It was a sunny Sunday, with a very thin cloud deck that filtered the Sun just enough to take away the details on the surface on the shaded areas, leaving the variations almost impossible to discern. The Grooming consistency could be counted on to keep the transitions smooth and trustworthy. Mineral Basin was offering much better visibility, with the Sun coming through enough to really light up the scene. There were some nice consolidated lines way out on The Bookend Chutes area, which was drawing a bit of traffic, but was quite wide open and had long shots of smooth dry chalk.

The clouds deck moved off as the Sun got higher in the sky, which lit up the front side of the hill, making the details pop with full resolution. The carving was so much fun with the prepared lines offering some very nice granulation that produced plenty of traction for solid speed control and directional precision. Tomorrow, look for the first vibrations of the approaching Front, with clouds, flat light, and wind. Expect variable visibility, but I think the clarity will be OK, but the flat light situation will be a struggle. I still am taking a lot of notes on the hill as I do my looking around at the pack. Coverage remains quite good and the hill is in good shape to get a freshening of the pack. Traffic should be super light with plenty of vertical to dial in. Remain Standing!!!

Another bright and sunny day before the clouds and stormage begins in the very near future. It was nice to have the clear visibility and great prepared lines to pump up the stoke for back to back Trams and an ground pounding laps that really dial in the stoke factor. Traffic was quite light and there was no waiting after the first push for the peak was dealt with. Coverage remains excellent, and those snow making efforts paying off nicely as those cold dry sections are holding up to the traffic and sculpted to add some really fun terrain fluctuations.

Tomorrow, look for some of the last of the Sunshine for the morning session. Clouds are predicted in the afternoon as the cold front begins moving in. I expect some wind to be working ahead of the front, so dress for the changes. I won’t get to wear my sun glasses as I have made that mistake with the wind on the peak recently. I need my goggles in the wind. Look for your lines you want when they get covered and keep and eye out for line, options, smoothness or lack there of and other features that will be in play when it gets deep. The coverage is quite good and going into a cycle will be be frosting on the cake.

See you on deck dark and early for another day of ground pounding fun as we patiently wait for the next installment which is on the doorstep and promises to keep producing all week. Keep your visualizations going, and feel those full body powder blasts wrapping around you. Don’t Stop Believin’!!!

There was a high thin cloud deck moving over The Front this morning, which burned off later in the day. That deck did create a filtering effect, which made for some very flat light on the Front side of the hill in the shade. We had been working on some reflected light from Superior to highlight some of the details when working the dark side, but missing that extra help made it a guessing game. Fortunately, the excellent prepared lines hold up the consistency leaving the details to trust in the medium. Mineral Basin was bright and offering some rippin’ lines on those Lewis and Clark laps that kept the stoke high. The Sun did help break the pack later in the day, giving Regulator a soft feel later after Noon.

Tomorrow, look for a bit more Sun and some cloud activity as the weather systems move around, and, hopefully, scrub the air in the Valley. Coverage remains good, and now is the time to get a close look at the pack of your favorite lines for beta that will come in handy when the next storm moves in early next week. I have been working on my internal visualizations to move the Quantum Field into the possibility vectors I prefer. Traffic should still be fairly light ahead of the change, so it is a good time to take the time to check out the features up close and personal. Be sure to do your own internal visualizations of the face shots you know and love. That is the best way to amplify the intention. Straight Ahead!!!

The sky was super blue this morning, with bright Sun, very light wind, and wall to wall machine worked lines that were fast fun and softening quickly. With the Sun getting higher in the sky, the effect on the snow is becoming a real element as you chose your lines in the AM. With afternoon warming, the pack is softening, offering some very nice soft bumps that have folks working those lines as they become ready. The front of the hill was offering some amazing early morning corduroy lines that let you wrap back to back walk on Trams that were ground pounding fun with the full 3000′ of drop to fill that need for speed.

