Alta, UT 1/1/2008

[FirstTracks]

Day 19: What's that bright orange thing in the sky, anyway?

After skiing through our persistent December storm cycle, I can't remember the last time I skied on a sunny day. While the day started off rather nippy the sun was blazing and there wasn't a breath of wind, yielding a gorgeous day on the hill.

We started the day with a few laps on Supreme before they dropped the rope on Backside for the first time in about a week and we high-tailed it over there, first from the High Notch hike, then twice via the Backside gate...but each time skiing the road less traveled down Yellow Trail all the way to Glory Gulch -- we captured those runs on film:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/...ctid1351432915

(I go by "Admin" in these videos due to my role in our own user forums)

Skidog, Dale and Pat scooted just before lunch, and after lunch at Rustler Lodge I bid Tele Jon farewell and headed home, rather satisfied. I'd even questioned going up today as I tweaked my knee pretty hard on Sunday and started the day skiing tentatively, but in the end the rewards on Backside were great.

Now for some stills --

A massive slide on Tuscarora dug down to the dirt:



Albion Basin:



Backside:



Yellow Trail:



Grizzly Gulch: