With 5″of fresh Essence overnight, the pack is still building in, adding valuable higher density product to cushion the ride. The Freeride Comp. qualifier is being held this week and there are a lot of very good skiers on the hill anxious to get after the great lines lined up on upper Silverfox and other areas of the hill that are slated for the comp. The overnight addition was fairly dense, but had a cold quality that kept it dry and silky. Those untracked lines were really special, with Mineral Basin offering long wide open aspects that were fun, but very difficult to discern with the visibility that was happening with the continuing snow fall. The traverses and entrances are improving with each addition, and more of the hill is coming alive. I was out looking off trail, finding soft lines with only faint echos of the old layer, but that layer is still reverberating, so be aware of a glitch or two.

Mikey M sent this shot of his line out on Baldy. He is always up and first out there most openings, and today was no exception. He drives a hard direct line all day long. Tomorrow, look for more great lines to be on tap as more areas open, great machine worked lines that will be sooooo smooth in the early hours of the morning, so get after it as it won’t last long. I’ll be looking for those sleeper lines that were hiding in the fog today, so keep an eye out for the freshness where it may be found. Stop and watch some of the competitors that will be sending some awe inspiring moves on the hill, which is totally prime for such a comp. Stay Frosty!!!

More Essence was delivered overnight and The Faithful got the memo and mounted a full court press for the goods. Parking was at a premium at 7:45 AM and the stoke was high. On the hill, lots of fresh lines were on tap just waiting for mitigation efforts to be completed. It was a great weekend wrap up and those that showed up were not disappointed with the product. It is great to have these kind of soft deeper conditions after a long stretch of firmer sliding. Visibility was marginal and the snow fall was continually dumping during the morning session, which kept the free refills going.

My friend Dave M. sent this shot he took of a porcupine making it’s way across the slope today. Nobody wants to be left out of getting the goods. Tomorrow, look for more soft snow sliding, with areas that did not open today, perhaps opening. Still there is plenty of terrain in which to find soft snow goodness that will bring up a face shot or two. The machine worked lines will be spectacular, with velvet consistency and smooth gliding top to bottom. I’ll be scoping those out first to get the best of it before it gets worked. Visibility may improve, but I don’t think the flow is done with us just yet. See you there for the morning lines. Dial it up, Dial it in!!!

The flow of moisture into The Front continues, bringing fresh essence with each passing day. With the warming temps of this past impulse, the consistency was a bit heavier than in past deliveries. This made for some interesting variations in the pack and kept you on your toes. Visibility was tricky once again, and traffic was stout, but it is a holiday weekend and Powder is on tap, so you had to know this going in. The prepared lines were holding up nicely, though they did become choppy as the day progressed.

You got to love it when the trees get flocked like this, as it means the pack is getting good wall to wall. Tomorrow, look for more additional accumulation overnight, and continued strong attendance. There will be fresh lines all over the hill and a sharp eye and inner knowing will guide your path. More snow is in the forecast this coming week and it is just going to get better with each passing impulse. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!

The product is piling up after this stretch of recent accumulation. A Canyon closure backed up The Faithful, but they were stoked and ready to get after it. Precipitation was still ongoing as the day began, and the new essence was just what the doctor ordered after that long stretch of firmer conditions. The underlying substrate was fairly smooth, so that makes for a much better ride with this new cushion.

There is more snow in the forecast, and more areas waiting to open. Tomorrow, look for more great conditions on the hill with strong attendance. I’ll be pulling out the wider sticks to take advantage of that deeper pack. The prepared lines will be offering ego turns top to bottom with most folks working the off trail. Keep an eye out. The coverage is much improved and those traverses and entrances are getting better, but caution is still advised and a precise approach will pay dividends. Stay Frosty!!!

There was mixed weather as the storm kicked in overnight and blasted all day. A brief Canyon closure slowed the start, however, lifts were spinning and The Faithful were getting what they came for. Plenty of smooth lines, soft snow, and wide options were on tap, letting you go for almost any line on the hill that was open. We’ve been waiting on this kind of intensity and here it is, with more upstream waiting to come on in.

Wild wind and blowing snow really shapes an incredible snow formations as the pack build in. Tomorrow, look for more Utah goodness as the storm cycle continues with some very intense impulses pumping through. I’ll be getting a good look at the hill again in the AM. The hill is smoothing out with each installment. These are the days!!! Straight Ahead.

Today was a day getting ready for the incoming storm. Wind was up, which shut the Tram down after just a few getting up in the AM. All that wind is transporting the loose product, filling in the guts and hollows that will improve the ride and the coverage before the main event begins later this evening. Visibility was challenging, though keeping a sharp eye and good feel through the feet exercise those inner responses which really kick in when the resolution is 5X5. Something about working that inner knowing…. you know!!

