I'll just say it once: this ski season sucks, and it looks like late May here now, at best, without the corn. That comment is for context only, mostly for non-locals.
So I've gotten out a day here and there to find the expected thin and variable conditions. I've been staying local because the snow farther away isn't really that much better for the time and effort. A mid-storm Eddies investigation day was pleasant aside from high winds and avy danger. South Fork Eagle River offered a chalky run off Harp which was the best one out of there, then a highly variable bowl run that left me frustrated with whatever I feel like pointing the finger at. A peak three outing was hike-to on ice, but surprisingly ski-able up high with good enough visibility. Despite the relatively poor conditions I find that still I would rather be out there enjoying the mountains, the skiing, the company, the quiet, whatever, than being in town and working or running errands or anything related to urban life and busyness.
Today I wasn't working but had in-town urban obligations necessary to keep the ski-life alive on other days off. I was eyeing the front-range all day and noticed precipitation that looked like snow, then rain, then maybe snow again? I got home near 4pm and decided that I would hurry to check it out up high near Arctic Valley, opting for potential disappointment(or reward? (hope is not gone)) over wallowing in boredom/regret/annoyance the rest of the evening.
I found a slushy and melting road all the way up until the parking lot where 4"+ of fresh moist snow greeted me. I could work with that. With no signs of anyone else today I skinned up and chose the most favorable looking slope, knowing sunset would be soon, and raced my butt to the top in hopes of catching that one incredible unset lap on the fresh and un-tracked West-facing slope.
My mind was blown. Here I was grumbling on the inside, then somewhat excited about the 4", then, ironically, I saw the most incredible sunset during my time in AK. I had just skied that coveted sunset lap mentioned above and was transitioning to do another if light allowed and bam, it hit my eyeballs/mind/soul like a slap in the face. The purest and most intense sunset colors highlighted the silhouette of purple mountains across the arm, large flakes of the scarce commodity I had sought all winter hazily blended those same colors without hindering the brightness of the sun or losing the crispness of each individual flake falling. The clouds were coming and going around the mountainsides below and the ghostly shadow of precipitation on the periphery of the skyline made the whole vista all-encompassing. I stopped skinning for that next lap, it was too good. My phone died so I couldn't take pics and for the better because they wouldn't have done it any justice.
I skied a partial lap down and out, totally satisfied with less than enough vertical, less than deep powder, less than a full day, and Lucy less than exercised, but more than I needed.
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