It was a sunny bright morning with not a cloud in the sky and a temp. on the peak of 9 Degrees. This was quite a bit warmer than yesterday, but there was still a real bite to the chill. Mineral Basin was offering some awesome corduroy that let you lay it down like Ligety, with great consistency and smoothness wall to wall. The Front of the hill was quite a bit colder, as it sat in the shade and would be long in warming up even a bit. Regulator was offering smooth buff on the Groomed sections, with the off trail getting more worked in with all the traffic. The Road to Provo is still challenging, but further out on the traverse can be found some nice soft lines that were easy to deal with. Here is a shot of some of that goodness that is still waiting in the wings. I love that low angle light filtering down from the big bowl up above this tranquil scene. 
Interference patterns are continuing to build, but the lines through them are fairly round and not too jarring. The Snow Guns were working hard in the cold air, and very nice Gun Powder was available in the stretches below them. There is still some firmness on the main runs, but the sides tend to hold some soft dust to put down some speed scrubbing turns. Here is a shot of the Gypsy Girl who was breezing through the Front and took the time to get up on the hill. I am glad she and her crew got the great Sun and visibility to take full advantage of a great day. 
Tomorrow, look for continued cold on the hill, light traffic for the morning session, great lines out in Mineral Basin, and more Sun to keep the Bird World in full view. The corduroy will be offering those untracked lines for the early risers, so dig in deep to those perfect carpets. The CHEF sent this shot of He and Silvie living large on the beach in Brazil. If you can’t be at the Bird, the next best place to be is on the beach somewhere. 
We sure do miss him here, but he is doing great things as we head into this new year. Happy New Year!!!
SLIGHTLY WARMER
12-31-15 by dave