his camera out fast enough to capture, unfortunately, but it was spectacular. My skis were up in the branches of an old spruce and my bum sunken into the depths of its comfortably padded tree well.

Down at the bottom of the cruise, we traversed along the highway to a bus stop where the Powder Mountain ski shuttle picked us up. Three twenty year-old school buses looped down to the shuttle every "twenty minutes". Despite the estimated looping time, we never waited for the bus for more than 5 minutes. The driver of the blue bus always asked us if we were "miserable yet?" as we got on, and everyone chuckled. As we got off he would always wish us a good run and assured us he would see us at the bottom. He did this every time we rode on his bus, like a repetitous twilight zone episode!

We got off of our bus at the wrong stop the first time. This forced us to take the Sundown lift up and we tried out the Powder Country on the opposite side of the road. The powder here was much more shallow and covered a thick layer of ice. We all grumbled and Ray's skis were not digging in enough for him to make his usual sharp and enthusiastic turns. Needless to say, we never did this again. Through this experience though, we learned that the Cat skiing was open and decided to sneak our sack lunches down our gullets in the authentic 60's style lodge before going up for a more powdery adventure.

For $10 a head we got to hold on to a rope behind a Cat that groomed a trail and pulled us up to the top of Cobabe Peak (9,105 ft). My little biceps were struggling to hold on despite the Cat-driver's assurance that it was an easy ride up. It sure was worth it though. We thought the powder in Powder Country was sweet but this surpassed any expectations I had. We were cautious to move forwards because there was no trace of humanity anywhere and we knew of cliffs in the area. After swooshing into the powdery wonderland we eased into a rhythm, hooting and hollering to keep track of where we all were, and staying close. Ken got a photo of the substrate underneath the powder at a stopping point...check out the "rock well". The avalanche risk was moderate today in that area, and based on the depth of the powder, and the absence of trees in some clearings and chutes, I can imagine that their power must be awesome. It was the most impressive run of my trip.

We spent the rest of the day hitting Powder Country, riding the bus, and trying to get as many runs in the powder in as possible. Dan dropped off in the early afternoon as the flu started to rear it's head again. In the late afternoon the blue skies popped out and Ray, Ken and I basked in the sun and enjoyed the view over our last runs in Utah.

This trip's been an adventure every day. Never a boring moment, and each adventure was unique. Plus, the nice guys at the ski shop here sold me some rockin' skis and are working tonight to fix up the mm-thick scratches. Thanks guys. Now for some dinner burritos and news.