From: karl@bach.udel.edu (Karl Sohlberg)
Newsgroups: rec.skiing
Subject: Utah conditions
Keywords: Alta Snowbird Solitude Brighton
Date: 16 Apr 92 16:58:13 GMT
Organization: University of Delaware


In response to an earlier posting:

>From: fwhite@bbn.com (Fred White)
>Subject: Conditions at Snowbird, Solitude?
>
>Anyone skiied these places lately?  I was wondering if there
>is enough snow left to be worth at trip out to Utah.

I mailed the following response:

___________________________________________________________________________
[     I was skiing at Brighton on 4-10-1992 and at Alta on 4-12-1992.
[the weather was mostly sunny to clear with high temperatures near
[55 F. Brighton had only the Majestic side open with good cover except
[at the very bottom near the lift mazes where there were a few bare spots.
[the snow was hard and fast early in the day but rapidly softened up
[to become quite sloppy by the end of the day. I did not ski at
[Solitude but I could clearly see from the road that they were hurting
[for snow. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that only 3 trails were open.
[Judging from what I saw this is very likely true.
[     Alta was 100% open (well not Baldy Chutes...) with excellent
[cover. A few of the chutes off Supreme had rocks poking out here and there
[but I didn't hit anything. There was nothing that would bother a New England
[skier thats for sure. The snow was hard early but became *very* mushy
[by mid afternoon on the ungroomed slopes. The groomed slopes were much
[less mushy. Snowbird clearly had some bare spots down near the cliff
[lodge (lower mountain) but I am sure Little Cloud has very good cover.
[     In general I would say "excellent spring conditions". I had a
[great time and didn't hit any rocks or dirt. The high temperatures in
[the city were around 75 F.
[     If you go to Utah, have fun! 
[
[Karl Sohlberg
[(karl@brahms.udel.edu)
__________________________________________________________________________


There were other replies also:

>From: jason@dsd.es.com (Jason S. Ehrhart)
>
>We've had such a miserable snow year that it would just shock
>anybody who'd been here during April of last year. At Alta there is
>only a 74" base. There are huge barren patches all over the
>mountain. The snow pack looks like this is the end of June. 
>Snowbird is worse, reporting a base of 72". Afternoons are
>mush-slush skiing. It's so warm, if it percips, it'll be rain.
>They're only opening the top of the mountain (Little Cloud chair)
>starting the 4th of May.
>
>If you do come, don't go skiing until after the snow softens, say around
>10:30 - 11am.
>
>We've been ripped off. 
>
>-- 
>jason ehrhart jason@dsd.es.com  


This is absurd. ONLY a 74 inch base. Most resorts would kill for a 74 inch
base. I know that it takes a lot of snow to cover the slopes out there
but only the monster boulders are showing. The statement about 
"huge barren patches" is a total lie. "...end of June," I have NEVER
seen that much snow at the end of June, not even after one of the
big winters in the '80's. It is more like late April or very early
May. 

... and:

>From: haas%basset.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Walt Haas)
>
>Better hurry.  Alta's last day will be the 26 of April.  We skied there
>last Sunday.  There was good corn, but not everything softened up since
>the day was cloudy.  There are a few bare patches and rocks beginning to
>show through.  The snow pack is thin and the weather unseasonably warm
>so we can expect the bare patches to grow rather rapidly.  Snowbird looks
>terrible from the road, but I haven't skied it myself lately.  Don't
>know about Solitude.
>
>-- Walt

Now that is a *much* more accurate report.


In another post Todd S. writes:

>From: st910131@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
>
>I have a question... Everyone complains about slushy, mushy conditions. 
>I DON'T GET IT!!!!!!  I die for slush.  I wait for spring so that the snow
>gets soft.  I ALMOST prefer slush to powder. Soft mushy moguls are a dream 
>come true for me.  I tell my friends that I'm going skiing in the spring
>and the common response is "Isn't it all slush though??".  I Seriously think
>that skiing in slush is AWESOME. I can understand racers not liking slush
>but for recreational skiiers I can't immagine anything better.  I am an expert
>skiier, can anyone tell me if I'm CRAZY, or if anyone else has this same love
>for SLUSHY SPRING SKIING? 
>
>							Todd S.

To which I say, "SHHHHHHHH, don't tell or there will be lift lines
until June." :) Actually, If skiers would wake up and enjoy the
virtues of spring skiing, the resorts wouldn't have to close
earlier and earlier each year due to lack of customers. Come on
folks, ski the slop, it's fun, forgiving, warm, and you can get a tan!


The best skiing in the world is where I am skiing when I am skiing there.

Karl Sohlberg
(karl@brahms.udel.edu)
From: wanek@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (John Wanek)
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 15:39:04 GMT
Subject: Re: Wrist problems
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA