The temps were cold this morning, with a brisk wind that really made the temps feel extra cold. I got a touch of frostbite on my nose on the second run, which was a surprise this late in the season. After those warmer temps, and full Sun exposure on those direct aspects, the hill is really firming up on most aspects. Even the High North is beginning to feel the changes, however, those aspects are still offering the best early lines till the softening begins. The break is happening after Noon, so you can do a delayed start to avoid some of the morning crunch. Good machine worked lines a getting a bit of transported snow with the wind moving the product, so look for some of those low sections to have accumulated some sweet cold dust.

Traffic was quite light, and back to back Trams were easy to make, but the day was totally relaxed so no rush needed. Tomorrow, look for the pattern to remain the same, with a northerly flow keeping the temps cool with warming as the Sun gets up in the sky. Great machine worked lines will be the best for the smooth cruisin’, but look around for some wind work overnight that will make for some good adventure sliding. Head on a swivel!!!!

After yesterday’s warmth and Sun, aspects were key today. It was colder this morning and the wind was blowing briskly, making those direct facing lines crispy. The North facing lines were still holding that cold dry chalk that made turning fun and fast. With a cloud deck shrouding the full light of the Sun, the light was a tad flat, but the lines were so consistent you could trust the surface.

The day warmed up and the lower elevations became very nice with full platform engagement that was a feature of the day. Like frosting a cake with a paper knife. Tomorrow, look for for more wide ranging conditions depending on aspect. North facing still is holding the cold up high. I am looking for some possible wind work, I’ll be keepin’ and eye out. See the line, BE the line!!

It was cool this morning with a brisk wind swirling on the peak, which was depositing some loose snow on the prepared lines that made them feel like velvet. Mineral Basin was the draw, with bright Sun, nicely prepared lines, and fairly low traffic to start things out. The front of the hill was offering some amazing machine worked lines that were vacant with the traffic going elsewhere and ignoring the smooth lines that were offering ground pounding fun all morning long.

With most of the traffic distracted, those front side lines were being ignored and were holding up the smooth feel, and were getting a build up of dry dust as what traffic there was shaved the nap off the corduroy. Those early laps were amazing with untracked corduroy featured top to bottom and vacant lines.

Tomorrow, look for some cooler temps as a dry cold front is dropping down out of the North. The prepared lines will be offering the smooth dry chalk, but aspects that saw a lot of Sun today will be a tad crispy in the AM. Look to North facing aspect for the cold lines and wait for warming to occur a bit later on those frozen sections. It is now a matter of chasing the clock around the dial for the breaks. I’ll be looking for those prepared lines to shave the nap off the corduroy once again. Speed Safely!!!

There was a full and early push for more of the goodness this morning, with cool temps to start, great machine worked lines to dial on all sides of the hill, and high energy stoke to keep the drive alive. The prepared lines were offering that dry, chalky feel that kept me going back for more. Traffic got spread out quickly and there was walk on Trams by 10AM, making hot laps fast and fun. Mineral Basin was offering some sweet lines with lots of options related to aspect. It is that time of the season, when the Sun is higher and attention to aspect becomes important in line choice.

Static and rumble is building on the off trail lines, but there are still some smooth areas where the drive line is more approachable. It is great to have the soft cushion happening wall to wall after those glazed days a week ago.

Tomorrow, look for a bit lighter traffic, more great machine prepared lines on all sides of the hill that will still be holding the smooth and cold. Expect warming as the day progresses and some morphing of the pack on those direct aspects that see a lot of Sun early. That bit of weather they were predicting has been dialed back, so enjoy these days of Sun and fun. Stay Frosty!!

It was a blue bird day, with fresh snow on the hill, amazing machine worked lines that were perfect and deep Essence still waiting in the wings. The Faithful did not have to wait long, and the goods were let loose with overhead powder on tap. There was so much to choose from as things opened, one was pulled in many optional directions. What to do, what to do….. so you just go and let the dust cloud billow behind you. That’s the ticket.

It was great to have Panavision clarity for visibility today to make the very most of the total experience. It made some of those sketchy days fade in the memory bank. Every time folks say it’s over, the Promise Of The Wasatch comes pounding back, and BAM!…. back in gear. Tomorrow, look for more Sun and a bit warmer temps. There is still plenty of cold powder pockets left to find and the machine worked lines will be dialable top to bottom on all sides of the hill. The hill is wide open and there is plenty to choose from, with some of the very best conditions of the season…. thus far. Just waitin’ for the next BAM!!!

With an amazing accumulation this past week, last nights installment of Essence made for some Deep Runnings for The Faithful this morning. Everyone was stoked and on deck early for the festivities. Visibility was difficult with the heavy snowfall and clouds moving through, but having this kind of quality made it feel like floating in the clouds. A real IFR experience. There were face shots aplenty and the patience of waiting for the day paid off nicely.

