It seems like just yesterday that I was taking pictures of the light dustings on the highest peaks in anticipation of this season.  That was the first part of the cycle that got us all pumped up.  That is the thing about cycles, they keep on moving and there is no stopping them no matter the frantic visualizations to the contrary.  So begins our  snow pack’s return to the liquid state, though on the very positive side we have a mother lode to keep us hiking and getting those weekend openings in.   Today was another beautiful day, though it is my day off, and I am sure it was just as much fun as it usually is.  I saw some clouds moving in over the high elevations, but that probably held off the sticky factor, though I was not there, and all my inside contacts were not answering.  Tomorrow is predicted to begin some snow showers, so the visibility may be an issue, and the thaw times may be much later or non existent, but it is the last day of the regular season and the official Last Tram.  I will not be able to make it, however, but I will be there in spirit.  I have had a blast writing this piece every day and I have felt very connected to all the faithful who have spoken with me and given me such great positive feedback.  I will continue to report on the week end sessions to keep you posted on the conditions  as the cycle progresses down stream.  I’LL BE BLASTING YOU!!

Well, it finally happened, we got a full dose of full intensity Sun along with mild overnight temps.  Even though the base temp. was 47 degrees at 8:00AM. the snow pack froze solid with the residual cold.  I took advantage of the light traffic to fly the Wings once again, where I was able to achieve MACH 3 at times.  The Mineral Basin side was going off first, but the front side was waiting until 11:00 AM to begin breaking.   Regulator held out until 1:30 PM, but that is West facing and you have to follow the Sun.  Later in the day the off trail became very accessible, with the High North aspects still holding a touch of the cold, but it is also holding that low amplitude rumble, and the folks I saw charging it were getting thrown around quite a bit.  The day got so hot that the Canyon closed when some wet slides came off the South facing gulches.  The hill also got very sloppy, so any early morning assaults will leave you skittering across the grooves.  That could spell trouble if you happen to catch an edge at high speed.  OUCH!!  I think the 11:00 AM threshold will still offer the best timing for the main breakage, but Mineral Basin will again let you get a jump on the day.  They have been treating some very fun shots out there lately, using the huge base to go where they never have before!!  There is some weather coming in for Sunday, so take advantage of the margin before the lights go out.   See you Sunday!!

 I got there early this morning to take advantage of the vacant Groomers and fly my wings with no traffic to deal with.  The cold of yesterday made the Grooming  job very velvety and smooth on the upper mountain.  The Lower part of the hill needed quit a bit of time to thaw out.  The Grooming crew did a beautiful job of providing a number of great surprises that kept me hitting the front side of the hill.  Mineral Basin was going off first with the Sun and higher temps. of the morning, so there was good sliding there right off the bat.  Tomorrow, look for the cold overnight temps. to have frozen all aspects up, so waiting for the thaw is prudent.  Today the hill began to break at Noon, with Regulator waiting longer to go off.  Big Emma was also long in the process, but when it did break it was delicious. I like to let the softening to occur  by spending some quality time at the Forklift Chair.  The skiing is great and I find it hard to believe it is almost over for the regular season.  Get there for the greatest season  ending conditions in a very long time.   Peace Out!!

 It was a beautiful morning, but it was very cold.   The Grooming crew was out early doing some tenderizing passes to aleviate the hard pan, which did work to some degree, but the cold air was not helping the softening process at all.  At 12:00 Noon even Mineral Basin was rock solid with no sign of a break.  I took refuge on the Forklift Chair to let softening occur after 3 tries to find a line that did not rattle my eye balls.   By 1:30PM there was a glimmer of softening, but the goods did not get good until the closing bell.  The day was beautiful, the snow was fat, the energy was high, but I just could not find the groove, even though I stayed around until the end.  Tomorrow,  there will be a Canyon closure until 8:30 AM to do a Gun test, so don’t go rushing up there.  Of course, things will be very crispy again, so anytime will be a good time.   I am bummed that this will be the last week of full week operation, what with all the snow pack, but it will open again the following weekend.  Get there when you can, but be waiting for the softening, as it is not that fun skittering across the frozen cat job.  See you there.   Ciao!!

