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.