3-28-26

It was another Spring feeling day, with warm temps, a slow break, and good cover that is still holding up nicely despite the early spring melt off. The overnight freeze kept the front side very stiff and variable, with Mineral Basin drawing the most interest for the early risers. It was wise to keep the roll on the down low on the front side of the hill to mitigate some of the very firm sections that required a lot of care to keep things well under control before dealing with the vagaries of the flats. The break began around 11 AM with some of the lower elevations offering some sorbet feeling lines that were worth a couple of laps while waiting for other aspects to soften.

Tomorrow, look for another Spring conditions day on the hill. Again, warming is holding off till 11 AM at the earliest in recent days, so a delayed arrival will not be problematic. For the early risers, look to Mineral Basin for the first break and best visibility. Traffic should be light once again with walk on Trams available for hot laps. Coverage remains very good, but keep an eye out for some thin areas where the melt has worked the pack and a few shrubberies are poking though. Remain Standing!!!

3-27-26

With much lower overnight temps., the pack was extra primo firm for the morning’s offerings. Mineral was mighty crispy for the opening bell, with the front of the hill fully firm and hiding in the shade. The machine worked lines were in much better shape with some better grooming material under the tillers, but the surfaces were super slick and really demanded serious respect as the consequences were significant if you let the roll get away from you. It was wise to use an abundance of caution when entering any pitch you can’t fully see the extent of exposure. The break finally began around 11AM on selected aspects and other aspects held on to the cold until much later.

Tomorrow, look for another spring like day on the hill. Though the hill is opening earlier, it is not really going to buy you much as the freeze will, once again, be a bit slow to break. I expect more Sun and moderate temps, which makes it very nice driving around with the top down. Use extreme caution during those early morning explorations. There will be plenty of time to throw down when the pack breaks. Follow the Sun and let softening occur as it will. Watch for some errant loose rock here and there as the pack melts off. Syrup Won’t Top ‘EM!!!

3-26-26

There was a stout freeze in the pack this morning, which was going to take a while to soften. Going for the Sun was the best choice to start with the Sun working the pack first. The front of the hill was very firm top to bottom, with some spare tenderizing efforts on the lower elevations. Of course, that morning flat light in the Peruvian Gulch was interesting, as the usual reflected light from Superior is diminished due to melt off on the South facing aspect. Point being, be super careful on the front side till softening occurs.

Tomorrow, we can expect a very similar play on the day. I’ll be looking for the smooth, and trying to find that back country experience even within the area. The break has been happening as the Sun rises but the front of the hill is taking a while. Think late morning Noonish for the sorbet window, it goes fast from there. Nice to be sliding with the top down. I am sensing a change in the Force……!! Straight Ahead!!!

3-25-26

With the unusually warm temps heating up the pack, the Bird Ops have scaled the opening time earlier to 8AM and closing at 2PM. While that had no impact on the actual time of the break, the frozen feel was going to take a bit to take hold. The Peruvian Gulch and Gad Valley were very firm and it was going to take till 11AM for the break to happen when there was a short window of the sorbet quality before the pack slushed out. I bailed as the sticky spots began to crop up on the flats, making the glide factor difficult to maintain. The melt off is beginning to become noticeable on many areas where the Sun has been working and where the grooming efforts have kicked up some rock pockets. Keep an eye out and approach the early morning lines with great care and respect for the frozen variations.

Tomorrow, look for another overnight freeze, but I expect the break to be fast and early. The same break pattern will likely be happening, with Mineral Basin offering the first break of the pack. Depending on the low temps overnight, expect the break to follow a similar rotation. While there are indications of the melt off, coverage remains quite good and predictable. Traffic is light and fast turnaround times are happening all day. Watch your SIX!!

3-24-26

With clear skies and cooler temps, there was a light freeze in the pack that put the spot light on choice of line something of a toss up for the opening bell. Mineral Basin was favored with the sunshine and excellent visibility, but the Peruvian Gulch was calling with machine worked lines that were going to need a bit of time to break. The Gad side of the hill was going to take even longer, but by 11 AM the break began to go off on most aspects with a short sweet window of Sorbet quality turns before morphing into a more soft deep consistency.

Traffic was light and back to back Trams and slide on chairs were happening all day, with lots of choices as the pack broke. The Gad side of the hill was fun with Big Emma feeling sweet with the soft turns happening. Tomorrow, look for another overnight freeze in the pack. Look for the machine prepared lines to offer the best ride, but note that firmness will be a matter of aspect so choose wisely and use caution on those early frozen side lines. Don’t get caught by the flat light. Remain Standing!!!!!