  There were snow flurries this morning for first Tram, but they gave way to very nice Sunshine as the morning progressed.  The Grooming crew,once again, out did themselves in providing 3 lower mountain drops, as well as some fun surprises up high.  I took advantage of the uncrowded hill to fly my Wings for the first 5 runs of the morning, during which I got to light up the after burners and go super sonic!!!  Yeow!!  The grooming crew had also done some very nice tenderizing in Peruvian Gulch to give things a bit more traction, but the cold temps. of yesterday left most of the Grooming very edge- able, though the Gad side of the hill was significantly firmer.  By Noon the warm temps. really thawed out the dance floor, and by 1:30 PM. the apron on the lower mountain began to get quite sticky indeed.   Tomorrow,  look for the Groomers to be very crispy, but look for some tenderizing efforts to have been made. The off trail had absorbed the heat and will be very difficult on most aspects until softening occurs.  The Sun will be out in the morning, so follow the Sun for best results.  Mineral Basin will be the first thing to soften, so plan to start there on the East facing shots.   I like the morning crispiness and the low traffic patterns to fly my Wings, so I will see you there for first  Bucket.  IBBY!!!

This morning was Sunny, but seriously chilly to start things off.  A major creative Grooming project was in evidence as the morning crew checked out the special preparations. Lower Silver Fox, and Lower Primrose Path were offering steep edge- able goodness, as the temps yesterday did not seriously degrade the Winter cold in the snow, so things were good top to bottom.  Hot Foot Gully was also given the treatment, which included a push down the entire length of the Gully that has never been treated as long as I have been here.  WOW!! Mineral Basin was offering velvet smooth Groomers, that kept me lapping the loop before moving back to the front of the hill to start pounding the ground for vertical accumulation.  I came across the inimitable Flex La Luge, who was doing his best Carvesaurus Rex Demonstration, leaving deep trenches with each bite of the hill.  Impressive!!! The day remained cold all day, and only started to truly soften at 3:00PM, when the lifts closed for the day.  Tomorrow, look for an overcast morning with some crispy Groomers on the lower mountain.  The upper elevations should still be holding the cold on the North aspects.  The High North aspects are still holding the cold, but have developed significant medium amplitude  interference patterns, which kind of detract a bit from the full on charge lines we know and love.  Be sure to pay attention to the obvious direct Sun exposures, as those off trail shots will be very difficult to negotiate.  I saw some intrepid individuals plying some of those aspects out in Mineral Basin, and it did not look like any fun at all, but that is me.  They may have been having the time of their lives.  See you there for the first Boat!! IBBY!!

It is May 1, and it was 10 degrees on the peak at 9:00AM, with winter powder left over from yesterday.  The entire mountain had been opened yesterday, so the only remaining freshies were out on the Nuckle Head traverse, where perfect winter Essence was being accessed by the few who took the time to venture that far over.  For myself,  I went all the way out to Thunder Bowl, where I was treated to knee deep, bottomless, winter wonder, with not one soul to be seen.  I got it all to myself, top to bottom, and never crossed a track.  I counted myself blessed, and felt like I needed a cigarette, and I don’t smoke.  Because of the attendance, the shuttle buss was running, so I was treated to a lift back to the Center instead of having to slog all  the way back.  Bonus!!.  I left at 1:00PM. with the temps still holding the chill, but the Sun was beginning to gain headway on the direct exposures.  As anticipated, the Groomers were sensational, though there was firmness down on the lower third of the hill, but that is to be expected.  Tomorrow, look for the Groomers to still be providing some rock and roll goodness, though the Lower Mountain will be getting firmer, but I don’t anticipate any boiler plate.  The Direct Sun exposures will be problematic off trail, so stay on the High North, which should still be holding the cold, but the firm under layer will be in play.  The low amplitude rumble is still an issue, so expect to be staying loose to suck up the vibrations.  The High Pressure is here now, and with it the temps will become more spring like, so that spring wax application might be in order to avoid the stickiness.   The YTD report was 711”, and it is not over yet by a long shot.  Lets keep the ball rolling.   Peace out!

