Mindful of last year's naturally-triggered slides (see pic below), "Baldy Bill" and I headed out to the double black diamond run, Psych Out. As we began ski-cutting the slopes above the rock bands, we were not disappointed. All of the glades and bowls ripped out and ran down the mountain as we skied into their crowns. Soft slabs 10" to 20" deep slid and piled up at the base of the runs as multiple two-man teams controlled the slopes on the lower mountain. I won the prize for the biggest results for a slide that made it to the base with a deposition zone up to 8' deep.
Tuesday we were back for more. Another 18" to 20" of cold snow had fallen but, this time, absent of wind. The results: ultra-light, deep powder the consistency of little styrofoam packing pellets. Easy to ski cut and even more fun to ski, after digging the lifts out we controlled the hazard areas and went freeskiing!
Naturally-triggered slides below the cliffs of Psych Out in January 2008
Same area cleared out by ski cutting February 2009
Nightmare caught and held lots of snow and was outstanding!
Pow Pow Fever induced the locals to pick up a shovel when it came time to dig Chair One out. Baldy is like one big family---we have a few black sheep of course, but we are bound to one another by mutual love and respect for that mountain!
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