The faithful showed up in force today, in answer to the call of fresh essence that began falling as I left yesterday.  While there was not a large accumulation overnight, the consistency more than made up for the lack of depth.  The Tram and Peruvian Chair were off line, and other up hill options strained the capacity as the folks continued to make late arrivals.  Now, I was not there today as you know, but I will wager that the new snow was a welcome addition to the overall smooth sections mountain wide.  The snow is predicted to continue tonight, promising even better conditions for the morning.  The only down side would be the visibility, that can really be a challenge, especially on the open featureless sections.  Look for the trees as much as possible to take advantage of the reflected light and added reference points.  I have been dressing quite a bit warmer lately as we come out of the past frigid days, and I have been rewarded by greater comfort and less stress to stay warm.  I usually under dress due to the Tram format that I prefer, and that can really catch up with me- and has- when I find myself hung up on a windy, stopped chair.  BRRRR!  Look back a couple posts and check out my incognito look, looking for warmth.

WIND WHIPPED

Like the CHEF said;  ” you can always take it off, you can’t always put it on.  So true CHEFco!!  Here is a shot from last week of the wind sculpted beauty  all over the hill.  See you in the AM.  IBBY!!

The corduroy was covered with an exquisite cm. of essence, that made those prepared shots essential for the cognoscenti.  The early morning seemed almost dream like, with a milky overcast that revealed minimal definition, but the filled in corduroy was so perfect it did not matter if you could see it or not.  I just let fly and pretended it was sunny.  The wind was blowing out of the North, filling in the low sections, and smoothing the general field overall. There is still some crunchiness out and about, but it does not really infringe on the fun factor.  The mountain is holding the smooth, despite the week of traffic and little accumulation, keeping the lines good to go with any additional product.  Only the deep trees are presenting any significant amplitude, though the spacing is rhythmic and predictable.  I did visit those shots and was able to negotiate the interference with out too much knee aggravation.  The West facing shots are a bit tricky, as the crunch and Sun affected consistency is no cakewalk, though some of the high traffic lines have morphed into sugary sweetness, so there is some treats to found.    Tomorrow , look for some overnight snow to have graced the hill, softening the ride, though the density factor will determine how much cushion will be provided.  The big smooth shots on the lower mountain, that were given the grooming nod, held up all day long and will be the go to shots in the AM.  The upper Cirque has some approach issues with rocks and scoured sections, so look for the alternate entrances to avoid bottom damage on entry, especially after it has been covered with fresh.  I will be off tomorrow to rest the vehicle and get some stuff done around the trailer.  See you Sunday!!! Ciao!

The temperature was 20 degrees warmer this morning, which was a great relief from the deep freeze of recent days.  The high North West wind was really mountain sculpting strong as the loose snow was transported mainly into Mineral Basin, though all the low laying spots were collecting the dry cold goodness..  There, as anticipated, was perfect wind transported essence that felt like Classic Rock and Roll on pure luxurious velvet.  With very low traffic the goodness stayed prime all day long.  The higher temps. did not seem to affect the South facing aspects, so they should still be good to go in the AM.  Continued windage overnight will continue to prepare some more aspects for the faithful to enjoy.  These shots are just perfect and never get skied out, so to my way of thinking, these days are right up there with a powder day any day.  The Groomers are also going off, as they collect the wind driven essence in the grooves, creating an effortless, buffed,  wall to wall dance extravaganza .  It looks like there is quite a stretch of weather coming for the weekend, so enjoy the low pressure, continually perfect days.  See you for tomorrow’s festivities.   Expect excellence!!   Peace Out!

It was cold this morning, with the cold mist still hanging on the hill, and the cold North wind blowing big plumes off the ridge tops.  I dressed for the conditions, feeling somewhat mummy like, though someone said I looked like Darth Vader.  I am not going to the Dark Side I can assure you.  The slide factor was much improved over yesterday , with the wind and traffic homogenizing the product to make the ride much more consistent.  The Sun was welcome as it rose up in the sky, shedding light on the situation and seemingly warming the air temps. up a touch.  It was still 11 Below at the peak when I left at 3:00PM.  The overall smooth is still  holding up, delivering lines that just call for a direct fall line approach, which is a sharp contrast with yesterday that left me flailing in the variability. Tomorrow , look for continued improvement in the consistency on most exposures, and look for wind transported lines that may have developed overnight. If it is not too cold in the AM. I will be looking into Mineral Basin for some of those spots that can happen in a big way.  Remember, just a short while back the perfect wind slab  was a huge feature out there.  Just a thought!.  The Groomers will be offering the same carvelocity to get you going and kicking up the RPM factor to power through some of the off trail features. Traffic is light, so there might be a brief Tram schedule that can be kept if you do not dawdle, other wise

