It was colder this morning, but Mineral Basin was perfect for the opening bell, offering a corn fest top to bottom thanks to great grooming efforts.

Some new lines had been prepared on the lower sections off Lower Silver Dipper that were amazing, which offered full platform engagement with every turn. That combination demanded numerous laps to make the most of such great turning. With light traffic, there were untracked lines of corn that lasted for quite a while. On the front of the hill, the cold temps had solidified the pack in a big way and it was going to take until 11AM for any kind of break and 1PM to get to the sweet zone.

With the fast break in Mineral, some of the corn lines from yesterday were past prime early and I bailed on the lines to preserve the quality there for tomorrow. Here is a shot Jake sent when he hiked to the top of Sugarloaf Pass.

Tomorrow, look for a similar break pattern, with Mineral offering the goods first and a fair wait for the front of the hill. Traffic should be light once again, with wide open lines of which to take advantage. There will be some corn lines, but you will have to work to get to them. Coverage remains excellent, but some bare spots are cropping up on the South facing aspects. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!!

Another skiff fell on the hill overnight, with just a trace to be seen covering the prepared lines. Mark Malu seemed to have had a micro climate, which gathered about an inch, which made for some very nice turns on top of the very firm corduroy. Out in Mineral Basin, the prepared lines were granular and dialable to begin the day, but the front of the hill was very firm and needed some time to break. With the cold morning temps, that was going to take until 11AM. Gad Valley froze up solidly and was long in the break and had that skiff surface just for fun. Here is a couple of shots that Neil sent along of the corn goodness out in the far reaches of Mineral Basin.

Tomorrow, look for more Spring conditions and fun and fast grooming lines. The off trail is still quite difficult and rasty. A later arrival will ensure a softer start to your day, but the early lines have been fun in Mineral, where the break happens first. There is plenty of cover with no melt off spots. See you there for these last days of the regular season. Stay Frosty!!

Colder temps and East winds put a tighter freeze on the pack this morning. Mineral Basin was offering some prepared lines that did have plenty of tooth with that light skiff covering the pack. Some of the sections were offering some sugar feeling turns that helped bleed off the speed gained from the firmer sections. There were residual clouds moving around from the impulse that left the skiff, and the Sun was providing great visibility on the wide open lines. On the front of the hill, very firm sections were very fast but there still was enough tooth to keep the speed in check. Tenderizing efforts on the main runs were in place, which were a nice touch. Here is a shot of one of the slide debris piles in the Canyon that Jake sent along.

Tomorrow, look for more Spring conditions, with the Groomers providing the consistent lines on all sides of the hill. Expect firmness during the early hours before the break, which has been happening around 11AM. Follow the Sun for the earliest break in the mat. Coverage remains excellent on all sides of the hill, with no bare spots or thin sections to deal with. Traffic is light on the hill, so big vertical is easy to rack up. Straight Ahead!

It was a warm morning with lingering clouds that quickly gave way to sunny skies after the first hour. The pack did not really freeze and there was soft sugar top to bottom that offered full platform engagement, making the turns feel luxurious. Traffic was fairly light and uphill access was fast with no waiting.

The temps were balmy on the peak and I was able to drive with the top down with no problem, which was a real treat after this past stretch of cold mornings.

Tomorrow, look for some clouds after an impulse moves through overnight. There is some clearing predicted later, so expect some visibility issues. I will be looking for more of those corn lines in the minimal freeze conditions. Mineral Basin will be the first choice for the big mountain smooth laps. IBBY!!

It was a very warm day today, with not much in the way of freezing. The Groomers offered the best lines on the hill, and were good to go to start the day. There was a lot of interest in the product today and the traffic was brisk, with folks really taking advantage of the balmy temps. Here is a shot that Jake sent of the Tram shadow on the Cirque.

Tomorrow, look for overcast skies as an unsettled pattern approaches out of the West. Light will be flat and the temps will be moderate. Look for the Groomers to provide the best ride with the off trail still rough and difficult. Coverage remains excellent and top to bottom lines are fun and fast. Remain Standing!!

The temps were warm this morning and I was able to ski with the top down from the beginning. Mineral Basin had not frozen, and the Groomers were soft and felt like back country corn. Smooth, consistent lines offered full platform engagement, making each turn a delight. Light traffic for the first hour back there made for hot laps and some good Sun bathing. Here is a shot of an out of the way corn section.

On the front of the hill there was an interesting freeze pattern where some of the lines were soft in the morning Sun and other sections were quite firm. Tenderizing efforts had been performed and looking for those lines on the front of the hill was key in the early hours. The break came around 11AM, but was even later on the Gad Valley where the pack was holding tough quite a bit longer.

Tomorrow, look for similar conditions on the hill, again, with the Mineral Basin aspects breaking first. The front side of the hill will be solidifying with the residual cold in the North facing aspects. Focus on the back bowl till some softening occurs on the front. Coverage remains excellent wall to wall, and take advantage of the big mountain smooth the Groomers provide. Speed Safely!!

The high pressure is moving in and things are warming up, headed for some record breaking highs. The groomers were offering great lines this morning, with the High North still holding some of the cold. Traffic was much lighter as the pressure was off the hill. Here is a shot of the spaciousness on The Tram.

With the warming temps, the sweet window is much shorter, and staying ahead of the Sun is a must to get the best quality. Tomorrow, look for more wide open Groomed lines, with low traffic, excellent surfaces, and a real corn day as the pack has gone through some freeze thaw cycles now. Mineral Basin will be the place to start, but new and exciting lines are being prepared, so keep your eyes open. Here is a shot that Jake sent of Hoppie’s looking smooth and direct!!

There will still be some dry cold surfaces in the morning, so be there early for the goods, and with the warming temps, the pack will be breaking much sooner than last week. Don’t touch that dial!!!

A light dusting covered the dance floor for today’s festivities, with bright Sun, beautifully prepared groomers, and some fresh untracked lines on the far reaches that had escaped yesterday’s crew. The air was cold and a fair wind was blowing out of the North, keeping the product soft and cold for the first couple of hours before the Sun rose up high enough to work the pack. The untracked lines I got were absolutely perfect with no underlying rumble at all, making each turn a treat. Here is a shot of the Girls at the top of Baldy, which was holding the cold dry softness.

The product from the past couple of days had been worked into the mat, making the prepared lines Winter perfect and easy. By 11 AM the lower elevations began to get a bit gummy, but the higher lines stayed soft and cold quite a bit longer. Tomorrow, look for lots of Grooming treats on all sides of the hill and stay ahead of the Sun for the best quality. The High North should still be holding the cold, but, with warmer temps, it will not stand up very long. Coverage remains excellent on all sides of the hill and you can trust the lines pretty much everywhere. IBBY!!!

The storm clouds were clearing off this morning, with the Valley full socked in, but great visibility to start the day. The Faithful were in full attendance early this morning in anticipation of the fresh Essence that waited up on the hill. A couple more inches had fallen, but not enough to fill in the tracks from yesterday.

There was plenty of fresh lines all over the hill, with the traverses offering untracked goodness and light traffic as the crowd got spread out. Here is a great shot that Dave Hiestand sent from Rat’s Nest.

Tomorrow, look for some leftover lines on the outskirts, lighter traffic, and sunny skies as the storm has moved off to the East. The Groomers will be offering amazing carpets of AHHHH on all sides of the hill as the new product is tilled into the mat. Visibility will be full on and I expect full platform engagement underfoot. Stay out ahead of the Sun as it will be working the product early. Stay Frosty!!

A constant patter of rain on the skin of The Trailer signaled the arrival of the Spring Storm that has been on approach for some days. The medium moisture content made the new accumulation a good cushion on the old hard layer. The latest update reported 9″, however, the constant intensity down here in the Valley translates to much more accumulation up on the hill.

Tomorrow, look for additional accumulation, continued precipitation as the Storm continues to bring the moisture. Pressure for the goods will be brisk, and patience will be a virtue as the day gets started. The off trail will be much improved as the new product will be cushioning the ride, but stick with the smoothest lines for the best consistency. Dress for Storm riding. See the Line, Be the Line!!