An inch of fresh Essence covered the dance floor this morning, giving a tempting taste of the storm that is underway and will continue tomorrow. Visibility was at a premium, and staying close to the trees was important to get some reference. Snow continued to fall all day and did begin to build up, but never got to the static stage. I was able to blast through anything all day. A lap down Regulator tested my Zero Zero chops to the max, but that beautifully consistent Grooming job let me just use my inner vision and the mat never failed to be smooth and on the money. I never did go back into Mineral Basin, but I heard that White Diamonds got the smoothing treatment. Here is a shot of Wynonna going through the Time Portal.

Tomorrow, look for more overnight accumulation, amazing grooming on all sides of the hill, and continued snow fall throughout the day. It may be a tad colder, so I will be dressing with an extra layer. Off trail will be getting better in the sheltered areas, but still avoid those due South aspects which are still very difficult. The High North will be worth looking for some additional wind transported lines, we’ll just have to see. See you there for the fresh lines and ground pounding fun. Remain Standing!!

A thick cloud deck shrouded the Sun this morning, with only a glimmer out in Mineral Basin to highlight the details. The Groomers were really sweet, with dry, chalky smoothness that let you dial in your inner Ligety. The off trail had seen some Sun in the last couple of days and those direct aspects that had absorbed the heat were frozen solid. We watched some intrepid folks working the Gnar and they were not having much fun at all, but on the carpets it was fun, fun, fun!! Here is shot of Team Red who were stoked to be getting the back to back Trams and the smooth lines on all sides of the hill.

The Grooming held up all day, but began to show signs of static later in the day and that bit of Sun bleeding through went away, so the light got very flat. Tomorrow, look for flurries throughout the day, smooth machine worked lines, and perhaps some wind transported lines that may fill in with an overnight wind event, we’ll just have to see. Again, watch those off trail lines that saw direct Sun, as they are still very crunchy and difficult. Dress for weather and stay with the trees for reference in the marginal visibility.

Tram Rat, who is still playing golf in Tucson, sent this great sunset shot from the warm world. He picked just the right window to make an escape. The Morning Crew misses you!!!

IBBY!!

The groomers were offering exquisite dry chalk on all aspects this morning as the day kicked off with a Mineral Basin, Lewis and Clark attack. With The Road To Provo closed to start out the day, the wide open groomers were the place to be with perfect consistency top to bottom. On the front side, Anderson’s Hill and Lower Primrose Path were orgasmic, with just some light wind blown dust on top of the corduroy just to make it that much sweeter. The Road To Provo opened and I got a premier line on The Rasta Chutes and Hoopie’s that was a tad thick, but had great consistency and required a direct fall line approach to drive the power into the turn. The Exotic Trees opened as well and it was thick out there as well, but the consistency and smooth lines were excellent. Here is a shot of 12 year old Landon getting a fresh line in The Exotic Trees.

Here is a shot I took on the traverse out to the Exotic Trees. It is such a magical place that you just can stop and soak it all in.

After 1PM. the groomers began to exhibit some static, but there were lines on the North aspects that kept the dry cold chalk all day. Tomorrow, look for more amazing groomers on all sides of the hill. You will have to look far afield to find the pockets of deep, but they can be found. The off trail is stiffening up with some rumble developing. Interference patterns at beginning to build in the high traffic zones, but they are still soft and workable. See you there for the rock and roll fantasy. Remain Standing!!

A high, thin cloud deck was the last of the signs of the cycle, and today was a big day as the Sun was shining and the snow was prime and ready. After mitigation work was completed the hill began to open up as it does, and The Faithful were in full attendance for the festivities. The new Essence was a bit heavier, but was floaty and buoyant. Here is a shot of Mikey M demonstrating the quality as he put down some righteous turns.

Reports from all over the hill were telling of great snow on all aspects. Going away from the crowd got you some solitude to enjoy the ambience.

Here is a shot of Brian Beck doing what he does best. Power blasting his way in The Vortex. Tomorrow, look for great Grooming efforts on all sides of the hill. Look for some overlooked lines that still might be found out and about. The off trail will still be soft, but the harbor chop did build up, so there may be some static to deal with.

In closing, I offer up this shot I got of a wind anomaly that speaks about the NOW moment. See you in the AM for more perfect conditions and Carpets Of AHHHHH! Keep it tight!!

With heavy weather in the forecast, I got an early start up the Canyon this morning, and still it was a wild ride with the snow dumping insanely, the wind blowing it sideways, and deep darkness to try and make out the road. This installment was high density and was building up fast. When I parked there was 3″ and when I headed down there was over a foot of freshness. The lifts were delayed due to the frantic pace of the snow fall, but I had a great time visiting with folks in the Tram line, sharing the stoke and getting amped for the turns to come. Here is a shot off the Dream Team, who were ready to get into the thick of it.

I headed to the Forklift to await the opening. I bailed after the road reopened after control work and got an early start on my day off tomorrow. Tomorrow, look for a lot of great lines wall to wall, as the wind has smoothed all aspects, and that front delivered some smooth frosting that will be really fun in the AM. I expect it to be a bit cold, so dress for the occasion. It is one of those times where you just can’t miss and the conditions will be amazing.

