Day 2 - Alta - Dan's Shoulder Run

On Day 2, Saturday, March 3rd, we just had to go back to the mecca. We started off the day on the Albion side of the mountain and we were hoping for the rope to drop at Devil's Castle. After the rides up Albion, then Sugarloaf lifts, Dave (a local and friend of Tep/Brett who we started the day with) determined that the Castle wouldn't open until later so we headed to the Collins side of the mountain. Dan, Jeff's son, is a liftie at Alta and was running the Collins lift today. After a thigh-burner of a first run down Stone Crusher and Lone Pine, we saw Dan at the base of the lift. He told us that the rope at Ballroom had just dropped so we knew where we were going now.

This is where our group of 7 or 8 split up as the others didn't want to wait in the line to get onto the dance floor of the Ballroom. There was no question that we, Mark, Jeff and I, were going to take our place in the queue for a chance to dance with the Lady in White. And was it worth the pain of the slow traverse into the bowl? Hmmm. I'll let you look at these pictures and decide for yourself.

On our third dance in the Ballroom, Dan joined us for one run on the Shoulder. These photos give you an idea of what two years and 100+ ski days at Alta (and youth) looks like on skis. Dan shredded this run with the speed I've never dared attempt. Of course, he was on monster big boards that virtually demand that he ski this way. You can tell he's going fast by that awesome long contrail behind him.

Dan at Mach 10 on the Shoulder (Note proud daddy watching from above)

Dan Shreds It