Monte Christo

WHO DAT

you will be standing around waiting for the next time slot.  If you do miss it, jump on the Peruvian Chair quickly and you will not miss a beat.  Here is a shot of Monte Christo area looking as cold as it was.  Note  the cold mist.  BRRRRR!  I am including a bonus shot of me looking incognito, but I am really trying to keep the frost bite at bay.  See you tomorrow.   Ciao!

This morning was cold, not Wyoming or Montana cold, but it was cold enough for me. The overnight snow drew the faithful, who showed up for the festivities, backing the Tram line up significantly.  The Peruvian chair was totally vacant, as the wind and Frost Bite conditions drew the folks to seek cover.  The Snow was so cold that it felt like sticky dry flour, which gave me a lot of trouble, dealing with the crusty variability combined with the dense grabbiness of the new snow.   It was really giving me fits trying to find a direct line.  The cold density of the new product is slowly beginning to get compacted, providing a bit more cushion than yesterday, but the bottom was still fully in play top to bottom.  I was still working the lines that I went with yesterday, as I knew they were still going to hold the smooth that I know and love.  I did venture out the Cirque Traverse, where the east facing seemed to hold the deepest deposits.  The entrances are a bit scratchy in places and still should be dealt with sternly.  Tomorrow look for the cold conditions to get even more intense, so be sure to bring that extra layer and all the extra gear to keep you comfy.  I saw some brutal frost bit cheeks on the plaza, so cover up.  The Groomers will be going off, and I will be hitting them to get my motor running and up to temperature.  I will have the heat on full blast, not to mention the defroster.  If you know of some kind of wax that will deal with this kind of cold, let me know.  My skis feel like a tongue on a flag pole… ouch!!   Check out this cold corona over Wilbre Bowl, you can just feel the cold from looking at it!!   IBBY!!

Finally the hill was graced with a new installment of low density essence, which started out as 3 to 4” and  quickly built up in depth as the storm continued to dump all day long.  As anticipated, the essence did not bring enough to cushion the crustulation that has been developing all week, so while the new snow was sweet and tasty, it also had a contrasting crunch just to add complexity to the dessert.   The visibility was also an issue, that kept me choosing lines that were close to the trees and still smooth.  An eidetic memory of all the available alternative smoothness, assisted in navigating the low vis., and the low amplitude rumble that was bound to be encountered.  Overnight grooming offered some exceptional lines that were covered adequately, though the lurking slick spots required a longer more averaged turn to mitigate the inconsistency.  Tomorrow, look for more snow to have fallen as the system moves out and the weather is talking about another quick moving cold front to come in and add to the goodness.    Mineral Basin was reporting very limited visibility, with the vast expanse of limited reference points, so be aware of the South facing sections out there that were frozen and generally difficult to negotiate.  The West facing aspects are also tricky after the recent exposure to the Sun, with Pucker-brush very iffy in the break over section, so exercise discernment when charging the transition.  I am looking forward to another day of good vibes, good snow, and good friends to share the arrival of the new fluffulecence!     Here is a shot – courtesy of Jay from Powder Shots- of how today would have looked if the Sun had been out, with similar depth and a very crusty base course here on upper Silver Dipper.

Averaging the turn

IBBY!!

