Alta, flat?

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 03:42 PM

I think I may spend this season at LCC over Squaw but I just can't get past one thing. The only time I've been to LCC was 15 years ago as a kid. All I remember about Alta was the shitload of snow and the shitload of traversing. All I remember about Snowbird was the pain of having to stand up all day on their lift and their odd and strange concrete base layout. Now that I look at their maps and pictures more the one thing I can't get away from is how flat Alta seems. I see the steeps at the Bird but I have the Powder Hounds Guide to Alta that lists all the steepest runs at Alta along with their pitch and it appears the whole resort is flat. It seems that at Alta steep starts at 30 degrees and stops at 45. I spent 2 seasons at Mammoth and steep there only just started at 45 degrees and ended at 60..... or when your skis were no longer touching the ground. Is Alta really as flat as the photos look and as the guide book claims? With Mineral Basin not appearing much better I'm afraid I might be confined to the front face of the Bird all season long.

**alias** · 09-10-2008, 03:49 PM

From my experience it really depends on the snow pack. Deeper years and things really start to get steep.

**SiSt** · 09-10-2008, 03:49 PM

You´re not confusing degrees and percentage?

I skied Kvitfjell (olympic downhill -94) this winter, and the steepest slope is rated at 64%, which is infinitely less than 64 degrees.

(Thinking 100% means 45 degrees, this is in accord with the average steepness of the entire mountain when dividing baseline with vertical drop.)

Edit: 64% is still very, very steep.

**llyon** · 09-10-2008, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by alias

From my experience it really depends on the snow pack. Deeper years and things really start to get steep.

I actually find it to be the other way around. It seems to me that once the base starts going over 100, things get flatter and flatter.

**skiski** · 09-10-2008, 03:54 PM

Yes, it is very flat. Sometimes, even when they groom, you have to pole to go downhill. i honestly don't think i've ever even needed to turn there. they won't let you build kickers because you'd just land flat at the bottom. the whole mountain is that small. i think it's like 200' of vert, max, bro. and snowbird's not much better, though at least they let you snowboard.
There's a reason that all things X-treme start at squaw. squaw is simply the sikkest, raddest mountain in the US.

**RobertTries** · 09-10-2008, 03:55 PM

Alta is not flat. If you want to get to some of the better places in Alta, you have to traverse and hike. Sidestepping is a must. Snowbird has more "lift access" (read: no sidestepping) steeps, but Alta keeps the riff raff out.

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by SiSt

You´re not confusing degrees and percentage?

I skied Kvitfjell (olympic downhill -94) this winter, and the steepest slope is rated at 64%, which is infinitely less than 64 degrees.

(Thinking 100% means 45 degrees, this is in accord with the average steepness of the entire mountain when dividing baseline with vertical drop.)

Edit: 64% is still very, very steep.

If %100 is 45 degrees then %64 is 29 degrees. Bro I've been skiing for a bit, and 29 degrees is NOT steep. Steep for me starts at about 45 degrees but even then I would expect it to at least be a tight chute or something with maybe a cliff or two near by.

**SkiED** · 09-10-2008, 04:00 PM

yep altas flat. thats why its one of the most popular resorts on here ya know, cause we all like to ski flat runs. What kind of stupid question is that?

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by RobertTries

Alta is not flat. If you want to get to some of the better places in Alta, you have to traverse and hike. Sidestepping is a must. Snowbird has more "lift access" (read: no sidestepping) steeps, but Alta keeps the riff raff out.

So what I'm understanding then is Alta is mostly about a whole shitload of knooks and crannies that can't neatly be labeled and defined in a guidebook as runs and that a lot of those knooks and crannies are in fact pretty steep and fun?

**DARYLL** · 09-10-2008, 04:00 PM

Get a topo map as that should have the facts. There are alot of basins at alta as its at the top of a canyon. What leads into those basins varies in steepness and lenght. It is not as steep as squaw, but its the snow not the terrian. If that helps as anywhere is fun on a pow day.

**StraightChuter** · 09-10-2008, 04:03 PM

Alta is an acronym for "A Lot of Traversing Around."

advres · 09-10-2008, 04:04 PM

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 04:07 PM

Holy crap Advres that is awesome!..... Unfortunately though I think it confirms my fears. Got one for the Bird?

**ptavv** · 09-10-2008, 04:09 PM

man

cecret lift is gnar

**grubbers** · 09-10-2008, 04:10 PM

it seems alta has not been drinking enough mountain dew to keep up with the extremeness that is mammoth...

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by grubbers

it seems alta has not been drinking enough mountain dew to keep up with the extremeness that is squaw...

Dude I haven't even ever been to Squaw, but I can tell you from looking at the pics and going through Squallywood I would definitely not describe it as flat (especially when everyone at Mammoth considers Squaw to be steeper and I don't consider Mammoth to be flat).

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 04:16 PM

Man those 3dskimaps are awesome. Almost makes me want to move to Jackson Hole instead

advres · 09-10-2008, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Big Balls

Man those 3dskimaps are awesome. Almost makes me want to move to Jackson Hole instead

Yeah, he did a damn good job on them!

**Dirty Hoar** · 09-10-2008, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Big Balls

If %100 is 45 degrees then %64 is 29 degrees. Bro I've been skiing for a bit, and 29 degrees is NOT steep. Steep for me starts at about 45 degrees but even then I would expect it to at least be a tight chute or something with maybe a cliff or two near by.

Don't forget to factor in radness. If your radness factor is too high then everything gets really flat. Sounds like you have too much radness.

**Jer** · 09-10-2008, 04:46 PM

Alta is for cocksmokers. The Canyons are where it's at.

**SkiED** · 09-10-2008, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jer

The Canyons are where it's at.

Is that english moron?... or should i say "are that english?"

Big Balls · 09-10-2008, 04:54 PM

Though those maps make Alta look steeper the Snowbird which I know is not true, and it makes them both look flat as hell compared to Jackson Hole. I also noticed on Squaw's theres a lot of popular spots that aren't even rated. Like look at The Fingers, it's rated like it doesn't exist. But for a GENERAL idea I think they are good maps.

**grateful2ski** · 09-10-2008, 05:10 PM

TR was made awesome by that site post, those 3d maps are serious cool...i knew i liked a-basin best for a reason...and a trip to jackson hole has to happen, thanks for the post.