Just about everyone is over winter here in Utah, and I suppose across the country for that matter. With the 70 degree temps we had last week nearly all thoughts of winter and sliding on snow has been traded in for a bike or golf clubs.  Me, I haven't traded in my Districts just yet.

A storm rolled through Utah leaving 8-15" of new snow over the weekend.  I had a lot going on and didn't think I'd get out until Monday, thinking I'd just head over to Deer Valley and skin up Bald Mountain for some solo turns.  Thenl my friend Matt phoned me up last night  to ask if I was up for a dawn patrol.  I ho-hummed...and then gave in.

After all, I knew it would be good.  It snowed all day Sunday after a Saturday storm.  The skies were clearing meaning the cold temps would suck even more moisture out of the snowpack.  Conditions were pretty stable.  I knew it would be good, I just didn't know it would be that good!

Arriving across the street from Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon we realized that on this Monday morning there were just a couple of people ahead of us. In fact, we'd end up skiing  past noon and talk to 3 people after putting in the skin track up Flagstaff (perhaps the most popular backcountry ski spot in all of Utah) out of Days and up Toledo.

It was quiet, very quiet in the mountains today. I suspect this is how it used to be when crowds meant sharing Days Fork with one other guy and the number of people you see could be counted on both hands, or perhaps one.

The snow?  See for yourself: