There was 3″ of fresh light Essence covering the dance floor this morning, with moderate traffic, open lines on all sides of the hill and snow fall really piling up and intensifying as the day progressed. The machine worked lines were insanely smooth with that sweet layer of fairy dust making each turn an event all in itself. As the new product piled up, that full platform engagement effect kicked in, letting you get jiggy with each turn with no problems. What a treat. Back to back laps were easy to make with the light traffic, and taking the time to extract maximum juice from each run paid big dividends.

Mark Herath working the tree line and getting all of the goodness!! The super light density kept the pack from getting lumped up, but later, some of the high traffic lines began to see the harbor chop effect.

Mikey M getting a beautiful line on Bald and getting that full platform engagement! Tomorrow, look for more accumulation as there is still energy from the storm that is moving to the South of the Front, sending impulses to the North. The prepared lines will be off the chart sweet and there will be lots of choices in the AM. I’ll be looking for the last of the areas to open, I’ll keep my ear to the rail. Stay Frosty!!!

It was cold this morning, but there was no wind, which was a plus for this quick return to a Winter feel. Extensive grooming efforts had been performed on all sides of the hill , and more areas opened offering fresh lines in Mineral Basin and The Road to Provo. Mineral Basin drew the crowd for the opening, leaving the front side vacant and perfect for those ground pounding laps that kept me working the smooth corduroy. There was a bit of punchy feel to the pack, that kept me going for the round turn approach. The Road to Provo offered wide open lines that drew the crowd there when it opened.

Mikey M sent this shot of Jim Schoenborn working the goodness in Mineral Basin.

The last open spot in Little Cloud drew a stream of seekers to dial in those tasty turns. Tomorrow, look for more soft snow on all sides of the hill, a light dusting of Essence overnight, and more ground pounding fun on all sides of the hill. The hill is wide open and offers the full pallet of aspects, which are good to go. See you there for the Spring powder extravaganza. IBBY!!!

There was no foolin’ today with 20′ of fresh Essence on the dance floor, which was quite dense, and perfect to cushion the feel over the old substrate. The wind was howling, moving the product around and smoothing out the variations, however, with that wind, the pack was being affected, so it was a touch grabby depending on the aspect. Visibility was very difficult and staying close to the trees made a huge difference and those tree lines were holding the new snow in deep threads along those sections.

Mikey M working the super deep on Baldy with the Sun making a brief appearance!! It kept snowing hard and fast and the Canyon closed for mitigation at 12:30 PM to stay ahead of the accumulation.

My good friends Ed and Vince waiting for another super deep run and taking samples with them to tide them over till it all starts again. Tomorrow, look for more soft snow wall to wall, with lots of sections still waiting in the wings. I expect additional accumulation overnight with more energy upstream just waiting to move through. The old layer will be a footnote and will be perfect going forward for the week’s additional delivery. Good work on the collective visualizations that I was calling for early last week. Goes to show you, you have to watch out what you wish for. Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

Visibility was quite good this morning, but the light was flat with very little in the way of details on the mat. Sticking with the tree lines was key in getting any reflected light working the surfaces. Traffic was very light with walk on back to back Trams going off, and plenty of room on each car. There had not been a full freeze, leaving some very nice soft lines down lower on the hill, with tenderizing effort having been employed. The effect of that offered amazing full platform engagement turns that felt sooo sweet. Lower Primrose Path was epic, with smooth transitions that let you dial it in, despite the light issues.

Gwen was beaming bright Sunlight up in The Summit, making a overcast day so much brighter. It is always a treat to see her energy and stoke. Tomorrow, look for a storm day, with precipitation, continued visibility issues, and the pack set to offer some great fresh snow sliding top to bottom. We’ll have to see how the day shakes out, but the hill is in great shape to take on this next cycle. The hill over all has been smoothing out with this lower traffic, so the off trail will be good to go. I expect a bit more traffic, but I think it will be moderate. Remain Standing!!!

It was sunny early, however, clouds were working their way up out of the South. Mineral Basin was the big draw, offering freshly tilled lines and bright sunshine and the best chance of softening after a cold night. There was a couple of inches of fresh Essence covering the off trail areas that felt good, but you had to deal with the direct texture of the substrate. Some places were smooth and it was ok, but other areas of static and rumble were a bit more challenging to deal with. I chose to work the Peruvian Gulch lines that had fresh machine worked pitches that make you turn turn turn to keep from the pace getting away. The fresh corduroy was feeling good and though it was firm, there was plenty of traction to keep things real.

Mineral Basin has such great terrain, and it draws the bulk of the early traffic. Those clouds moved in and the light went very flat, though the Sun did begin to burn through the cloud deck reestablishing the details that had fallen off. Tomorrow, look for another overnight freeze, perhaps some early Sun on the hill, and more great ground pounding fun on all sides of the hill. Weather is predicted to move in later in the day. I’ll be looking to get the smooth driving lines in early before any precip. begins. Dial it up, Dial it in!!!

The next low pressure moves in today, lowering the temps, the visibility and the expectations on the day. Traffic was super light, with walk on trams going off with no waiting. The hill is still in great shape, but the firmness factor still is holding tough with no Sun to soften the pack. The machine worked lines still are offering consistent surfaces, that let you work the corduroy for those opening runs, and they hold up all day long.

There was a hard freeze overnight, creating a seriously firm situation on the hill. Mineral Basin was offering the earliest exposure to the Sun’s rays, but, still, it was going to take some time to break. Machine worked lines were the place to stay to keep things under control, but a cautious approach was wise. There was a high cloud deck from the opening bell, but the Sun did filter through, giving much needed detail to the pack. Later, as the temps rose, the break in the pack began and it was a matter of working with the aspects for best results.

Mikey M sent this shot of his view from the top of Main Chute yesterday. It is in great shape and not too skied out. Tomorrow, expect the weather to have moved in with this next low pressure that is on the door step. Expect continued very firm conditions on all sides of the hill, which will persist until some accumulation builds in to cushion the ride. I am still staying with the smooth lines to facilitate knee longevity. There is quite a bit more weather upstream going well into next week, so I think we can expect much improved conditions as we move along. Maintain deep visualizations, I am doing my best. Deep, deeper, deepest!!!

The South winds were howling this morning, with bright Sun shining, wide open lines in Mineral Basin with just the right amount over overnight freeze to make the surfaces smooth for the opening bell. The front side of the hill was offering machine worked lines that offered that frozen corduroy, which kept me turning to keep things real. A high cloud deck began to intrude ahead of the front that will be moving through tomorrow. The pack broke early with the high temps and began to get sticky in places down on the lower elevations.

Chucky was rippin’ it up with the Chuckettes, with high stoke, soft snow and lots of laughs all day long. Tomorrow, look for a much different situation with the front on the door step, wind picking up and precipitation beginning later in the day. Visibility will be interesting, but, perhaps, a vestige of Sun may shine to get things started. We can hope. I am excited about this next series of storms and accumulation to get that winter feel back on the hill. There is plenty of season to work the Spring feel, let it snow. Keep it tight!

The temps were very warm this morning with light wind, bright sun, and lots of machine worked lines to find on all sides of the hill. I chose to go with the top down and used just my Maui Jims to keep the glare off, and I was comfortable right from the beginning. The untracked corduroy was delightful first thing in the AM, and fast laps were great to get the most out of the smooth and fast before the temps made the pack too soft. It was also a day to get out of the area and get adventurous. Pipeline opened again for a short window, and quite a few seekers made the trek to get that rare opening.

Olivia Kennedy working the upper section of the Twins approach, this is where the pack gets funky and breakable.

Mikey M gaining the spine where you set your sights on the peak. Don’t look down.

The Jazz Man, on his last day before he returns to NYC, finding rare access to this East Greeley hide away. We’ll miss The Jazz Man on the hill. The break came quickly and the pack began to get soft and sticky in places. Tomorrow, look for more crisp early morning machine worked lines, and enjoy shaving the frozen nap off the corduroy top to bottom. Coverage remains excellent, and enjoy these warm days as weather is in the forecast. Stay Frosty!!!

The Sun was bright, the temps were warm, and the pack had firmed up in a big way. It was wise to follow the Sun and work those machine worked lines that saw the sun first. Mineral Basin had some really fun lines on tap, and the Lewis and Clark area was offering great lines that were fast and fun. On the front of the hill, the machine worked lines let you shave the nap off the corduroy top to bottom. The front was quite firm and it was going to take a while for aspects to soften. The Twins opened today, making Pipeline and points beyond in play.

Mikey M, Dave M, Mike B and Olivia gained the peak on their tour off the Twins.

Alex taking his first turn down Pipeline today, the snow looked mighty sweet. A rare sight here.

Olivia, glowing after an amazing line down Long John Silver. That loop is an amazing adventure every time you go. Tomorrow, look for another warm start to the day, with fairly firm pack till the day warms up. Mineral Basin will offer the early break and the Sun is always great to make every detail stand out. The front of the hill will be taking a long time as well, but the machine worked lines have been offering enough traction to make them workable to start. See you there for the morning shred fest. IBBY!!