Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Early Season in Alaska

Friends enjoying the deep snowpack in Turnagain Pass
The Alaskan winter season is in full swing as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.  We have seen a tremendous mix of conditions in the last few weeks of skiing. 

My season started with some exploration around Hatcher Pass and the Front Range here in Anchorage.  Initially, conditions were sparse.  Lightweight, wind blown snow was barely covering the earth beneath, but you take what you can get in late October.  Then I went south and visited Turnagain Pass for the first time this season in early November.  Things were very different there.  We were experience a big storm cycle that continuously dumped snow on the Kenai Peninsula.  My first few days out were spent trudging through thigh deep skin tracks with intermittent breaks in the sky to see the snow covered peaks that encompass the pass.  The skiing was difficult to say the least.  Without any breaks in the snowfall, the snowpack never had a chance to settle.  This meant DEEP conditions.  Too deep at times.  Every day was spent trying to find a steep enough pitch in the trees so that one could both see and attempt to turn.  Mostly we were unsuccessful with both of these tasks and simply reveled in the fact the we had feet upon feet of early season snow.

Alaska can be a finicky place, so I made every attempt to get out into the mountains while the snow and weather were cooperating.  I spent three weeks driving down to Turnagain on my days off to get some sweet turns in with short, but gloriously clear days. 

As I said before, the weather can be difficult here in the Last Frontier.  While I write this, I am staring at torrential rain and ice covered roads that have, most certainly, killed our wonderful snowpack.  Alas, it can't rain forever and when it's raining here it is snowing somewhere else.  So...now we play the waiting game and watch for the thermometer to drop.  Once we hit that magic number, the snow will return.  Until then, here are some photos from my early season adventures.

Enjoy!

 

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