3-23-26

The overnight over cast extended well into the day, trapping in the warmth and preventing the pack from solidifying. Most aspects were soft already with no freeze to break. The light was quite flat but the prepared lines were offering smooth consistent carpets that were very dialable. Even the lines that are late to the party were already soft. Quite a change in the pattern of approach to the hill.

Tomorrow, I will be looking for there to be a bit more consolidation as the skies clear off, so there may well be some frozen aspects, but we’ll have to see when the party starts. The machine worked lines will be offering the best smooth consistent lines, but off trail should be offering some softness a lot earlier than last week. See you there for the early lines and explorations for the goods. IBBY!!

3-22-26

Slightly cooler temps overnight set the pack up a bit tighter for the morning’s offerings. Mineral Basin was the draw and broke first and fast, giving the early risers a head start on the Spring feel. The Peruvian Gulch was quite crispy, however, the machine worked lines were smooth and consistent, but took your full attention to keep things real. It was nice to have the wide open lines, which had enough traction to keep the pace quick but real. Gad Valley was last to break, with that sorbet window that felt great underfoot and worth waiting for the moment and getting it.

Traffic was light and back to back Trams were fast and fun, with plenty of variations to keep you on your toes. The break was fast when it went off and being on the right side of the brake brought extra lines while others were up coming. Tomorrow, look for another Spring like day, and we’ll have to see how the temps turn out as there is a cloud deck holding the heat in after the Sun set. Coverage remains excellent though there are some spots where some loose rock is cropping up in places. Keep a sharp eye out. The festivities on the Plaza were great and it’s fun to have music after a day on the hill. Stay Frosty!!!

3-21-26

These are some seriously warm days out of season as long as I can remember. Very strange indeed. Traffic was light today, with the draw of sunshine pulling most of the traffic to Mineral Basin to get the most out of the pack before the softening got too thick. Those aspects that hold the cold the longest were still holding the cold, but broke earlier than yesterday when that short window of sorbet quality opened. Hitting those breaks like that is, to me, as good as a powder line though just a different kind of perfect. Despite the heat, the pack is holding up nicely with only a couple of spots beginning to show some signs of the melt off.

Tomorrow, look for slightly cooler temps as this dry cold front moves through overnight. There may be some clouds in the morning and more moisture in the afternoon to create more clouds as the day heats up. I’ll be looking for the early residual freeze in the pack to stiffen up the surfaces on the North facing lines, but I expect very rapid softening on the lowest elevations. Expect continued moderate traffic, and lots of great Spring excitement for the day, with fun, music, and festivities on the Plaza Deck after Noon. Remain Standing!!!

3-20-26

This was a day of chasin’ the break as it was going off fast depending on aspect. Even though there is significant warmth, the pack is still holding the cold on a number of aspects that take a long time to hit. Of course, the lowest elevations go quickly as well as Mineral Basin, which is cookin’ from sunrise and breaks right away. I was sticking with the High North aspects and staying in the shade to take advantage of the firmer prepared surfaces that offer the corduroy that feels so good underfoot on those first runs. I was right on time for the Regulator and Big Emma breaks which offered that short moment of sorbet goodness as the pack becomes just right!!

Tomorrow will be another day of chasing the break around the hill. I expect a similar sequence that we had today, but don’t be surprised if the pack goes off a bit earlier. The prepared lines will be offering the smooth for those early runs, but the off trail will be challenging before softening occurs. I was out and around checking spots for drill and was glad I had options. There is quite a festive spirit happening on the Tram Deck with music, food, and lots of good vibes, so enjoy the Spring feel while it lasts. It ain’t over yet. Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

3-19-26

It was in the low 40’s all night on the peak and 45 degrees in the parking lot this morning to start the day. The pack was going to break fast, with Mineral Basin already soft and happening, which drew the traffic as the day got started. Regulator was very firm even with the warm temps and The Peruvian Gulch was offering some dry chalky lines down to the middle elevations where the break was beginning on the lowest lines. Staying ahead of the break was key, but staying ahead of the traffic was important as well, with some vacant lines in the shade. The machine prepared lines were consistent, however, a cautious approach was wise to deal with the subtle Spring morning variations. By 11AM the break was on and you could find some very nice surfaces that were feeling like mid Spring corn. At 12:30 PM Big Emma was offering some sweet sorbet turns that made each arcing motion a rare treat.

Tomorrow, look for another very fast break as the temps are going to remain warm. Still, the usual aspects will freeze up from the residual cold in the pack, but it won’t take long at all for the pack to come alive. Mineral Basin will be offering the Sun and softest start to the day. The High North aspects back there are beginning to look mighty tempting as the pack softens. The front of the hill will be offering various levels of morph with elevation changes. Be aware of some of the variations that hide in the shadows early in the AM. IBBY!!