snowbird storm skiing

**bicyclekick** · 02-22-2008, 09:38 AM

I haven't been to snowbird in a few years and it was only a half day and like 10 years ago I skied the whole mountain but don't remember it super well.

I'm coming on saturday with a snowboarder and they are forecasting a big wind/snow event for sunday so I was wondering where the best area for these conditions are during the storm. I'm not looking for anyones secret stashes or anything, I just want a little better visibility/shelter from the wind. I usually ski the wildcat area at alta when it starts nuking so something similar to that would be great. Just normal 'advanced' terrain...nothing sick.

Judging by the map Gad 2 looks like the best bet. I know the peak can be nasty off the tram but heard the new Peruvian chair doesn't reach that high, how does that stuff fair? Or the backside off of peruvian? I feel like I remember the backside is pretty exposed but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
Brian

**Ottime** · 02-22-2008, 09:42 AM

Depends on wind direction/speed. Gad II is probably best. Peruvian can be a go during a wind event - depends. Can still be a tough ride up. Top will close in strong winds as will Mineral.

**Skidog** · 02-22-2008, 10:07 AM

Gad 2 would be my bet...or leave the snowboarder to his/her own devices and come ski the real stuff at Alta

M

**bicyclekick** · 02-22-2008, 10:20 AM

They say the wind is going to be from the south...which I gather isn't that normal from reading the forecast discussion a lot. That would mean it would be coming up mineral and down the front more? How would this effect things?

**frozenwater** · 02-22-2008, 11:37 AM

Little CLoud without a doubt. It might look sketch from the base of the lift, but stick with it.

**bicyclekick** · 02-22-2008, 12:37 PM

I skied little cloud a few years ago... The year the lookers right slid is that where youre talking about cause I think we traversed lookers left and that was open and I remeber getting blasted by the wind ESP on the traverse. Maybe my memory is failing me though.

SkiBumOfVT · 02-22-2008, 01:57 PM

I would stick to the trees in Gad II on little cloud and mineral basin you get so fucked up with inversion and vertigo during big storms. just my experiences with it

**birdman34** · 02-22-2008, 02:29 PM

Mineral Basin. Snowbird is one of the worst in storms.

**Shin-to-Win** · 02-22-2008, 02:47 PM

Quick hijack, wifey and I will be heading to zion tomorrow, skiing Sun-Tues. How's the snow holding up, looks like some, but not much, is on the way. Trying to decide which sticks to bring, pow (Gots), or more all around (stiff Bros).

**Johnny Deep** · 02-22-2008, 03:19 PM

The Cirque. It's protected from both the south and northwest wind. Should be deep too.

**Woodsy** · 02-22-2008, 03:33 PM

tram laps on a storm day are awesome.
Tram is less wind susceptable than it used to be.
just gotta be bundled/buckled up when the door opend and clickin quick and go.....

**cdlv** · 02-22-2008, 03:43 PM

north and east faces off of the cirque( except for getting there off the tram) and gad two are all fun in storms. just enough trees to give you a sense of depth in storm conditions.

SkiBumOfVT · 02-22-2008, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Shin-to-Win

Quick hijack, wifey and I will be heading to zion tomorrow, skiing Sun-Tues. How's the snow holding up, looks like some, but not much, is on the way. Trying to decide which sticks to bring, pow (Gots), or more all around (stiff Bros).

by all means bring your goats, its supposed to be really deep by monday morning.

**Wibby** · 02-22-2008, 06:20 PM

make sure you bring some sort of face protection...

**eysikal** · 02-22-2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by DSWHAT?

make sure you bring some sort of face protection...

Seconded. Not a joke. I've been frostbitten/frostnipped more than once at the bird during a storm. Even today on the last run as it got pretty stormy I was noticing some early signs of getting too cold.

**BushwackerinPA** · 02-22-2008, 10:34 PM

Man up and ski the tram, ideally conditions are so bad noone else can stomach it. also skiing the tram on storm day get you nearlly 3000 feet of vertical with a quick downhill traverse, alta about half of that after you traverse out the High T.

Other than that Gad-2 and Zoom actually have some really fun tree skiing, avoid Little Cloud and Mineral Basin like plague. P-Dog eh....lots of time being hit by wind and snow when you could just be on a tram.