The ski industry faces an unnecessary battle against the weather every year. As the calendar turns to November, the general population rushes our natural weather cycles to start skiing prematurely by means of artificial snowmaking and limited terrain. Ironic that ski areas race each other to open; spending millions of dollars for lackluster results, when the best skiing conditions often come in the late spring (when the snowpack is deepest). Depending on the regional conditions year to year, we pack skis along with our kayaks and bikes to road trip in search of the fleeting 'Corn Cycle'. You can have your summer activities, skiing in T-shirts with soft snow and sunshine totally beats not skiing.
Finding quality corn snow conditions is a complete gamble. You need 99% to go right with respect to weather, sun, snowpack and a million other anomalies for it form. I love skiing in the late spring/early summer because it takes us to ski destinations that are polar opposite of what drives powder chasing in mid winter; we seek sun, lack of storms and high alpine terrain. Visiting Timberline, Arapahoe Basin or Squaw seems to be more exciting, more relaxed and just plain more enjoyable in the closing weeks as opposed to peak winter. Aggro crowds have long gone and the general skill level onhill skyrockets. For high mountain passes closed all winter, spring becomes the waiting game of tackling lines you couldn't reach for months. Often asked where we'll head when the lifts close in Alta, Baker or Taos, it all comes down to snow...
This is my favorite 'Corn Chowder': lines and locations burned into my mind.
Zig Zag Glacier, Mount Hood OR.
A short hike above the Palmer chairlift and a double pole traverse west towards the sprawl of Portland, takes you to the expanse that is the Zig Zag glacier. Starting in May and often lasting into July, the Zig Zag affords those 2-3,000 foot descents with perfect wind buffed cream, allowing you to arc turn after turn to your hearts content.
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| Typical day on the Zig Zag glacier. |
Chute 2 Beartooth Basin & the Rock Creek Headwall, Beartooth Pass, WY/MT.
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| Rock Creek Headwall in low tide, but high stoke. |
Lake Reveal, Arapahoe Basin, Colorado.
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| Crowd lined up for carnage at the Basin. |
Chair 23, Mammoth Mountain, CA.
If there was one place to crown the capital for late season corn skiing, it would have to be Mammoth Mountain. With it's high elevation, clear nights and low chance for rain, it's hard to believe people stop skiing Mammoth in April, when the mountain conditions don't seem to peak until May and onwards. Chasing the softening snow from Cornice Bowl to Dave's to Climax is easily one of the best ski days anytime of year.
*The Eastern Sierra backcountry does not have corn. Stay in your home range.*
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| Chair 23 in late July, Waaay better than it looks. |
4th of July Bowl, Independence Pass, Colorado.
Another high mountain pass closed all winter, the opening of Independence Pass in late May/Early June seems to draw skiers out of the woodwork. The draw of Indy Pass is easy access with serious vertical and some of the safer avalanche conditions that Colorado sees. So many great lines exist in every direction it can be hard to pick where to start, the most classic is 4th of July Bowl but my special nod goes to the North coolie of Grizzly (don't try it).
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| Yours truly finding kernels in 4th of July Bowl. |