It was a clear cold morning without a breath of wind, and a perfect time to open Mineral Basin for the first time of the season. The quality out there was perfect with smooth lines, and epic lines on Lewis and Clark that kept you making laps while folks were finding their way there. I took the opportunity to experience The Peruvian Gulch all to myself, where the snow guns had been working in the cold to produce some amazing lines of Gun Powder that was untracked, smooth and delicious. No pressure, no hype. Folks were stoked, and the early risers were able to slam out the laps with ease and accuracy.
The front side of the hill offered nicely prepared lines with very little traffic, that let you dial in some extra juice in the turns. Much of the upper easy access lines are developing higher amplitude interference patterns, which are be coming wide spread. Upper Cirque entrances are sketchy, so approach with caution. Tomorrow, look for more cold temps, good visibility, and still soft snow to find in these cold temps. The prepared lines will be good to go and the traffic will still be moderate. There will be a bit more accumulation coming over the weekend, so scope out your lines ahead of time to make for a harder charge into the fall line. There are still more openings in the offing, so keep an eye open for the call. Keep it tight!!