The morning Snowbird report called the accumulated Essence 3”, so the faithful rolled over in bed and said ” LATER”, leaving the hill to the excited faithful who showed up despite the  report.  They were treated to boot top depth on the peak, with areas in Mineral Basin sporting some knee deep sections.  What a surprise it was to have so much accumulation with so little pressure.  The bottom gnar was firmly in play with the medium density Essence doing little to buffer the rumble, causing me to bounce mercilessly through invisible bumps as I tried to deal with the very poor visibility.  I got a hot tip on a line in Mineral Basin, so I tried it out, only to find that the visibility, combined with the crusty bumps underneath, left me, again, struggling to maintain a direct line, which is essential when navigating Zero visibility.  You can be sure that I won’t be listening to that source again.  The Harbor Chop began to build up very quickly, considering the moderate traffic, but it was just too much for my knees to deal with, so I called it a day at Noon.   It is still snowing hard here at the Trailer, so check the road report first thing to make sure of the road access situation.  The new accumulation will go a long way to buffering the interference patterns after the product gets worked in with the traffic.  Sometimes, however, those hard interference patterns  create a strong template that maintains the pattern despite the additional accumulation, so keep that in mind when charging a known bump line that now looks smooth.   The forecast is for more snow tomorrow as well, so the conditions just moved to the other side of the bell curve, where we all dream of being.   See you there for the freshness in the AM.   Peace Out!!!

The Chef said he felt like he was skiing in knee deep Flat Light this morning, before he bailed to escape the white out.  The firmness factor started kicking in again as the fog saturates the snow pack, then sets up.   The clouds clung to the peaks all day, so there was not much let up in the visibility.  There is some snow in the forecast, which will heal the firmness factor again.   Those few inches of fresh we had last week went along way to improving the ride.  Visibility could continue to be an issue as there is an unsettled pattern moving in.  Tomorrow, look for the smooth to get started, and get a look at the off trail which is offering some smooth lines as well as well established high traffic pattens, so choose from the assortment of fun.  Here is a shot of a small slab release I came across that looked kind of trippy.   See you for the early turns!!!

The weather presenters got it right for the Valley, but missed the nice day up on the hill.  The morning crew was greeted by some serious visibility issues.   The Chef was likening it to a FUZZ TONE on a cheezy 60′ s record, because everything seemed to look FUZZY.   I include this shot of  a tree that illustrates the FUZZ TONE feeling. The snow quality was very nice indeed, with some of the softness accumulated during the past few days leaving the ride smooth and velvety on the Big open Groomers.  The off trail is still quite bouncy, and has not yet begun to mitigate the interference patterns.  The Cirque Traverse is still difficult as you go further down the ridge, so use extra caution on the approach.   I did a lap into the fog in Mineral Basin, just to see how bad the visibility gets, finding very smooth Groomers with some better visibility down low.    Tomorrow, look for the mountain to still be holding the little bit of softness throughout the day.  There are many smooth and reliable lines on many exposures, so look around for the gems that are to be found.   The high traffic areas will still be holding the Interference patterns  without let up.  They are easy to circumvent, but these lines are easily accessible for those who seek out these lines.   Some of the major reefs are beginning to get covered by this recent accumulation, so they will be extremely volatile if you run into them.  Look for the high points, old release zones, and obvious spines to feature these hazards.    I was able to get the Internet connection re established today, but the

FUZZ TONE

Modulation Damper is shot and will need some TLC during my day off tomorrow.  Watch for black ice in the Canyon in the AM.  See you Sunday!!!   Ciao!!

   I got back to the Trailer yesterday to find the Hyperdimensional Modulation Damper had been fried, and with it my Internet connection, so I was unable to post yesterday.  Today,  I had to find another way to post, so I am using a Subspace Terminal to get through on the Impulse Beam.  Yesterday, like today, offered some fresh snow, which continued all day long, improving the ride as the day prgressed.  The visibility was marginal overall, but staying near the trees captured that reflected light, making the definition better.   The Grooming work was very consistent, and with the fresh covering, made the morning session feel like a very soft ride, with some of the best untracked I can remember.  It did not matter that it was only a half inch deep.   Off trail did not soften too  much, leaving a very bouncy ride, especially with such obscure visibility.  I was surprised may times by features I never saw coming, so I  made a commitment to the smooth and reliable lines.   Tomorrow, look for clearing skies and sunshine, with continued softness with the additional accumulation that is falling this late in the afternoon.  With luck, the Cosmic interface will be repaired tomorrow, so I will be able to get more detailed information without the Subspace Static.  Watch for Black Ice inthe Canyon in the AM.  See you for the first Boat.   IBBY!!   END TRANSMISSION

The morning crew was greeted with some brisk temps., bright sunshine, stout wind, and some extensive Grooming.  Mineral Basin was looking inviting, with lots of light, and smoothing lines as the wind began to transport the loose snow to the North facing aspects.   The front side of the hill was really firm for the morning session, but began to soften up as the transported snow began to fill the lines on that side of the hill.  The firmness factor is beginning to resemble the conditions of the pre cycle period, with some glazed sections that can send you spinning out, even if you know they are there.   Regulator was quite crispy today, and did not soften a bit all day.  Tomorrow, look for the wind smoothed lines on the High North aspects, however, the clouds ahead of the small impulse moving in will degrade the visibility considerably, so take that into account for lens selection.  The traffic is very low, with walk on Trams going off continually, which is perfect for the vertical crew.   There is low traffic on the hill as well, but there is still increased traffic as you get into the bottom half of the hill, so expect the unexpected.   Here is a shot of the Tram cables glowing in the Sun.  See you in the AM.  IBBY!!!

