Adventures in the Snow

So today I went up to Brighton. The roads were awful. I thought they were going to be the highlight of the day for sure. Driving 10 mph on I-215 and praying no one in front of me would stop. Got up to Brighton with the help of Michelle, and took a few laps in my pow skis. After being too cold and switching layers around a few times, me and my buddy Aldo decided to head up Pioneer Ridge and dig a pit. Here is what I found.

After finishing the pit, we headed down. Looking for some nice shots to ski, we were worried about the windslab that had formed on NW-NE slopes, but not crapping our pants worried. We headed down to find a shot to ski, and just before Aldo traversed this slope to get to another slope ≈10 feet wide, the whole thing goes. About 20-30 feet above him and ran for another good 100 feet through the trees. At first when he said, "its going" I thought he meant I'm going and I was like well grab onto my pole. But that was all fine. This avy broke through the windslab and through the new snow below to the more settled snow. After one more of those piecing out way through the trees, I see the resort, and make one last ski cut, and this slope goes. Awesome thing about this one, was that if you look at this pit, it broke in the 60cm-45cm facets, all the way to the crust at 45cm. This means things are heating up and getting just about ready to tip the scales towards more slabs, once other slopes get a little more windloaded

Exciting stuff!

Finals are on their way

So I have done a good amount of skiing already. Today was day 22 of the year. Trying to get out there a whole lot this year. Been teaching a lot of lessons so far this year, making the big bucks.

Waiting for more snow to fall in the Wasatch, however in the meantime, we will have to do with this.

Trying to get all ready for my Avy 3 in a few weeks, so digging pits and studying snow is in the schedule a lot. Just have to make sure I pass all my classes.

Brian

Brighton Shredding/Alaska

So sorry I haven't updated in a while. Been doing a good deal of shredding at Brighton since they opened on Nov 11. So far they only have their two lifts open, with a few runs, but me, Chris, and Brandon have gotten some fun pow shots on the face of this "bunny" slope lift the last couple days. Even dropped like a 4-5 footer today.

In other news, I am very much missing Alaska right now. I want nothing more then to be back in Skagway and Haines, traveling on the glacier and chillin with AMG people. Too bad winter hasn't even started yet and its still like 6 months away.

I am also anxious to hit up Cardiac ridge since that is the poster I am currently staring at.

I need to read this book for english by 7:30 so I will update more later.

Until next time, look at this image to keep yourself entertained

Brian Muller

Snowbird/Brighton

So Sunday I was sitting in the cafeteria, saw one of my friends walked by, we started talking, and spontaneously I said lets go skiing. One hour later we were hiking up Brighton, and admiring the lack of snow. Skiing wasn't too great, a base of about 8 inches that had been driven over by a cat, but not groomed.

Today I headed up to Alta/Snowbird, deciding to skin up Snowbird because I realize if I don't get hired there (no they haven't gotten back to me) I will not ski there that many times this year. The lack of snow was sad, and i literally was skinning on grass/dirt for a bit. Realized with how little there was some more of the snow i was skinning on would be gone by the time I got down. Hiked up, same sort of stuff as Brighton on Sunday. Run over by a cat but not groomed, and refrozen. Turns weren't too bad, and I actually got a good workout. Apparently even with the lack of snow, Boyne resorts wants Brighton to open Thursday, so looks like I will be getting some shredding in Thursday!

Once more, Snowbird seriously needs to let me know about this Trail Crew Ski Patrol position...

Hope Halloween was great for everyone!

Solitude Opening Day

So I was up at Brighton, getting my instructing job back because Snowbird hasn't gotten back to me yet, and I get a call from my buddy Brandon. I had heard a few days ago about Solitude opening a run just for Halloween, but it looked like it was for passholders only, so I forgot about it. After getting all of my stuff at Brighton, I headed down to Solitude, signed the pass, and got a couple runs in for the first lift accessed skiing of the season. It was a trail that was about 200-300 yards long, but it was sweet. Brighton will be opening this week, and Solitude is opening next Friday for good. Super excited. Maybe Snowbird will get back to me eventually....

Happy Halloween!!

Blahh

No word as of yet about the Snowbird Trail Crew position. I needed to go for a drive this afternoon for a couple of hours to get the anxiety off of my mind, and the snow had turned to mush up at the base of Alta. Temps were right at 32 degrees, and everything was socked in. I was hoping to go for a short tour and get some turns in, but I figured it would just be a waste of time, so I turned around and drove back. I hope Snowbird gets back to me sometime...

On a better note, Mountain Films is having an event tonight at Brewvies, 7pm. Ed Viesturs will be there, and they will be playing two mountaineering films.

Sunset Peak skiing

Headed up into the mountains today for a nice long dawn patrol. Woke up at 5:30 am, ready and out by 6, and hiking by 7:15. We parked at the top of Alta, the Grizzly Gulch parking area, and skinned up the Alta summer road to Catherine's Pass. Skinning the estimated 3-4 miles took an hour and a half, and the views were incredible. We stopped at the top, where you have views overlooking Timpanogos and Superior. The temperature was definitely in the low single digits up there. After admiring the views for a few minutes, we headed down this little shot, which was actually the first thing I skied for the 08-09 season last year. There was a base that covered most everything, and so there was really no worry about underlying logs or rocks. I'm getting very stoked on the winter ski season to get here, and Solitude Mountain Resort is kind of opening on Halloween for one day, with their bunny slope. Kind of counts. Hope to get some more touring in this weekend, and hope to find out about the Snowbird job tomorrow. I'm getting nervous.

This picture on the was my buddy Charlie dropping in on the shot we skied. Not mid-winter chest deep snow, but we had a blast anyways.

I heard a rumor that Snowbird might open for the season on Halloween as well. We will see...

Snow in the Valley

So it's just after noon on October 27, and we have just had the second snowfall in the valley. The mountains are getting about 5-10", with hopefully more as snow is forecasted through the end of the week. For the first time this season the canyon is currently restricted to 4x4/Chains, which stinks because I was going to head up around noon. Maybe the restriction will be lifted soon.

This picture is pretty cool, just showing some cool viscous deformation and glide off of the umbrella. Gotta love snow science.

From what I've heard, Snowbird and Brighton are both blowing snow, which is amazing, and temps are going to remain very cold for a few days. On an unrelated note, Saturday November 7 is the USAW, Utah Snow and Avalanche Workshop, which started last year, and was fantastic. If you want to hear about the happenings within the last year, learn a few things about avalanches, and support our local Utah Avalanche Center, which provides us with our Backcountry and Mountain Weather Advisories!

One last thing, I should find out about the Snowbird Ski Patrol/Trail Crew position within the next few days. I'm very anxious and really hope I get the job. I guess if I don't get hired I'll be working at Brighton as an instructor and Alaska Mountain Guides out of Alta as a guide when they need help this winter.

First Avalanche advisory was issued today, surprisingly the Western Uintas and Oquirrh's are receiving most of the snow. Maybe I'll have to head to the Oquirrh's Thursday

-Brian Muller