After a huge day with Mike on Saturday we headed down to Alta to link up with Matt. Matt had to bolt to make it back to Hood River that afternoon & I was still gassed from the day before - so we opted for a quick tour over and around Cardiff
| Chilling at Mike's place before hitting the road |
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Alta had picked up a bit of new so we were hopeful about conditions. Still, the SE facing stuff lower down was pretty hard, but as we climbed things improved a bit
| The Sunday Sunrise Service at Alta |
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| Nearing the top of the pass - of course Matt knew these other 2 guys owing to the fact that he appears to know everyone in Utah . . . |
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| Matt at the top of the Pass overlooking one of the Alta lots far below |
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The stuff on the North side of the pass was in BEAUTIFUL shape - much better than either one of us had assumed it would be . . . which is nice.
| Mike scoping the line before dropping in on lap 1 |
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| Peeks of blue sky as we start the skin back up to the pass |
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| Prepping gear just prior to lap #2. |
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| Despite having known him for just a few days, Matt already getting comfortable "spooning" Mike . . . |
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| Mike obviously starting to have a bad time |
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Mike had to be torn away from this basin (and Cardiac Ridge beyond) as it was his first time bumping around over here & the conditions were awesome on this side of the pass - but time pressures for Matt and a blown engine for me meant an early exit.
| The left-overs |
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| Skinning back up to the pass to drop back into Little Cottonwood |
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| Mike about to step off for the ski back to Alta - High Rustler visible upper left |
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The skiing back down toward Alta was still fairly decent up top - becoming increasingly indecent as we descended
| Watching the fog on the move again - blowing back up-canyon |
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My tweaked legs were coupled with full trap-crust monkey-butt conditions a little
lower down - but the post-ski glow went just fine with the Deschutes Cinder
Cone Ale back at Matt's place just the same.