I meant to put this shot up yesterday, but I spaced it out. I had a great time hanging with this crew and exchanging notes on the way the hill was smoothing out. The hill is in prime time, Enjoy!! Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!

Extra special primo wind smoothing was performed by Mother Nature, which just amplified the masterful job of smoothing the Cat Crew performed overnight on all sides of the hill. With the wind transporting quite a bit of product, the North faces were picking up the goods and certain sections were fattening up quickly, however, there was a fair bit of punchy pack that was not yet supportable. The Sun was shining, but there were clouds on the horizon as another front is poised to move in. Here is a shot of Flyin’ Brian Beck working the pockets of still soft snow in the overlooked sections.

With the wind working the pack, and the light traffic on the hill, the smooth quality remained high top to bottom, with Lower Primrose Path offering up stellar carpets well into the afternoon. Tomorrow, expect a full on storm riding day with heavy precipitation, wind, and difficult visibility. Dress for cold as the temps are bound to drop with the front passage. Remember the smooth lines from today and work them for the best ride in the variable visibility. The hill is in great shape to get another dose of the Essential substance. IBBY!!!

After a very long cycle that brought an amazing amount of new product to the hill, the Sun finally came out and made it a blue bird day with not a cloud in the sky. The air was cold, the Groomers were offering amazing carpets of AHHHH, and Mineral Basin was soon to be opening. The wind had worked much of the hill the past day or so, leaving many sections wind smoothed, erasing all the rumble and much of the interference patterns were smoothed over. Mineral Basin opened with the Faithful ready to work the sections that were tantalizing in the morning Sun. Here is a shot I took of the bowl before the rope dropped.

When the rope dropped it did not take long to get worked, but there were consistent, smooth lines on all aspects. It was a bit thick in places and just right in other spots. Here is a shot of Ricky Rev’s line on a North facing aspect.

Many of the aspects on the front of the hill were offering untracked lines as well, and there were plenty of low traffic traverses to get your own. Here is a shot of Mark Riley’s line, again, all to himself with no pressure.

The wind had blown a light skiff on top of the Groomed lines on the lower half of Peruvian Gulch, making those carpets an extra special treat. Tomorrow, look for unreal grooming to be available on all sides of the hill. There will be a couple of areas still waiting in the wings, and there is still plenty of soft snow covering some wind smoothed lines on many aspects on the front of the hill. Keep your eyes open for lines you may have been avoiding. Wind will be a feature and the temps will be milder as another system is moving in for the next couple of days. Enjoy the visibility. See the Line, BE the Line!!!

Nuking winds put the Tram down for the day and began to smooth the mountain in some places and scouring other aspects all day. With a slight delay in opening the chairs, the faithful were in full attendance, but the Quads got them up the hill quickly and working the chairs on the Gad side of the hill kept you ahead of the curve. The Little Cloud chair was really windy and Regulator was taking beating. On the Peruvian side of the hill, the wind lines were beginning to shape up as the wind kept smoothing the surface as fast as you could put a track in it. Here is a shot of The Bruce Tree on my recon run on the fringes looking for the smoothest lines.

Tomorrow, look for those wind smoothed lines to be found out and about. Where? Wherever the wind direction put it. You can bet a lot of the product was moved to Mineral Basin from my observations. There are areas still to be opened and we’ll have to see how it shakes out. Check the road report for Canyon access in the AM. The weather dude is suggesting a clearer day, but I expect wind to still be part of the equation. I will be dressing for cold in any event and will adjust accordingly. Big thanks to the Ski Patrol for all the hard work they have put in during this cycle. And thanks to all the folks who make the Bird turn every day. Speed Safely!!

As the cycle continues delivering large amounts of Essence on the hill, it is getting really deep. The snow was falling hard and fast as the day began and the Faithful were in full attendance as the festivities began. The main areas opened after mitigation was completed and it was full on blower just about wherever you found a line, pocket, or section top to bottom. Here is a shot of Tomi getting the full effect on the Lower Cirque.

Here are a couple of shots that Mike and Tomi and Mikey M sent to give you a full visual dose. When the the pack got worked over, the harbor chop rose up and I was looking for the side pockets and deep wind blown lines for the smooth. The wind was up in a big way and there were some wind worked lines that were showing promise, but were quite affected and required a very powerful direct drive approach to punch trough and keep the head of steam going. Tomorrow, look for some wind to have been working the hill overnight, so the wind lines may be the place to look first thing. There are areas still waiting to open in the wings, so keep an eye and ear out for openings. The hill is epic wall to wall, which lets you charge with unmitigated audacity. I expect continued heavy pressure on the hill, so start early. Stay Frosty!!

The road was closed for control work, so I bagged the day and chilled. Up on the hill, it was all time, with light deep Essence wall to wall and no one able to get to there. From the pictures on social media, it was deep, deep, deep and a day that will be a life time day for many. It is difficult writing about perfection, because, what can you say, it was perfect, so we’ll leave it at that. Here is shot I took the other day when we were having a bit of sunshine. This is Bliss Brother Burke radiating joy on the peak.

Tomorrow, look for another amazing day of deep powder magic wall to wall, storm conditions continuing all day, and perfect conditions on all aspects. These are the days that we all dream about during the Summer, so you can dial into it and get it all. Check the road reports for morning access. We’ll see you for the festivities!! Straight Ahead!!