Tomorrow, look for cold temps as the skies begin to clear off. Visibility should be much better and the snow will still be fresh and cold. The machine worked lines will be epic and let you dial it in like Ligety top to bottom and you won’t feel the old substrate. More areas of the hill are waiting in the wings for mitigation to be completed, so keep your eyes and ears open for the signs. Traffic will be brisk so use the chair option to stay ahead of the crowd. More coming in later in the week. IBBY!!!

Fresh medium density Essence fell overnight and continued all day adding to the pack. Visibility was at a premium, with very dense fog that made navigating difficult and using the inner vision was key to keeping the line consistent. The substrate was in full effect as the cold dry accumulation did very little to cushion the feel of the frozen crust after yesterday’s warm before the storm. I was using my slow, round, by the numbers approach to keep the pace consistent. Going long and finding the smooth lines was the key to getting the best sections on the hill and the recon from yesterday served well in knowing where the smooth lines were living.

Snow impulses continued all day adding to the pack and keeping the snow fresh, but still did not cushion the old layer. The traffic was quite light, with walk on Trams and lifts all day long. Mineral Basin was offering good lines, but the visibility back there was difficult as well. Tomorrow, look for significant additional accumulation that should be much lighter as the temps are dropping quickly. I expect the additional accumulation to make the consistency improve markedly. Visibility issues will continue, so keep those tree lines in mind for reference with some wind adding to the pockets along the margins. Dress for much colder temps in the AM. Dial it up, Dial it in!!

After yesterday’s difficult conditions, today offered a total turnaround quality on many parts of the hill. The Grooming Crew did a great job of retilling the pack, which turned the lines into deluxe carpets of AHHHH. Regulator, and The Peruvain Gulch were holding the cold dry chalk that made each turn feel so good. Visibility was great with some brisk winds moving the surface snow around and depositing it on the open lines that were getting deeper as the day progressed. Warm temps softened the lower elevations aspects and made them even more tasty. It was nice surprise and added to the stoke.

Tomorrow, look for some in coming weather for the next couple of days. Visibility may be variable, but as the front moves through conditions will be changing rapidly. Stay with the know smooth lines to avoid getting bounced by the still widespread rumble and static that still lives off trail. The machine worked lines will still be offering very consistent quality as today’s temps remained cool on the shaded aspects of the hill. I am excited to get some fresh cold Essence on the hill to soften the ride and let us kick it up a few notches. Stay Frosty!!!

With new snow on the report, The Faithful were on deck and ready for more fresh snow on the hill. With the warm temps of yesterday, and the drop in temperature, the substrate froze up underneath the new accumulation, which was scratchy, variable, and difficult. Visibility was at a premium as thick clouds hung on the mountain rendering any details nearly impossible to see. Staying with the tree lines was the best option for navigating the pack, and staying with the known prepared lines was offering the smoothest feel. There had been some wind, which built up some wind waves that were tough to negotiate with the lack of visibility. Still, there was high excitement and full on push for every square inch of the untracked in very short order.

Tomorrow, look for better visibility as this impulse moves off. Mineral Basin will be interesting with those smooth lines from previous days offering consistency that had not been worked over. Look for the machine worked lines to offer the most consistent over all feel top to bottom, with the off trail still variable as the pack built up some serious harbor chop as the traffic worked it over. That texture will be quite challenging for sure. It is nice to be building the base, and I hope we see some wind to begin to fill in the variations before the next impulse in the middle of the week. Remain Standing!!

The low clouds were gathering this morning ahead of the incoming impulse. There was some fairly good visibility on the front of the hill, but Mineral Basin was socked in and vis back there was rough. Nicely prepared machine worked lines offered some very nice turning on the upper third of the hill, with the middle sections still consistent but feeling the freeze underfoot. The lower mountain was soft and not frozen, with corduroy perfection that was like frosting a cake with a paper knife. I stuck with the line I was working for the morning session, as the soft consistency was degrading in the smoothness department with each run. One of those lower sections had a two pass wide line that had totally been missed by everyone, and I took advantage of that oversite, slowed down and dialed in some deep feeling Gs, which felt so good it was like deep powder.

By Noon, the Wall Of Voodoo moved up the Canyon and rain at the base elevation began to fall. There were indications that it was turning to snow, but I took that as sign that it was time to bail for the day. Tomorrow, look for some overnight accumulation on the hill with the dropping temps after the frontal passage. I think the accumulation will be medium density, which will provide some very nice turning on all sides of the hill. It should stick to the substrate and begin to provide good cushion to the turns. The coverage remains excellent despite the temps and the next impulses up stream will be icing on the cake. THINK DEEP THOUGHTS!!!