After a long dry spell and huge melt off of the pack, storm warnings are in the forecast, promising to bring some significant accumulation to the hill in the next few days. Today was overcast and coolish, but the pack did not freeze hard at all. Mineral Basin was offering some soft lines on the prepared areas, but leaving the main lines was tricky as the static was crispy indeed. The Peruvian Gulch was offering consistent lines top to bottom, with plenty of traction to keep the roll real. Visibility was marginal with the flat light keeping the details obscured, and some light precipitation later in the morning added to the issue. Regulator and the Gad side of the hill broke early, with some nice lines to build the stoke.

Tomorrow, look for a weather day on the hill, so dress for the occasion. I won’t be driving with the top down like I did all last week with the warm temps. Visibility will be an issue and staying with the prepared lines will provide the best consistency top to bottom. With the drop in temps, expect very crispy lines on the hill. Be sure to avoid those very steep, long aspects that will be very difficult with a hard freeze. The next few days will prove to be a turning point of the season as we move forward. Keep the visualizations working to keep the storm flow flowing through the Front. Keep on Chuglin’!!!

The temps were right, the Sun was shining bright, and the pack was set up to break in a relaxed manner. The Grooming crew had much better snow quality to work with overnight and that showed up as much more consistent and dialable lines as they began to break. Even the early North facing aspects, which were quite firm, had enough surface granularity to provide some very nice turning traction. Still, caution was a good thing to keep in mind with the consequences of catching an edge at high speed. DOH!!! The sorbet stage hit the pack in stages and keeping in mind the recent pattern helped put you in the right place at the right time.

Tomorrow, look for cloud cover as the series of storms moves in for the week, bringing new accumulation and a refresh to the hill. I have been using my deep visualizations to juice up the Quantum Foam in anticipation of the energy moving in. Can’t hurt!!! If the temps remain warm the pack may not freeze at all like last week, so we’ll have to see how that shakes out. Wild times in the Wasatch!!!

It was warm again this morning, with a tight freeze in the pack despite the temps. As usual, Mineral Basin was offering the earliest break in the pack, but the Peruvian Gulch offered some very nice early corn feeling surfaces that let you turn with some level of feel and control. Those steep North facing aspects were going to hold the freeze till Noon, when they began to break. The Forklift was a perfect place to let softening to occur and let the pack do its thing. Each day the melt off becomes much more evident with the sections that see the Sun early melting down to the shrub level. Now is the time to get a very good look at what, where, and how the hill is presenting as some weather later in the week may very well cover those sections that would be very attractive covered with a fresh layer. That could be problematic if you get my meaning.

Tomorrow, look for the last of the sunny days that will be following the same pattern as last week. I will be staying with the standby lines I have been using all week to enjoy those wide open empty lines while the sun draws the crowds. Do take the time to scope things out, it will pay off down the line. Snow is in the forecast, so use your best visualization efforts to manifest a wild LCC miracle that we all know can, and will happen. Watch your SIX!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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!!

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!!!!!

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!!

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!!!