Tips

Tips on How-To Maximize Fun-ness on a Powder Day


With all of the recent snow falling here in Utah it got me thinking about the pre-powder and day-of rituals that I perform to get myself into the perfect position to get some of the freshies.  I have been going to many resorts here on Pow Days and none of them seem to make life easy to get fresh lines, mainly because a mass amount of Utah residents take off work simply for the snow.  Yep, it truly is THAT addicting.  To have the
most successful powder day you need to prepare yourself for the day ahead.  Here are some tips for just that.

THE NIGHT BEFORE YOU NEED TO...

1.  WAX/TUNE GEAR

This just makes the mornings a hell-of-a-lot less hectic plus it can save you about 10-25 minutes depending on exactly what you need to do when tweaking your gear.

2.  MAKE A LUNCH

What is the best lunch to make?  The simple answer: A lunch that will not slow you down while up on the slopes.  My suggestion is to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that can simply be stuffed in a backpack or any jacket pockets.  If I bring water with me I usually bring a small pack, put everything in one pack and throw it at the top of the lift somewhere.  If you do this you will see that no one will mess with it because that is just not in the mentality of the mountain community.  I have done it so many times now.  Many people come off of the chairs for lunch.  That is ludicrous!  My idea of a perfect lunch anyway, is one done so on a chairlift with snow falling in the mountains.  So romantic. ;)  This saves about 10 minutes.

3.  PACK CAR

Simply put.  Make sure you got everything you need with your favorite powder deck(s), different colored lens of goggles, gloves (extra pair even), backpack, food, helmet, beanies, and whatever else you bring with you up the mountain.  I also suggest bringing a shovel just in case it starts to storm up at the resort you are parked at.  This saves about 10 minutes.

TOTAL TIME SAVED...30 - 45 minutes!  You will need that time for later, trust me!

MORNING OF...

4.  PLAN WHEN TO LEAVE FOR CANYON ROAD

This can take some skill and experience because it takes predictions and estimation to be truly successful.  Here in Utah we get canyon closings all the time.  Two scenarios can happen here:

Scenario 1:  Little Cottonwood Canyon (where Snowbird and Alta are located) is predicted to get hit with 12 inches of snow throughout Wednesday and into the night.  Ski patrol/road officials decide not to close the canyon overnight because they feel the canyon road will be ready to drive on over night.  First chair is at 9:00am.  First tram (Snowbird) is at 8:30am.  You need to plan to get up the canyon BEFORE those times otherwise you will be stuck in traffic.  Something to note here, I suggest to go as early as possible.  If it feels like it is ridiculous to wake up THAT early, then it is right on time.  I personally have tried making it up to Snowbird by giving myself an ETA of 8:00am and have been stuck in traffic for at least an hour and 15 minutes.  I would suggest shooting for an ETA of 7:00am or earlier to err on the safe side.  I know people who go get up to resorts at 5:00am; they hang out and cook a mountain-side breakfast.  De-licious!

Scenario 2:  Little Cottonwood Canyon is predicted to get hit with 22 inches of snow throughout Wednesday and into the night.  Ski patrol/road officials end up deciding to close the canyon overnight (usually by midnight) to do avalanche control.  This leaves the open time of the canyon at around 8:30am - 9:30am.  What is happening during that time?  People are driving up the canyon to the maximum point that the Canyon road officials will allow them to reach, creating a massive line.  How do you avoid this?  Get up early enough and beat the hardcore?  HA!  NOPE!  You be even more hardcore and drive up the canyon the night before and sleep in your car OR find a nice, cozy couch at the lodge or nearest resort hotel for the night.  (Please be discreet with this one, go to an upper floor and do not sleep in the lobby of hotels.  It just looks bad).

NOTE 1:  Need to plan for 4x4 and chains required sign to be lit up.  I do not know how long it may take you to put on chains but you need to add that time as well to your planning process.  You can check before you leave if you need chains by visiting sites like Utah Commuter Link.  I am not sure what other sites there are for other states, sorry!

Note 2: If traveling by bus, get the earliest bus possible.  You are not the first one to think that the bus is the best/safest option.  They fill up fast so get it early and get the bus at one of it's earliest stops.

DAY OF...
5.  ENJOY THE POWDER!

I am the little head buried in the snow.  NOT YAY.
For maximum enjoyment, never come off of the lift.  For 10 minutes you are not on the lift, someone else is hitting the line that YOU should be hitting.  You want to take a lunch?  Remember tip #2?  Yeah, pull out that sandwich while in line or on chair, it is so rewarding.  You will get a ton of stares because many people come unprepared and bring no food.  To maximize runs, plan on getting on less popular lifts.  Even if the terrain is not as extreme, I would still do that instead of waiting in a huge line.  Also, realize that many tourists are going to hit the obvious lines.  I would work some of the less traveled terrain, which can lead to both steeper but also shallow as well.  Finally, realize how much snow is out there.  If there is 22 inches, then there is a safe bet you need some serious steeps and speed to keep going otherwise you are going to get stuck.  It has happened to me quite a bit.

END OF DAY...

6.  LEAVE LATE

Remember that mass crowd who you just beat up to the resort the night/morning before?  Well, they have to go home now that the day is done.  Suggestion, take your time leaving to descend the canyon road.  You are either going to wait in line or could wait in the bar.  Getting good food and beer, supporting your favorite resorts is what I ALWAYS do!  A good beer is the end all (in my opinion) to the best end of a powder day.

There yeah go guys!  Hope you enjoyed your day of pow and with these tips, that day can be maximized to its full fun-ness.

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Meet the Author:
Steve W Weiss: Snowboarder, Climber, Beer drinker...oh and Blogger.  Cleveland-native who moved West to Utah to fulfill a life of mountain fun.  Keep up with me on my Twitter or Facebook!
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Weiss

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1 comments

  1. UnknownThursday, April 12, 2012

    So true, I've mostly been around colorado but that buried picture looks awesome! Might have to make a Utah Road Trip Soon. You guys should put up some more pictures of some of this Utah pow.

    Did you catch the Red Bull Supernatural event? I just put up a post on it, Check it out: http://stepoutsidenow.blogspot.com/2012/04/red-bull-supernatural.html

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