It was warmer than usual, with a thin cloud cover filtering the Sunshine, but burned through pretty well for the morning session. The Faithful were in full attendance once again for today’s festivities. The Free Ride comp was on, with good cover and some interesting snow to challenge the contestants. Mineral Basin was the draw with the Sun making the details sharp and the wind buffed lines calling with smooth dust covered consistency. With the warm temps, the lower elevations softened later in the day, offering good traction to dial in some arcing turns.

Tomorrow, look for weather as the storm moves in. It is a warm storm and forecast is for rain up to 9000′, so dress accordingly and expect some very interesting conditions. Visibility will be at a premium, so I will be staying close to the trees and keeping the machine worked lines underfoot to deal with what variations may come. I am hoping that the snow level is much lower to deliver the Essence we need on the hill, but we’ll have to see how it shakes out. Wild times in the Rockies. Stay Frosty!!

The pack was firm and fast this morning, with a dusting of wind transported snow that filled in and smoothed many lines on the hill. All sides of the hill benefited from the wind work, and delightful lines of wind buffed smooth were on tap.

The pack was very firm, however, there was a wonderful coating of dust that held up to traffic and remained smooth. It was nice to find lines I had not given much attention offering a smooth blastable consistency that kept me coming back for more. Lower on the hill, that fast and firm feel was helped by that dust layer as well. It was important to keep that speed level under wraps to avoid some of those slick sections that can catch one off guard. Tomorrow, look for more still firm conditions, with plenty of wind buffed lines still holding up to the traffic. Clouds may be in the mix as another cycle is shaping up for the coming week.

I am expecting this next cycle to deliver more pack building accumulation. Keep an eye on the Bird’s site for up to the minute details as the energy builds. That Free Ride competition is being held on the Peruvian side of the hill, so expect higher traffic on that side and watch for some amazing runs from competitors. IBBY!!!

The very high moisture snow, as well as rain, that fell created a much different feel on the hill. The higher elevations were offering some soft dry chalk on top of a supportable surface that was consistent and fun underfoot. Both front sides of the hill had some good turns, however, the solid feel was evident yet workable. The middle section of the hill was a bit more variable with some cookies here and there from the high moisture content. That last thousand feet had a glaze that was topped with some wind transported dust that let you keep things real and moving in the right direction. Off trail was interesting, with very variable footing, which kept me getting back to the pavement pronto.

Tomorrow, look for refreshed machine worked lines, which will offer the best consistency. Mineral Basin will be offering some nice lines out on the traverses. Great visibility will be on tap, so get a good look at the details and options that will be happening as the hill gets worked. Be careful with the sudden firmness, it has a habit of catching one unaware. Stay Frosty!!!

It was raining in the parking lot this morning at a moderate rate. It was turning to snow at Tower 1 on the Tram line. There was a short delay due to some icing conditions on the lifts, but the hill opened up and it was go time. Reports coming off the mountain, spoke of a dense quality even up on the peak levels that were smooth and floaty for the upper thousand feet, but got progressively soggy lower down on the hill. I made a bee line for the Forklift Restaurant to assess the options and gather data from some of the early Seven Summits groups. The rain stopped around 10:30, with some signs of clearing in the valley, but the weather was still active as the flow continued. There were some discussions about the appropriate wax for the conditions, but a solid agreement of what was working was still up in the air.

Tomorrow, I’ll be looking for the machine worked lines to offer the best consistency for ride, with the off trail promising to be variable depending on how much traffic and overnight colder temps will affect the pack. With as much moisture that was delivered, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. I am keeping my fingers crossed and will be approaching the pack with care and a round attack. Temps will still be unseasonably warm, so I think the pack will soften quite a bit and not be too icy, however, we’ll have to get to it and see it up close and personal. Stay Frosty!!

It was a warm and misty morning with the light precipitation hovering between rain and snow. Earlier temps had made a light skiff of graupel, which dusted the surfaces, offered a lovely flannel feeling on the machine worked lines. The light was very flat, with some fog up high and the well crafted machine worked lines were super consistent and trustworthy when navigating by feel. Anderson’s Hill was like a back country treat, with dry chalky traction covered with the dust. Just BLISS! Walk on trams were easy to make and getting that top to bottom flow going just adds to the stoke.

It is raining here at The Trailer was I write this, which signals that the next installment has moved in. Tomorrow, look for a storm day of sliding. I think we can expect some medium density Essence, and the hill is primed for delivery. Check the Bird site for details in the AM. I’ll be looking for some of the lines I was scoping out today to keep delivering. Straight Ahead!!!

