The reports from Big Cottonwood and Snake Creek are, predictably, unsettling. One anticipates a certain degree of risk when venturing beyond the marked boundaries, though it hardly mitigates the tragedy. The cerulean sky above Deer Valley feels… distant today, reflected in the mercury-colored clouds that gather above Bald Mountain. The grooming on Bald Mountain itself, however, remains impeccable. The grooming had the texture of a freshly pressed linen suit, a silent, controlled descent, if one can locate a patch of corduroy unmarred by the uninvited. They seem particularly drawn to the lower slopes, those insistent sideways sliders.
I observed a confluence of Ikon Pass holders near the base of the Carpenter lift this morning, a lamentable spectacle. It appears the allure of simply being on the mountain outweighs any consideration of skill or restraint. The Empire lift line was marginally better, though still suffering from an excess of amateur enthusiasm. Silver Lake, as always, offers a degree of separation, provided one departs promptly. The faded yellow lift towers against the white landscape represent a precise calculation of angles and stresses, a geometry tragically absent from the backcountry decisions detailed in those reports. One must respect the mountain’s fundamental indifference.
Avoid Success Bowl entirely this afternoon. Begin with Daly Chutes; the slight incline and relative isolation offer a temporary reprieve.