A shot of the glacial moraine in Baldy Bowl with the sunlight highlighting the contrasting elevations. I expect the wind to build and work the pack hard, with increasing accumulation on top, which will add a deluxe addition to the pack. This is just the beginning of the cycle, so the conditions will be very fluid, expect delays and extensive mitigation. See you there for the early start. Check the Canyon Reports for a road update for access in the AM. IBBY!!!

The temp. was 13 below zero on the peak this morning, with the Sun coming out strong through a high cloud deck that was moving off as the day began. Incredible machine worked lines were on tap on all sides of the hill and it was just a matter of which line you had in mind. For this entire week, I have been working that Peruvian Gulch line that has been off the charts smooth, and this morning’s offering just pumped it up just another rung of perfection. A huge shout out to the Grooming Crew who have been nailing the consistency and smoothness factor everywhere on the hill.

I stopped here on Think Young to watch The Faithful take advantage of the velvet smooth apron under the Cirque. Carrying the momentum from here down Anderson’s Hill was such a charge I just had to keep doing laps here. The offerings in Mineral Basin were excellent as well with light traffic letting you do hot laps all day long. Tomorrow, look for a storm to be moving in for the next few days, which will bring a strong accumulation. Expect continued cold, but I think it will warm up a bit ahead of the front. Dress for weather. The hill is in great shape, and as the new essence builds in, the smooth factor will bump up as the rumble and static get muffled. See you there for fresh snow on the door step. Remain Standing!!

Ultimate buffage was on tap this morning, with White Diamonds and Lower Silver Dipper offering velvet smoothness top to bottom into the back bowl, and great machine worked lines out in the Lewis and Clark area. Hot laps were aided by a brief window of Sunshine back there including a huge Angel light beam lighting up the center of the bowl.

This cosmic portal lit up the scene as the Mother Ship hovered over the basin this morning. I had to hustle to get the camera out during the open window. You could look right into the beam and it did not hurt your eyes, and I am not sure where the missing time went……..!!! On the front of the hill, that Anderson’s Hill – Lower Primrose Path line was just insane, with perfect dry chalky surfaces making those pitches back country smooth and epically dailable. Just had to get after that before it was discovered. Tomorrow, look for a bit of overnight accumulation as a very light cold front moved through. Cold temps. will still be in the mix, but that keeps the quality up to par, so look for more ground pounding fun in the AM. I expect the traffic to be light once again, so get after it while the getting is good. Stay Frosty!!

Still cold temps, and bright Sunshine were on tap this morning, with, as expected, unreal prepared lines that were absolutely perfect top to bottom. That Anderson’s Hill-Lower Primrose Path line was back country smooth with dry chalk cushioning the ride, with the turns pealing off effortlessly.

Jake sent this shot of the sweet corduroy prepared under the Upper Cirque. Absolutely perfect consistency lets you dial in whatever arc you choose. There were fresh lines opened in Mineral Basin, with Ski Patrol Gully offering fresh smooth lines which demanded numerous laps.

Another shot from Jake with tracks out on those fresh lines that were on tap this AM. You could not make a bad call today and the cold temps. kept the quality nicely refrigerated, soft and dialable. Tomorrow, look for more great lines to be offered on all sides of the hill. Traffic was pretty light today, so I expect the same in the AM. Mineral Basin is just fantastic, but the front of the hill is excellent as well. Off trail is getting a bit worked and rumble, static and interference patterns are building in again. See you there for the smooth ripping lines in the AM. Keep it tight!!!

With bright Sun, cold temps. and a great accumulation of the Essential Substance it was Game on for The Faithful, who showed up with stoke and ready to play!! Mineral Basin was full and ready for full blast rock and roll. This day could, arguably, have been the best day of the season, with the hill in great shape, lots of smooth substrate and this last installment, which was just icing on the cake.

Out on the Traverse to the Sunday Cliffs Olivia Kennedy found this beautiful fresh Alamony Chute line, which gave her the run she has been dreaming of for quite a while.

Here, Mikey M is getting the real deal in the Chamonix Chutes, where the substrate was smooth and drivin’ was prime.

Professor Tom found pay dirt out on Baldy where the product had built up with wind accumulation and that light Essence on top. Oh Baby!! Tomorrow, look for more soft snow all over the hill, machine worked lines which will be as good as it gets, and a bit slower traffic. Temps. will still be quite cool in the AM. and Mineral Basin will still be holding the goods with bright Sun to illuminate the dance floor. See you there for the fresh, soft, conditions wall to wall. See you there for the First Tram. Lay it over like Ligety!!!