Traffic continued to be light, with just a hand full of dedicated souls showing up for the first boat this morning. On Regulator, the surface was smooth, firm, and nicely prepared, offering good traction, and some loose wind accumulated sections that let you dial in some needed speed reduction. The light was super flat and dark with the Sun still rising later everyday. However, with the great cover, consistent industrial smoothing, and predictable pitch changes, it was easy to keep a good cadence top to bottom. Big Emma also was offering some freshly tilled lines that made those early laps dialable and controlled.

Off the prepared lines is very thin and the interference patterns on the right side of Big Emma are very abrupt and difficult. Best to leave them for softer days. Tomorrow, look for more light traffic, smooth training runs, and good vibes from the excited sliders enjoying these early season moments. Keep it real!!

It is very dark early in the morning these days with very light traffic for the opening bell. Energy is high and the first runs down Regulator are smooth with freshly tilled lines that are fun and dialable. This morning was a tad firmer than yesterday, but there was plenty of loose dust on the mat to let even untuned skis grabbing some traction. That flat light is rough for the first hour.

Lower on the hill, the surface had been freshly tilled and keeping a training pace without any pressure top to bottom was fun.

. Big Emma was firm, but offered fair traction to make the turn for the Bass Highway. The new Mid Gad facility has taken shape and will be a great addition to the hill when it is complete. The Crews did a great job putting this up and getting it closed in for the season.

I have lots of great memories from the early days of this facility. Tomorrow, look for more smooth dialing for the opening bell. Expect still firm conditions, but there will be good traction to keep you close to the fall line. I expect continued light traffic, so take advantage of this early season peace on the hill. Dial it up, dial it in!!!

I stepped thought the Portal yesterday quietly as I returned from my short trip off Planet, and the horses in the coral just stared and went back to eating grain. I was up and at ’em early and got my locker sussed after a long absence and got ready for the day. It was great to see the First Tram Crew waiting for the door to open for the first lift of the season to the peak.

The available terrain is limited, but the coverage is very good top to bottom on the prepared line. The Snow Making Crew did a great job covering Regulator and the majority of the top to bottom path with a dry, chalky, and silky feel, which gave plenty of traction. Those first few runs really felt delightful, which was a plus for the first turns of the season, that seemed to come back with no problem. The traffic was light for the opening bell, but the folks were filling in as the morning progressed and the hill became busy.

Tomorrow, look for much lighter traffic and a refreshed surface with some additional snow making efforts, that will provide more dry chalky turning. Dry weather is in the forecast, but I think the tide will turn and bring a string of precipitation when the door opens. Watch for black ice in the lower canyon in the AM as the inversion drops the temps down low. See you there for the early morning laps. Keep it real.