GLOWING CABLES

This morning was another rock and roll morning, with firm, smooth, cold Groomers out in Mineral Basin to start things off with a bang.  The post Super Bowl effects kept the line walk on short all day long.   Regulator  was offering some smooth lines under the snow guns,  which were blowing accumulation a long way down slope, creating some very nice turning surface features.   Later in the day, clouds started moving in, bringing flurries without accumulation, but it was fun to see actual flakes.   Tomorrow, look for some more fast and furious lines on the Groomers, and still some smooth wind slab on the North facing exposures.  Other exposures still offer some low amplitude rumble to deal with, as well as the high traffic areas that require some close attention to the details.   Those steep entrances are getting more exposed with each day, with Upper Great Scott looking particularly dubious, but yet they drop in!!!  Take advantage of the low traffic, and uncrowded slopes during this lull in the flow.  See you for first Boat!!!  IBBY!!

It was Super out in the Bowl today, with no traffic, perfect corduroy, and bright Sun to light things up.  The Grooming crew did a great job creating a velvet smooth finish on those Mineral Basin shots.  The front side is still good, with the tenderizing efforts offering smooth cruising, but those early  morning runs are dark on the front side, so the Mineral Basin option is best during these High Pressure periods.  I spent all morning taking advantage of the goodness.  Cool temps. has kept the snow dry and chalky, though the firmness is beginning to spread to the last vestiges of North facing softness.  The wind did not do much to fill any lines in overnight, leaving most of the open slopes a bit choppy, with the high traffic areas demanding a quick response technique.  Tomorrow, look for another ripper, with very little traffic.  This morning, the Chef took his Wings out for another test flight.  If you heard a Sonic Boom this morning, it was him blasting the open lines in Mineral basin, with the high point being the high speed turn at the bottom of Regulator… He Nailed It!!!  Black Ice was present again in the lower Canyon, being quite obvious, but it is the areas, where it is not so obvious, that will surprise you.  Be Careful.  See  you for the first Tram of the day.   Ciao!!!

Well, if it is not going to snow, it might as well be sunny, and sunny it was all day today.  There was an East wind blowing, which probably kept the Temps. form rising too much, but it did not seem strong enough to do any real transport.  The pack continues to get firmer by the day, but there are still smooth lines to access, without having to get into the bumps, unless that is your thing.  Gad 2 is getting quite worked over, with the interference pattens growing continually.  In those bump troughs will be found those roots and rocks, that had been covered until recently.  I have been hitting more rocks than before the new snow came, because I have been working further off trail from time to time, but that goes with the territory.  Tomorrow, look for continued sunny skies, and temps. in the seasonally cool range, so dress accordingly.   I kind of dressed down yesterday afternoon, finding

Wild Wind

myself suddenly under dressed.  I guess that goes to show how the Sun factor  can throw off your best estimations.  You can take it off, but you can’t put it on if you don’t have it.   Doh!!!   The Cirque Traverse is beginning to show the ravages of traffic, so be cautious as you traverse it, especially out toward the middle section where the wind gets it.  Conditions are still looking good overall, but more snow would help things out, however, the next stretch looks dry.  Sharpen up!!!  Here is a shot of some wind scoured sculpting.  These formations are so compelling.  Peace Out!!

There was not too much of a demand for first Tram this morning, but the first Bucket was full, delivering the morning crew to work on the residual Essence that fell after closing.   Mineral Basin was offering the widest selection of covered terrain, with the front side still suffering from the increased firmness factor.  I stayed out there all morning, getting first tracks in some sweet low angle lines.  The traverse to Ski Patrol Gully opened today, offering some very light snow on top of some quite firm wind slab that required a bit more finesse.  There was a wind affecting the highest ridge lines, which did not really seem to move enough product to fill in any of the deep relief features.  Perhaps tonight, we might get some wind to fill in some special lines for the morning, so look for those in the AM. on the way up the Tram or, scope the lines in Mineral.   Tomorrow, look for a blue bird day, with good temps. to keep the snow nicely refrigerated.  This is a great time of the season, as the Sun still does not have that deleterious effect on the snow pack like it does later in the season.   Cherish these days for that reason alone.  Tomorrow is my day off, so I will leave the lines to you all to work on.   Make it smooth!!!  Ciao!!!  Here is a shot of the Traverse minutes before it opened.  Oh Yeah!!

Fresh Essence

Gravity Drive

There was a skiff on the Trailer this morning, and only slightly more in the parking lot, but there was 3 to 6 inches of ultra light fluffulecence covering the dance floor, leaving explosive effervescence behind the fast movers.   It was snowing briskly on the trip up the Tram,  but there was sunshine breaking through in Mineral Basin, so I made a few laps out there while it stormed on the front side.  It was so weird having the front side in a storm setting, and at the same time finding Sun and good visibility just on the other side.  It was like two different dimensions, and I know what that is like most of the time, but I won’t go there.   Snow fall continued all day long, gently accumulating, and continually refreshing the snow pack.   The light density resisted clumping into the Harbor Chop that develops when the moisture content is higher.  I finally took a tour out the traverse to Thunder Bowl, finding the gate to the Bowl closed, with Tiger Tail being the only option.   The traverse was well covered and presented no problems, but the lower section of Tiger Tail was very difficult, with choppy bumps that had no rhyme or reason interspersed with hazards that were impossible to miss.  To say that it was a survival run would be mild.  I won’t be going back till we get a significant amount of snow.  Upper West Baldy has got some nice lines, however, the Fields of Glory ripped out to the ground, so that entire upper section is reef strewn and a sure fire rock fest; be aware.  It was snowing hard as I left, so tomorrow, look for some additional accumulation, which will improve those wind smoothed lines from earlier this week.  Interference patterns are building continually with the traffic, but there are still plenty of lines to ply that avoid the rumble.   See you for the freshness!!!!   Peace Out!!