After a full on week of powder festivities, today was a much more mellow day, with fast turnarounds, smooth machine worked lines, and some new and exciting lines that the new snow made possible. Anderson’s Hill and Lower Primrose Path had been buffed to perfection, and while the most interest was pulled to Mineral Basin, the front of the hill was wide open and smooth top to bottom on the groomed aspects. Those top to bottom not stop runs were so much fun with the snow setting up the consistency for deep carving goodness. The Sun was bright, but lightly filtered by a high thin cloud deck that burned off as the Sun rose higher in the sky.

Tomorrow, look for clouds to be moving in ahead of the next Low Pressure system coming in for Wednesday. The light may be flat, but I expect visibility to be good, but the details may be hard to see. There are plenty of machine worked lines on all sides of the hill to let you dial in your arcs. The off trail interference patterns have been building a bit higher amplitude with the high traffic. I was looking around to scope out the natural smooth lines off trail, which have been nicely covered by the last installment. I expect traffic to continue to be light, and max vertical should be easy to pile up. Now is the time to get a good look before the storm moves in. See the Line. BE the Line

It was a sunny Sunday funday, with unreal pressure for the goods that were waiting to be worked. The hill was offering still soft aspects and dreamy corduroy carpets that made you feel like a super hero on all sides of the hill. The consistency was dry, chalky, cold and fast, the kind of snow that makes all those early training turns pay off for just these kind of conditions. The Sun is still low in the sky, but is beginning to get high enough to start affecting the direct aspects with radiant energy, but all the other aspects are holding the cold, soft lines. Mineral Basin was the call for the first laps of the day to stay ahead of the crowd for the first bit, letting the push get spread out. The entire span of The Bird was open and ready for more exploration for the left over pockets and secret stashes.

Tomorrow, expect more great snow conditions wall to wall, machine worked carpets of AHHHHHHH, and a bit lighter traffic as we start the new week. Look for the North facing aspects to be offering the coldest, driest consistency, but, truly, only the very direct Sun aspect will have taken some of the heat. The overall field is still quite smooth, but the the high traffic lines will be developing the chop and rumble as the hill gets more worked. I’ll be looking for the smooth machine worked lines for the perfect carpets, with Mineral Basin offering the Sun and full resolution visibility. More storm energy is coming mid week, leaving plenty of time to dial in the goods and scope out future lines before that energy moves in. IBBY

It was a beautiful sunny morning but quite cold, which kept that soft surface layer from morphing. Wonderfully prepared grooming efforts provided the ultimate dry chalky lines one dreams about. It was great to be working arcs on a surface that was consistent and dialable top to bottom on all sides of the hill. Some of those areas that were still being mitigated were opened for the first time in a long time for those with their ear to the rail delivering epic floaty, blower lines that were smooth consistent and just like the movie in your mind only it was real.

Traffic was full on but the larger opened areas were great to treat the seekers to the goods wall to wall. With the cold temps and the Sun angle still lower in the sky helped keep the quality soft and blastable. Even those due South aspects were holding up nicely, but were going to begin to morph slowly as we move forward.

Tomorrow, look for more great conditions on the hill wherever you travel. Still soft pockets are happening, and the prepared lines will be offering carpet smooth surfaces that will be absolutely perfect for the morning session. Sun will be shining as well and the morning will still be holding the cold. It is go time, and there is more weather on tap for the middle of the week. Like Joe Man The Snow Man says, “Don’t Skimp On The GROOVE SAUCE”!!!

It was a full court press by The Faithful, who got up early in anticipation of another amazing day of deepness. The stoke was high, and folks were cooking on tailgates, suiting up, and ready to get more of the goods. Mineral Basin opened, offering super surfy quality that was easy and very consistent. Visibility was quite good, and you could see the full on charge to the fall line. This quality and consistency really contributed to the performance level. Other areas of the hill were offering soft, but variable lines that had been worked from yesterday. All the traverses and entrances have totally recovered from the previous sketchy condition to a much more predictable and approachable state.

Tomorrow, expect continued heavy traffic, more great lines to still be waiting in the wings, off the charts corduroy carpets that will let you dial in your inner Ligety, and much colder temps in the wake of that cold front. The hill is in great shape wall to wall, and there are still a lot of great lines to find, so keep your ears open for openings, and let the Spirit of the Mountain guide you to a perfect line. Remain Standing!!!

Today was the prime definition of ALL TIME quality Essence. Truly bottomless, gravity suspending, perfection. This is what it is all about. What more can you say when it is amazing wherever you go. The The Faithful were in attendance and ready to go, and the stoke was high.

Here is a shot of The Jazz Man coming up for air in the Mid Gad Trees today. He was sure to get the earliest bus to be on deck to get the goods. Tomorrow, look for more great turning, with super soft snow, deep pile, shag carpets of AHHHHH, and some more waiting in the wings. Keep the deep dreams coming and bring in another round. IBBY!!!!