MikeSandy.net

News Post

August Skiing!

ALTA, UT — Steve plans to ski every month this year. With that goal of his, and a sliver of snow still left on Gunsight at Alta Ski Area, he invited me to join him on another summer ski day.

I met Steve at the 6200 South park and ride parking lot. The hike to Gunsight this time would be markedly easier than last July because the road up to the campground in Albion Basin was open.

Unfortunately, however, by the time we arrived at Alta a little after 11:00 AM, the parking lot at the campground was full, so we were relegated to riding the bus.

We put all our stuff together at the car, and walked over to the bus stop where we were met with odd glances by the much less "adventurous" contingent of people waiting to ride up into Albion Basin to catch a glimpse of the wildflowers.

There was certainly no way to hide the fact that I was going to attempt to ski some unseen patch of snow because my skis, which were lashed to each side of my pack and rubber-banded together at the top to look like a big letter "A", stick out like a sore thumb compared to the fanny pack-wearing baby boomers at the bus stop. To make matters worse, the bus was full and so we had to jam our packs in an odd place on the bus so they'd fit.

I do, however, derive some satisfaction from the absurdity of skiing patches of snow on 100 degree days in August. I can count on one hand the people who passed us on the trails that didn't ask a question or make a comment. And the ones who didn't just looked at us funny and then looked around for a patch of snow, only to find endless acres of wildflowers and a few unreachable patches of snow high on the cliffs of Devil's Castle.

If they only knew how simple it is: 1) put ski boots in pack; 2) lash skis to side of pack; 3) throw in a bottle of water and a camera; 4) hike less than a mile to the base of the snow; 5) walk up the snow; 6) put ski boots on feet and hiking boots in pack; 7) ski; 8) take ski boots off and put hiking boots back on; 9) walk down; 10) drink celebratory beer.

For many, that's a hell of a lot of effort for a couple hundred vertical feet of skiing on bad snow, but it's the novelty and the absurdity that makes it worth it every time. We were at least the third group to ski Gunsight that day. Those who came before us, in fact, cleaned up the run with their turns, so the skiing was actually pretty damn good. See you on the snow in September. I hope.

Here are a couple photos from Steve's camera...
* Me hiking up Gunsight #1
* Me hiking up Gunsight #2

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★