Lessons Learned
The safer bet is to ski mellow pow on your first lap. I ski this exact line all the time, and this past Monday I had a casual alpine start of 9:45 so this was not part opening powder panic but when you haven't tested the conditions yet you should ski the mellow pow. I was having a wonderful time skiing until halfway with a triple tomahawk and a fractured heel. Gotta pay to play.
I hope to be skiing again by spring!