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Solitude 4-7-2012

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trackbiker
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Nov 26, 2004
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Location:Eastern PA

Posted: Apr 08, 2012 - 5:31 AM GMT

Utah never disappoints. Skied Solitude today because I got in late last night from Moab and it is the one Cottonwood Canyons area that I hadn't skied before. Got on the slopes at 10:00 because I slept in a bit and had to rent skis (less expensive than the the airlines rediculous baggage fees. I didn't fly Southwest this time.) Was in and out of See and Ski in literally 5 minutes. Highly recommend them.
Solitude received 9" of fresh powder yesterday afternoon/night. Was definitely more in Honycomb Canyon. Only took one untracked run down Black Bees because the Honycomb Return lift wasn't running and it was a long, two person wide runout to the bottom. Hit a bunch of other powder stashes beside and between trails all day. Otherwise, conditions were the best I skied all year. Late in the day the bottom of the mountain did start getting wet but not bad at all. Had to head back up to the summit to cool off. Powder was still fresh up there.
Funny story; Late in the day as I getting on the Eagle Express a lady asked me if the Challenger trail was still "icy". I told her, "I'm from the East. I thought it was great!" There were a very few "hard" patches but nothing I would call "ice". The locals I rode the lifts with did tell me that conditions were getting "bad" before the new snow. And the base is the lowest I've seen it in the last three years and I was out here two weeks later last year. But overall, my best ski day this year. Skied from 10:00 'till they closed at 4:00 with a 20 minute lunch break on the deck at the midmountain lodge.
Overall, I would say Solitude is a tie with Brighton. But Alta and Snowbird are better than both. Never went into the main lodge because I had a preloaded ticket and parked at the end of the lot by the Eagle Express lift, but it looked nice.

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trackbiker
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Location:Eastern PA

Posted: Apr 08, 2012 - 5:41 AM GMT

Sorry about the photo quality. These are from my phone. My old phone and my camera used to use the same computer cord but I forgot that my new phone has a different attachment and didn't bring my camera cord.
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MissDaEast
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Location:So. Cal / Exit 1-I89,VT

Posted: Apr 08, 2012 - 8:29 AM GMT

Looks pretty nice! Continue to enjoy...

ciscokid
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Oct 09, 2006
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Location:west Mi.

Posted: Apr 09, 2012 - 8:39 PM GMT

Track you dog!

Just jealous

Great pics looks better than the day and night skiing I did at Brighton 10 yrs ago.

Man what a job you got, Moab arches and Solitude.

Try Snowbasin next time

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bousquet19
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Feb 21, 2005
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Location:Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

Posted: Apr 10, 2012 - 3:45 AM GMT

+1 re. the arches and skiing.

Any pics of snow on the arches, trackbiker? And what about more skiing?

Good to know that somebody's skiing somewhere. I'm already tired of yard work.

Woody

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"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

trackbiker
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Location:Eastern PA

Posted: Apr 10, 2012 - 4:12 AM GMT

Edited: Apr 10, 2012 - 4:13 AM GMT

Cisco, Woody,
Believe me, I earn these perks!

I know my grass is going to be high when I get home. Looks like yardwork all next weekend.
Moab was unseasonable warm as was the winter according to the locals I talked to. Kids were swimming in the pool at the hotel every day. Two years ago it snowed. Very little snow on the Le Sal Mountains. Locals are worried about the water supply.
See my report on Powder Mountain.

jimk
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Aug 27, 2004
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Location:Wash DC area

Posted: Apr 10, 2012 - 5:48 PM GMT

Enjoy your stolen time in the white stuff while we cut the grass, wash the car, and help spouse with spring cleaning as pay-back for all the goofing off during ski season.

I have a grand total of one day each at Powder Mtn and Solitude, barely enough to scratch the surface at those places.

marcski
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Dec 14, 2003
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Location:Westchester Co., N.Y.

Posted: Apr 10, 2012 - 7:26 PM GMT

Nice report, way to get at it, Trackbiker!! I also agree with you about Alta and Snowbird being a notch or two above Solitude and Brighton. IMHO, Alta is the place for long, steep, sustained powder. But, I had a great day at Solitude last year. Beautiful place.

I think this is backcountry beyond Honeycomb canyon:

Jimme
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Location:6 miles West of Jiminy Peak, MA

Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 7:57 PM GMT

We laugh at 9" because Killington got about 20" in two days.

Kiddin' around, but the snow at K is a fact...

OK, Powder Mountain was a great report, but now Solitude? Now, I'm gettin' jealous....

Enjoy it!

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The Artful Dodger

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