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Digg itAt the peak, the snow can be wind-blown and - more often then not - skied off. The terrain is so steep that with each turn, the quality snow is shaved off and pushed down the fall line. Also, Alpental frequently receives rain at the top of the mountain. When followed by freezing temperatures, rain may turn the first 10 to 15 turns to ice - rock-hard and ice blue on occasion.
Typically mid mountain is where the best snow is found. As the runs bottom out, the fall lines are less serious. The lighter snow that has been pushed down the mountain because of the steepness tends to build up, creating a soft blanket of hero snow. In addition, many of the lower narrow chutes are somewhat sheltered from the changing weather conditions. More stable temperatures make for more consistent snow. Because the temperatures at the top of Alpental are consistently five to 10 degrees colder than at the bottom of the mountain, expect to finish your run in the notorious "Cascade Concrete."
From the top, riders and skiers have two major choices: Edelweiss Bowl or International. Edelweiss is a medium-sized bowl with four steep, narrow chutes and just one semi-open run. Jagged peaks and huge cornices surround 75 percent of the bowl. Wanna-be extreme snowriders often pull off illegal stunts on the cliffs that surround trails like Rollen and The Fan. On big powder days they can cop as much as 40 feet of air. For some, the best part is that most of the cliffs are visible from the bottom of the chairlift. Big drops are guaranteed to earn loud cheers from folks standing in line. However, the reason these no-guts-no-glory skiers and riders can pull maneuvers like this is because they have the skills and the chutzpah!
"Nash," the local's affectionate nickname for International, is as steep as it gets in-bounds. The upper third of the trail is at least a 50-degree pitch. And even trickier are the two entrances to International. Both are intimidating. The first 20 feet or so are usually scraped off due to the high traffic in the entrances and the steepness of the terrain. The first few turns may be on rock-hard ice, but the gut of International is a fabulous ride. Each edge set causes miniature avalanches of cascading snow. It's terrain like International that makes for spectacular footage in Warren Miller ski flicks. In fact, Alpental was featured in Miller's 1998 film Freeriders. The steepest pitch on International is to the skier's right.
Following the right side of International will leads skiers and boarders to the entrance of Adrenaline. A narrow traverse between a high rock band and several evergreen trees spits them out onto its steep face. Ski far right again, and it becomes abundantly clear just how appropriate the name Adrenaline is. It's even steeper than International. Because of its location on the mountain, the far right side of Adrenaline is less cut up than the rest of the trail. Here lies the best snow on the mountain.
After surviving the intensely cool but somewhat hairball descent of Adrenaline, skiers and boarders find themselves on Lower Nash. Lower Nash is typically a mixture of wicked bumps and sloppy mashed potatoes, and it couldn't come at a worse time. Carving up International and Adrenaline is hell on the thighs. Next comes monstrous moguls with a layer of heavy crud on top. After abusing their knees at Alpental, skiers can take pride in knowing that they can ride almost anywhere in the world under any conditions.
After big dumps, this upper area is often closed in the early morning to allow the ski patrol to conduct avalanche control work. On good snow days, however, powder mongers stand in line at the bottom of Chair 2, the Edelweiss double, to ride to the top. They know just how good first tracks can be when the upper runs are blanketed in fresh snow. Hardcore Alpental fans have been known to wait as long as two hours to carve a bowl of freshies. There is nothing quite like linking turns in a foot of fresh light powder on Alpental's precariously challenging pitches.
Alpental also offers snowriders a uniquely old-fashioned ski experience. Over 750 acres of cliffs, steep chutes, and 500-year-old forest are open for skiing in the Alpental backcountry. While unpatrolled and unmarked, Alpental's backcountry is a wicked adventure. A high, narrow traverse takes skiers and boarders out to lay tracks in untouched virgin snow nearly every day of the week. Just be sure to check in first with the Pro Patrol. Before snowriders can legally enter the backcountry on their own, they must sign up for and take a backcountry tour with the patrollers. After the tour, the patrollers will provide backcountry passes. Always carry avalanche beacons and snow shovels and only venture into the backcountry with an experienced guide.
Copyright © 2001 Globe Pequot Press
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