ROCK STEADY

1-21-26

Another chilly morning with good visibility as those high clouds were holding off for most of the day, making the details crisp and sharp. The snow guns had been blazing all night, and had laid some amazing carpets of fresh Gun Powder long downslope that felt delightful underfoot. Very nice machine worked line had been prepared as well on all sides of the hill, with the Baldy Chair area offering very rippable lines all morning long. It was nice having Mineral Basin opened right off the bat, leaving the front side just waiting for some love.

A friend of mine sent me this shot he took in Europe this Summer, you never know where things might crop up.

Today was a great day to let the flow line work for you when the hill is prime for maximum fun, and there is zero traffic. I was finally feeling like I could still make the turns unfold like I new they would. These are the days we will look back on with appreciation for the quiet yet rockin’ pace the hill invites. I look for more light traffic in the AM, perhaps some clouds in the mix, we’ll see, and some freshly prepared rock and roll lines to start out the day. Lay it over like Ligety!!!

DRY & CHALKY

1-20-26

It was another cool morning, but wind was light, and the visibility was great with lots of reflected light on the dark side of the hill helping with the details. The pack was dry and chalky, offering some very nice early morning corduroy to dial, with some steep sections feeling like back country quality as the light wind smoothed the machine worked lines with some very delightful dust. I kept lapping the dark side to take advantage of the vacant smooth lines that were wide open and rippin’. Mineral Basin was closed due to a technical issue, but the front of the hill had plenty of room to spread out the Faithful and keep the lines from getting too worked over.

Team Sandbaggers were on deck and having a great time ripping the hill and finding the best guide to show them the ropes. It was great to share the stoke and pass on some interesting notions which don’t matter.

Tomorrow, look for more light traffic to be happening, with wide open lines, Mineral Basin back in the mix, and more ground pounding fun to dial up with the dry chalky feel that is happening. The off trail is still very firm, with quite a bit of medium amplitude interference patters running in a wide spread manner. Lots of folks are making good use of that feature as the rhythm is good and the cadence is fairly relaxed. There may be some clouds moving in as there is a slight change in the weather in the offing. Keep it tight!!

COLDER MORNING

1-19-26

It was much colder this morning than the past few days, making the pack a touch stiffer off trail, and a skosh firmer on the prepared lines. Even the aspects that saw the direct rays and had melted, were quite crispy and needed close attention to the rapid variations. I was sticking to the Peruvian Gulch to take advantage of the super low traffic that the first hours afford. Back to back trams were easy and fast to make, and the nicely prepared corduroy held up run after run without degradation. Regulator Johnson was super slick, with very scarce traction that made you claw and scratch for transitional purchase.

Crystal clear air and cold temps made for a stunning view of the range down Canyon. So many aspects, so little time!!

Tomorrow, look for more fast fun with max vertical easy to rack up. These are days of the season we always look back on with positive thoughts when the hill gets more traffic and the pressure is on. Look for some fresh smoothing efforts in Mineral Basin, with the Baldy Chair offering those low angle smoothers that let you dial in as much as you would like of the centrifugal juice. I’ll be putting on an extra layer for the morning session as I was feeling the chill in the shade. Speed Safely!!

TRAM LAPS

1-18-26

It was a clear cold morning, with little wind, but wind lines had held up on those Northeast aspects, which offered solid dry calky turns top to bottom out under the traverse in Mineral Basin. On the front of the hill, smoothing efforts were amazing with Anderson’s Hill and Who Dunnit offering back country smooth lines that kept me doing tram laps all morning long. The snow guns had been pumping, leaving long deposits down wind of the guns, that had that super silky feel that made them extra primo smooth. Traffic was light and the majority of interest was pulled back into Mineral leaving the front side vacant.

I share this great shot of Tom and Betty to bring them back to the Tram today. They spent well over 40 years here and we miss them on the hill greatly. They always bring stoke and good vibrations where ever they go. We miss you guys!!!

Tomorrow, look for more great ground pounding fun to be on tap as the hill is set up for smooth cruisin’ and for the bump seekers, a wide open plethora of interference patterns to keep you busy for days. I expect still cool morning temps and snow making lines that will be well worth scoping out. More wind buffed lines will still be holding up nicely even after all that traffic they were getting today. Traffic should be light once again. Pretty Dang Good!!!!!

LIGHT TRAFFIC

1-17-26

It was a clear and cold morning, with some brisk ridge top winds blowing and smoothing some aspects. All sides of the hill had been given a nice smoothing effort, with the addition of snowmaking efforts, provided some ground pounding fun on all sides of the hill. Traffic was light with walk on Trams happening right out of the Chute. The pack is getting quite firm, with some slick spots here and there, but there is plenty of traction happening to keep the line moving. It was great to have the Sun so bright out in Mineral Basin making the details crystal clear. It is nice to see these details after so many days of shear guess work in the super flat light episodes.

Morning light on the Lower Canyon faces really defines the intensity of that series of options.

Tomorrow, look for more ground pounding fun. I expect the traffic to remain light so maximum vertical will be easy to tap into. Good early morning lines in Mineral Basin will available, with special emphasis on the wind buffed sections out off of Powder Paradise. See you there dark and early for the hot laps on the velvet carpets!! Stay Frosty!!!