Tomorrow, look for pretty much the same pattern to be in effect, with light traffic, bright Sun, and wide open lines. Pay attention to aspect for the best feel under foot, and work the shade for the fast dry chalk that lives in the North facing lines. Those untracked corduroy carpets are such a treat and hold up for the entire morning session. Changes in the weather are coming, so begin to check out the base features to know what is what before it gets covered by the incoming accumulation. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!!

Traffic was light this morning, with bright Sun, warming temps, and lots of machine worked lines prepared on all sides of the hill. I was concentrating on dialing in the untracked corduroy lines in the Peruvian Gulch, which was amazing top to bottom that features some flannel like feel on aspects that never see any Sun. With the light traffic, it was easy to crank out those back to back Tram laps that get your motor runnin’ and your turn dynamics tightly focused. Mineral Basin was offering some great Sun lit lines that were fast and fun as well, with those lower angle aspects letting you cut loose and let the flow lines free.

Tomorrow, look for more wide open ground pounding fun on all sides of the hill. Temps should still me moderate and lighter dress will work nicely. Top to bottom corduroy lines will be smooth and arcable with every turn. There are only a few slick spots that are easy to see even in the flat light if you watch the color changes in the snow surface for tell tale signs. Coverage remains very good with plenty of options to get around some of the thin sections. Keep your eyes on a swivel and spacial awareness front and center. Dial it up, Dial it in!!!

There was a high cloud deck flowing over the hill today, letting the Sun shine through, then turn out the lights. When the lights went out it was a guessing game as the details vanished in seconds. Driving a consistent line on the known smooth was key to dealing with the variations as they came. Coverage remains good, and the machine worked lines were making for some hard charging runs. Low traffic, and walk on Trams made that morning session energizing and dynamic. Having the hill to yourself is great fun.

Even though it was Ground hog Day the other day, it seems like we are caught in a ground hog day pattern. But it is fun to acknowledge that perspective and make each turn better than you made it yesterday. I have been having a blast slicing and dicing on that fresh corduroy every morning. Tomorrow, look for more ground pounding fun right out of the chute. Traffic should be light again, and the wide open lines are waiting and dialable. Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

The hill was wide open today with all areas available for exploration. The Baldy Chute into Alta opened today with a lot of excitement and interest focused on that development alone. I was scoping out the smooth lines out on the North East facing aspects, which look like they are becoming a bit more consistent. Temps were warm, but there was still a chill in the air that made my fingers cold. Smooth machine worked lines were fun fast and dialable on all sides of the hill, with the early laps offering the best feel. There was some nice reflected light coming back from Superior, making those North facing aspects much more detailed for those morning laps. Back to back Trams was a treat and kept pulling me back to the front of the hill.

Tomorrow, look for a carbon copy of today’s fun zone experience. The Baldy Chute will still be open and holding good snow with such low pressure for that line. Machine worked lines will be happening on all sides of the hill, offering that hot lap pace, and the exploration possibilities are open and interesting. Temps should be warm again, but that morning chill will still be happening. The hill is holding up nicely and these wide open days are really fun and stoke building. Straight Ahead!!!

It was much warmer this morning, with bright Sun, low wind, and a balmy feel to start the day. Mineral Basin was offering freshly prepared lines that were fast, fun, and wide open. There are some very nice wind slab sections to be worked on the North East aspects that are well worth the explorations for later intel. The front side of the hill was offering very light traffic with all the attention going to the back bowl. Back to back Trams were easy to make after the first push was delivered up the hill, leaving some slamming laps that had all the features of big mountain smooth one could want. I was working those dry chalky lines that had plenty of traction and consistency to let me lay over on the edges and dial in some juice.

Tomorrow, look for a repeat of today, with much lighter traffic. Prepared lines will be offering some sweet corduroy goodness that will hold up the quality even in these warmer temps. The coverage remains quite good, but look for some loose rock from time to time where the cats kick it up out of the mat. I am enjoying dressing for these warmer temps and wide open lines. Keep it tight!!