Happy New Year! The Wasatch got one of those over performer snow storms the day before New Years Eve. In fact it was snowing for a 24 hour period where it just kept adding to the totals. I decided to end my year the way I started it, in the mountains on the splitboard. The forecast was for arctic conditions with a balmy 9 degrees forecasted with a wind chill of -14. I for sure packed the cold weather gear. I made my way up to the Guardsman gate and got parked and booted up. It was pretty warm in the sun, so I figured it could not be that cold for the walk in. Once I got strapped in and moved from the sun to the shade it was about 20 degrees difference. Half way up the road to the starting point in the meadow my eye lashes were freezing together and I had to ditch the sunglasses so I could see. The snow was really good but a bit sticky meaning cold temps usually make new snow slow going. Something I would address on the ride home.
NYE Tour Report- 12.31.2018 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.
From the turnoff, I noticed there were some folks in the west meadow doing what I think were beacon drills. Possibly an avalanche class out in the field. It was cool to see people interested in snow safety. I made my turn into the trees and moved up the Promise Land. I was breaking trail all the way from the road. It seems to me maybe someone took the road to the false summit and took a line out because there was no skin track in, just two tracks out. I made it pretty quickly up to the spot that I went to last time, and continued up further to the ridge where the false summit connects. It was bitter cold in the wind up there so I actually skied in about 50 yards down into the trees to get out of the wind to do the change over. The cold was bitting and I put on the insulated jacket and a dry beanie, then proceeded to switch things over from touring mode to ride mode. When putting my pack together for the drop, I grabbed the hydration hose on my bladder in my pack and it broke! I have never seen a hydration tube do that! I had to empty my water out because It would have leaked on me all the way out. After getting everything finally situated I made the drop. The snow was deep and I was just crusing in the trees and making turns in really great snow. Once I hit the road I had to skate my way to the car because the snow was very sticky cold. A great day in the mountains despite the bitter temps. Enjoy the photo and videos! More adventures to come!
Promise Land #2- 12.31.18 from CPPhoto on Vimeo.
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