I went to hike Little Superior this morning, looking for some corn.  I thought that after all that rain and stormage this week, we would see a supportable crust, but I was denied.  Looking across the street, The Bird was still holding up the full fatness, with the rain and light snow fall smoothing out the complexion.  The only melt off that I could see was two high points on Lower Silver Fox, but they presented no issue at all.  The Sun was out in force, but the forecast is for a cold front Thursday, with an unsettled weekend.   The full fatness will make it possible for the Grooming crew to lay down some nice lines for us, and the off trail will have some smooth sections, but the West facing shots are still suffering from the slide damage of recent weeks.  The high North is still looking smooth as well as South and East, but you will have to check the solidity of each.  Last week the North facing still had not solidified sufficiently, so I bailed on my first attempt.  I will be giving you a more first hand report on Friday so stay tuned.  Ciao!!

I made sure I got an early start this morning to get ahead of the predicted showers.  The base temp. was mild, though the peak was windy and felt cold.  The snow pack did not fully freeze, with the Groomers offering velvet smoothness before they got chopped up.  The light attendance, held off the choppiness, and there were a few shots that still held a supportable crust, but it deteriorated after the first hour and a half, after which I retreated back to the Groomers.  I ventured out to the North facing aspects in Little Cloud, hoping to find some supportable sections, but my instincts were correct, as I was caught with breakable slab, which I ended up having to kick turn out of to mitigate the danger.  At 11:00 AM. the predicted weather moved in, and I beat a hasty retreat to the Forklift Chair, while the rain started to come down in earnest.  The rain is not all bad, because it will saturate the pack, and with some freeze thaw, will begin to produce some nice corn conditions for next week end.  The hill is still in great shape, with little or no melt off, though some of the West facing aspects have slid off, leaving some serious deposition, trashing the lines.  I will be updating the site to keep you apprised of the changes as they occur as we move into next weekend, so you can have a good handle on the conditions.  Stay tuned.  Have a great week.  Peace Out!!

After this week of high density snow and rain at the bottom of the hill, and with reports of high volatility up high, I though today would be a serious challenge.  The faithful turned out with high energy, and they were not disappointed, after having to forgo yesterday.  Today offered various consistency, depending on the exposure and the elevation.  The high North felt like an Alaskan Cream Pie, with supportable dense grouple, that was cold and dry.  The middle Third of the hill felt like Sierra Cheese Cake, where the feel was distinctly thicker, but still let you smooze the turns without  punching through the supportable layer.  If you insisted on sticking the turns, you were going through, and the ride was less consistent.  The lower third of the hill was very thick and required a deliberate technical approach to stay focused in the fall line.  Mineral Basin offered some very variable lines, but overall it was fun and supportable.  This was a very nice surprise overall, but as the pack got tracked out, the difficulty factor increased markedly.  Even though there was a good turn out, the traffic was light enough to enable you to move to the far reaches, where untracked lines could still be found until 11:00AM.  The morning heated up, and the snow really began to absorb the heat, thickening and saturating the pack, making the conditions go South quickly.  Tomorrow, look for Road to Provo and Powder Paradise to open, but I think the quality will be dubious at best after the Sun worked the product.  The Groomers will be providing  the best ride.  The coverage is still increasing, with the YTD hitting 755”, so you do not need to worry about melted off reefs, and the entrances are still looking good.  If you happen to drop the Upper Cirque, be aware that the Cool Whip Traverse has been cut in from the Peruvian Chair, so you will be hitting that little piece of interference, be aware.  See you there early.  Ciao!!

