April 15, 1998.
Tax day.
Where were you?
While millions were waiting in line for an all important postmark, a fortunate few were cashing in on what seemed an impossibility -- four to six inches of fresh, dry, powder, in the middle of April at a ski area in the heart of Southern California.
While Waterman is perhaps better known for the easy access it offers to some fine out of bounds skiing, a recent crack down by the local sheriff forced us to explore more fully the terrain within the boundaries. This proved no hindrance at all, as we were only competing with perhaps 50 other skiers for first tracks, and there was no shortage of good terrain within the ropes.
Fresh tracks could still be found even in the early afternoon.
Mark cuts some clean lines in the sparse woods beneath the lower lift.
Under the soft, levelling protection of the new fallen snow, some of the larger hits were just too tempting.
Mark and Al launch from snow covered rocks.
Indeed, the terrain below the lower lift at Waterman offers a seemingly endless variety of rolls, dips, and gullies. A wonderful playground in conditions like these.
Mark smears a turn off a small snowdrift.
Al skis a very tight line through the trees.
You might be wondering, "How's he gonna pull that one off?". Or perhaps, "Where's he going?". Actually, he's going to air a bit further, he's going to land in the middle of the two small saplings, he going to catch a pole on the left sapling, he's going to fall sideways, and he's going to slide at high speed, kneecaps first, into the large tree on the left. Ouch...
And if tight trees aren't exactly your thing, how about some tight rocks?
Mark scouting out and then skiing a narrow line through some rocks.
If skiing this good is the reward paying taxes brings, I'll be eagerly awaiting Uncle Sam's knocking next year.