GUN POWDER

1-16-26

It was crisp and cold this morning, with just a light wind moving the product a bit. The snow guns were blazing, leaving long sections of dry dust hundreds of feet down wind, which were absolutely delightful. I slowed down to dial in as much juice from each turn as possible. Light traffic and the pull of Mineral Basin left these gems good for numerous runs as the morning rolled. Mineral Basin was offering some of the wind buffed accumulation I have been talking about and those laps were well worth the effort. Those lines on the Lewis and Clark expanse are so much fun to bring the deep amplitude turns. Smooth cruisin’!!!

A blazing snow gun back lit on the upper section of Lower Chips Face laying down the sweet Gun Powder.

Tomorrow, look for more top to bottom fun on all sides of the hill. Coverage remains excellent on the main runs, and the machine worked lines will be offering carpets of delight especially for those early morning laps. The Sun will be shining in Mineral Basin, which has been offering very nice lines with a lot of choices for exploration. Temps will be moderate, but those early morning laps will bring a nip in the air. Watch that chance of black ice in the lower Canyon in the AM. Remain Standing!!!

HOT LAPS

1-15-26

It was a clear cold morning, with the wind blowing more out of the North, which began transporting snow to new places. Snow making efforts have been employed overnight, and there have been some sweet pockets of ultra dry, chalky perfection that just come up out of nowhere. Nice surprise. With very light traffic, making hot laps back to back on the Tram was fun with most of the traffic going back to Mineral Basin. The pack is quite consolidated now, with static, rumble, and interference patters wide spread. I have been scoping the wind lines and going for smoothness. The Baldy Chair has been offering some really nice lines in the Sun.

Taking the time to stop and enjoy the early morning view down Canyon this morning!!

Tomorrow, look for more fast fun as the hill will be resmoothed and ready for some more wide open turning. It is so great to be able to stretch out the turns and dial in some transition dynamics. I expect continued light traffic and plenty of sun out in Mineral for the Lewis and Clark explorations. Keep it tight!!

FUN CRUISIN’

1-14-26

It was fun cruisin’ this morning, with light traffic, warmer temps, lighter wind, and bright Sun to light the way. Nice machine worked lines were on tap on all sides of the hill, with some refreshed sections that were even better than yesterday. It is so much fun to stretch out and dial in long radius sensations that feel so sweet underfoot. With such light traffic, it was easy to log in hot laps with no problem making the returning Tram car.

Getting a look at the pack out in the Lewis and Clark area with Timp in the distance and the Sunday Cliffs looking nicely wind buffed. Keeping my eye on that aspect.

Tomorrow, look for another fun light traffic day with continued great visibility, nicely machine worked lines, and fast laps that let you feel the burn. I’ll be looking for those early buffed lines and will be looking for the wind transported sections that were shaping up as I looked around today. The wind does miraculous things. Stay Frosty!!

STOUT BREEZE

1-13-26

A stout breeze was blowing on the peaks this morning, transporting what ever wasn’t nailed down and depositing it to make wind buffed lines that were soft and dialable. Mineral Basin was calling with machine worked lines that were fun to work. There was no one over on the Lewis and Clark spans, making for smooth wind buffed runs with no competition. Bonus round there!! On the front of the hill, nicely prepared lines were on tap and were vacant and wide open.

Wind transporting the snow and delivering it to the wide open aprons that will be filling in nicely. Keep your eyes open for some smooth natural carpets.

Traffic was light, and back to back turnarounds were fast and fun. Rumble and interference patterns are building and are wide spread as traffic has been heavy recently. I’ll be looking for some wind to move some cushion in the low lying hollows. Temps will remain warmer, but note that that wind factor really drops the temps on the upper hill. Fresh machine worked lines will be waiting on all sides of the hill, so dial it in and stand on it. Lay it over like Ligety!!

INVERSION BUILDING

1-12-26

The visibility was 5X5 this morning as the inversion is building in the Valley where the shmegma is becoming noticeable with the temperature gradient. Up on the hill, the details were sharp, well defined and had total depth of field to work your turns. Mineral Basin was offering new open lines, but pack has morphed with wind and time to become quite stiff in places and grabby in others. There are lines of still soft snow, but the you will find it in the shade. It is great to get a look at Mineral Basin that has seen a lot of slide activity, mostly above the traverses, so coverage remains good. Nice machine worked lines were happening on the front of the hill, with carpets that had been accented with some Gun Powder from some overnight applications. Those lines were dry, chalky, and perfectly smooth, letting you dial in extra turns to extract as much goodness from those rarities as possible. The Road to Provo opened as well, offering a lot of variety, but, again, time and wind has affected the pack.

A long shot of the due East faces of upper Mineral Basin looking well covered. These early morning laps out on the Lewis and Clark area offer solitude, smooth lines, and fast turnarounds.

Tomorrow, look for more sunshine, warm high altitude temps with the inversion, and excellent machine worked lines on all sides of the hill. Rumble and interference patterns are building with all the traffic the hill has seen, so don’t expect any respite from the amplitude. Traffic should be light once again with back to back Tram and lifts good to go all day. This pattern is established for the nest while, so enjoy the wide open lines, fast turnarounds and great arcing top to bottom. Remain Standing!!!