Should have, could have made it up there today, what with the serious lake effect that rolled through the valley, hitting the front with full winter Essence.  I just did not have it in me, after a long week of working the variations and seeking the fine lines.  It looks as if we might see a bit more accumulation for the next day, but the High Pressure is setting up, so we may finally be getting a corn cycle going.  Of course, perfect is perfect, no matter the depth, and Corn Goodness has it’s own rewarding version of perfection.  There is nothing like shaving the crystals, or feeling the sweet sherbet carvasciouness that a MAZOLA finish delivers.  The goodness of MAIZE!!! Tomorrow look for the Groomers to be going off, as the freshness gets tilled into the mat once again.  The off trail will still be feeling good, but any Sun exposure today will have set things up for the morning, making those direct exposures a fair bit touchy.  The High North should still be the call, if the overcast lasts the day preserving the cold, so keep your fingers crossed.  Here is a shot I got of snow Elementals shining in the morning stillness, just after they assisted in delivering the Essence. Thank you bright lights of nature!!!  See you tomorrow.   IBBY!!!

FRESH ESSENCE

The continued installments of Essence have finally pushed us over the RECORD for accumulation this year; this from the head of marketing. I talked to one of the Avalanche forecasters yesterday, who told me that we had exceeded the water content record, but now we have gone past the total record.  And with the super accumulation, the hill has been SNOWTOXED, where all the wrinkles have been taken out by the relentless deliveries.  Yea!!!  I think back to the beginning of the season, when hopes were high, and now to see the fruition of the corporate visualizations, it is stunning to actually see and experience the results.  The overnight accumulation had a high density, which was cold enough to help cushion the crustiness underneath, and resist being heavy.  As anticipated, the High North was offering the deepest accumulation, as the wind was pushing the product continually into the bowls.  The West facing was getting a bit scoured, though it was still holding some of the freshness.  The visibility was variable, with some glimmers of Sun poking through to reveal the untouched lines.  This pattern is predicted to continue into tomorrow, so today’s traffic will have worked the fresh cover into the crust layer, thus preparing it for any additional Essential Deposits.  There is a low amplitude rumble being developed by the unusual traffic, so expect to be jostled by the interference, but it is not as problematic as it could be.  There are still some residual frozen chunks lying about, particularly below the Cat Tracks, so be cognizant of those especially in bad visibility.  Tomorrow, will be another great day, as the cold temps, continued accumulation, and lack of Sun damage will insure a winter like experience for the most part.  I will see you Sunday.  Ciao!!!

As anticipated, the South wind was working from the Get Go this morning, beginning to transport the loose product to the Northern exposures.  The first Trams of the morning saw the transport only covering the Groomers with some very nice buffage, but the West facing was getting scoured, so I stayed with the smooth.  I ventured out to Mineral Basin to check out the High North exposes there, hoping to find some soft snow, which I did finally locate all the way out under the Sunday Cliffs.  Scored a fresh untracked line twice, then headed for the Forklift Chair to let softening to occur a bit more.  As the Sun worked the hill, the crustiness gave way to some very soft and silky turns, but the bonus round came when the South wind finally got enough volume moved to turn the High North into the silky smoothies I was hoping for.  The High North is fat, fat, fat, and all the shots there were going off like you dream about.  With walk on Trams, lapping the goodness was a given, and there were so many lines to choose from.  By 2 PM. the bottom of the hill was definitely getting soggy, though the stickiness was only barely noticeable.  The West facing broke, offering some desert like elegance on those Groomers.  Big Mountain Smooth is Big Mountain Smooth no matter how it is achieved.  There is weather in the forecast, so tomorrow will have visibility issues, though with the wind smoothing, those buffed out lines will be a no brainer, if you just follow your inner compass.  Here is a shot of the Book Ends that I took as I drove by; I could not resist.   IBBY!!

HIGH NORTH