The rain pounded the Trailer all night long, and then the thunder scared the day lights out of my little dog Sophie. The road was closed at 6:00 AM with an estimated opening of 8:30 AM, but that was a mute point as the significant overnight accumulation caused the Bird to call off opening for today’s festivities.  This follows what I was told yesterday, as the instability issue is serious.  We can look forward to tomorrow as additional accumulation will be continuing today.  I will up date this post later in the day as I get more first hand info, so stay tuned.    Here is the 2:30 PM update.  I just got back down from the hill, where I was scoping out the situation, and I can tell you that the snow at the Base was like paste.  The tracks on the hill, from the control work, while well executed, looked strained and tentative.  Reports indicated that the snow pack was quite sensitive and was sliding everywhere.  At the Base the temp. was 39 degrees and it was changing from rain to snow, back to rain again as I was leaving.  I did a snow ball test, and you can believe me when I tell you it had a very high moisture content.  They are planning on opening at 8:00 AM.  with a possible 12:00 Noon closure so plan accordingly   Check the comment that was put up on this post for a first hand account of yesterday’s assessment.  Thanks Kyle!! See you in the AM. Peace Out!

Living The Dream

Long before the season ended, I had the distinct impression that the snow fall was far from over.  It has been raining all week long, with the heaviest amounts in the past few days, and it has become heavier today, Thursday.  Snowbird is reporting 22” in the last 48 hours and 742” YTD, and the weather report is for another sizable dose today and into tomorrow.  Friday will be a powder day, though, with this much snow, the access may be limited, and pressure for the goods is sure to be significant.  I don’t anticipate spring skiing, so dress for the occasion .  The hill is still in full fat shape, making the access you do get good to go.  I think the bottom will be only marginally in play, but still use some discretion as there is significant debris out and about.  This is an exciting time to be getting deep snow, further sending this season’s awesomnicity deep into the collective memory of the faithful.   P.S.I just got back from the Bird to get a first hand look at the hill.  The bottom 1000′ has a very pasty consistency, and with the combined rain and sun working the hill, the prognosis was not encouraging.  The upper 2000′ had high density Spackle, so tomorrow will not be a banner powder day. I talked to Snow Safety, and was told that if it snows overnight they will open late and close early. If it does not snow, it will still be a wait and see situation.  In any case, be sure to have your best heavy snow utensils on hand, as it won’t last long.    See you there in the AM.  IBBY!!

It was significantly colder this morning, making me think that I would find bullet proof conditions, but it never did freeze.  It did not even solidify, making most of the off trail punchable and tenuous.  The Groomers were velvet smooth, feeling like true back country corn.  The front of the hill also did not set up, with very nice granular carvaciousness top to bottom.   The  wind was blowing hard out of the South, which helped keep the snow pack from becoming sticky too fast, but the inevitable finally did crop up.  Following the Sun kept you in the goods, though by 2:00PM. the softness was ubiquitous.  It was a great day with lots of energy and no lift lines all day.

Mineral Basin

This week might see some additional accumulation, but that is a toss up.. That might help, and it might hurt the conditions, but with luck it will further smooth out the terrain.  I will be posting again as I see the changes coming, so stay tuned.  Here is a long shot of Mineral Basin that you won’t normally see unless you go to extremes.  I went to the extremes and took this shot of the full fatness that was going off this weekend.  As you can see it is a long way from melting off.  See you next weekend!  Ciao!!

It was sunny and warm this morning as I got on the second chair going up the hill.  The Grooming crew had done a nice job preparing the usual sections on the front of the hill, with the addition of a rarity that I left for later.  Mineral Basin was soft to start out, but the off trail needed just a few more minutes before the off trail became creamy enough to charge the lines.  It was not going to last long back there, as there was no real freeze at all.  The Grooming back there was beautiful, but not too extensive.  The West facing had set up enough that it was going to take until Noon to break.  Once again, following the Sun was the way to get the best of the day.  There is some medium amplitude interference patterns developing in some of the heavily traveled sections, with some very well defined single lines, which is put in by  a very dedicated bump meister.  It is hard to miss, but it is also being enjoyed by others, who also enjoy this particular cadence.  The clouds began to start moving in around Noon, holding back the inevitable stickiness by obscuring  the Sun’s direct rays, but the green house effect finally took over, achieving that glue factor.  I tried some of that BOGOZ SNOT WAX, which seemed to alleviate some of the drag.  The thunder storms moved in around 2:30 PM., with a shut down due to lightning at 2:30 PM., ending the fun for the day.  Tomorrow, look for another great day of spring sliding, and get there early for the best options. Remember to follow the Sun around the dial to get every bit the hill has to offer.  See you there early.   IBBY!!

Bookends

Well, it’s spring going on summer, and I got fried, deep fried.  The Sun was out and cooking from the first bell.  Mineral basin offered back country quality corn goodness, where the East facing was offering 2” of deluxe softness.  The key was to follow the Sun and keep just ahead of the full bake.  Turns needed to be smoozed for best results, otherwise you might punch through the crust and grab an edge.  Smoozing worked well, and kept the fun quotient high.  After Mineral got worked, it was time to start hitting the front of the hill, where, by 11:30 AM. the sticky factor started getting tricky on the lower third of the hill.   West facing was the last exposure to go off, with the sticky factor moving to the top at 1:30 PM., and my

West facing debris

knees could take no more.  Tomorrow, depending on the overnight temps., will offer excellent sliding on the Groomers, as the off trail got fully worked and tracked out with the softness of the afternoon.  The off trail should return to approachability as the Sun works the sequential exposures, so follow the Sun.   The West facing aspects were heavily damaged with slide debris, leaving very few lines between the debris fields, so sojourns out the Cirque Traverse will not be particularly rewarding on those Exposures.  The North facing was quite punchable, and did not develop the good supportable crust the other exposures were offering, so be aware of that bit of complexity.  I think that the early risers will get the best of the day once again.   Plan on starting early and ending early, as the sticky fly paper effect could/will be seriously problematic in the later hours.   I am putting up these two shots to illustrate the sweet goodness in juxtaposition  to the seriously compromised West facing.   See you in the AM.  Ciao!!

We have 3 days to get back to heaven after the last stretch of down time.  I drove up today to check things out and sit on the Forklift Chair, where I was the only on on it; it felt like a private club.  On the hill, the recent snow, rain, and general fog had left only faint remnants of last weekend’s traffic.  Reports from hikers, that had been working Alta during the week, indicated some layering issues with some punch-ability on the off trail.  Today’s warmth may help solidify the situation if it freezes overnight, and with the clear skies, that is a distinct possibility.  I was told there would be extensive Grooming efforts to accommodate the faithful, so I think we can expect some very nice sliding indeed. Peruvian Chair, Mineral Basin, and the Little Cloud Chair will be open, so it will be a super loop to get a full shot from the top, but that is what makes a super loop so much fun.  The hill is still Fat, Fat, Fat, so with the softening around the dial, it should be fun and beautiful with the forecast sunshine.   It will be great to get the gang all together again in the Fun Zone, so be there early to get the most of the day, even if it is a bit crispy to start things out.  You can always wait for softening to occur on the Forklift Chair, where it is always good.  See you early.   Peace Out!!

SUPER SONIC

This was the day, the last day of the Tram of the biggest season we have ever had, and I think that every one participated as fully engaged as was humanly possible. The equipment, the clothing, the new level of technical talent, and the unmitigated audacity in the imagination of the IMAGINERS, made this probably the most significant season ever on any level!. Just going back through some of my posts brings back all the mental images and feeling of the Essence washing over me as I dialed the fall line, and I know that all of the faithful have the same inner sensations etched indelibly in the mind’s eye. I could not be there for the last day, but it seemed to be a challenging one, with overcast and no softening to speak of. More snow is coming in a big way, so it is not over yet as far as accumulation goes, and we can look forward to some additional smoothing for next weekend, mitigating the low amplitude rumble that had been developed. Have a great week and I will be posting on Thursday to give you a heads up. Ciao!!!   P. S.  Here is a shot of me taken by Jay Dash of Powder Shots.  These are THE WINGS, or POWERS FOILS as I call them, which develop a lift dynamic in the hands, resulting in a powerful platform from which to rip the fall line.  Yes, they look stupid, but these things are serious fun!!!  Thanks Jay!