A storm is blowing in, and with it comes the wind as the front moves into the area.  High clouds and pre frontal storm clouds shrouded the Sun off and on all day.   The wind began transporting the loose snow to the upper reaches as it began to remove it from the windward areas, resulting in some very scratchy sections here and there, and some sweet deposits in other sections.  Big Grooming efforts continue to restore some of the lower big shots to pre traffic smoothness.  The mountain is still maintaining the overall smooth, as I have been saying all week, so the arrival of new snow will just build on the good foundation that has been established.  There had been no development of high amplitude bumps to act as a template.  Just be sure to remember where your favorite smooth shot is and avoid those bumpy areas that are difficult with a small coverage.  There is still no telling how much we might get out of this next installment, but any additional essence is always welcome.  Visibility will also be an issue during the storm day with the tree sections providing  some reflected light to be guided by.  The high entrances have been getting scraped off  recently, necessitating some alternate approaches to get in without dealing with the rocky outcroppings that are now exposed.  A nod to these same entrances will avoid edge damage if you drop in with tomorrow’s thin coverage.  The South and West facing did not thaw out today, and still are very crusty and rasty.  These shots will be covered by the new product, making those shots very difficult, so use that awareness when choosing a line.   I will be sticking with the tried and true to keep my knees from taking too much of a beating.   See you on first Bucket!  Ciao!

The fog was dense and dreary this morning as I sipped my coffee here at the trailer, while just a 1000′ above the Sun was beaming clear and unobstructed.  What a difference it makes to the vibe of the day if you know you will be transcending the murk for the high altitude Prana that concentrates in the Canyons.  I was looking up though it, instead of looking down on it.  Well,  I will be there again tomorrow, so I will be taking shorter breaths until I can get back up there, and breath deeply the rejuvenating air and energy.  The mountain is still in fine shape, offering wide spread consistency, which lets you choose just about any line and have it go down with ease.  The morning crust will have moderated on the direct aspects, as the Sun cooked it from the first rays of the morning, so forays over to those shots will pay off with patience.  The same scenario will again render those South and West aspects crusty again tomorrow morning.  The forecast is for a system to be moving in to the area in the next few days, so high cloudiness might begin to flatten the details.  As the traffic pattern holds steady, the previously scratchy sections are being broken down letting you taste the granular re crystallized essence that has been just out of reach.   Now it is something to be sought out.  There is one shot that I have been working, it is out of the way and short, but with persistence it has become a private treasure that I have been keeping to myself.  There are other special shots that are sporting the same quality all over the hill, so exploration will be rewarded, and a shot that is not quite ready can be worked to goodness, so, if you are generous, get a posse together, move the process ahead, and reap the rewards of the re crystallization.  Snow does amazing things as it morphs, and can be counted on to provide memorable sensations as you ply the dust!.   I will be there first thing in the AM, be aware of the Black Ice.   IBBY!!!

It was another day of Maximum Rock and Roll.  The Groom team was out again re working the big shots they worked yesterday, giving them another level of goodness that had to be experienced to be believed.  I  kept pushing the smooth for all the turns I could fit in.  With such rare shots being placed in the Zone, one has to take the opportunity to get it while it is right there to get.  The off trail is improving as well, though the sunshine today had softened the South and West facing aspects, and will be quite crispy in the morning, but will improve to goodness as soon as the Sun has a chance to work it over .  The mountain is holding on the overall smooth, with little or no bump development to speak of.  Only the most heavily visited sections are getting bumped.   The Groomers have been holding the smooth all day as well, so  a full day of big mountain experience is on tap.  The forecast is for continued sunshine to make the day another perfect one.  Yes, we need more snow to soften things up, but I still maintain that this is as good as it gets for a high pressure pattern.  The snow is cold,dry, consistent, and custom made for performing perfect turns.    I look for perfect, and ski what is perfect when it is.  It amazes me that folks will dismiss perfect for some punchable aspect, and that is fine, but I can’t get enough of the goods.  Another great feature of the Sunshine days,

Inversion layer

is the ability to get up and above the inversion layer.  Here is a shot from today looking down from above.  I am very happy to be well above the murky mist.  See you Sunday!!!

Things were off the chart this morning when the Grooming report exhibited some unreal scope.  The huge sections in Mineral Basin were buffed out, with the off trail shots smoothed over by nature’s own wind machine.  The machine groomed was also covered with the wind deposited essence, that made every turn  pure pleasure.  The front of the hill was replete with top to bottom buffage on both sides.  Choose your line and have at it.  Very light traffic kept all the lines smooth and unruffled.  Now  that the Sun is getting higher in the sky, the direct exposures are absorbing the rays and quickly becoming noticeably affected.  It might be a tad crispy on those aspects first off in the morning.  Look for another day of full on goodness, where just about any line you choose is going to be worthwhile.  Wilbre Bowl as a touch punchable, though a round approach seemed to carry through with little deflection.   The entrances are still holding up to the traffic, but a couple popular shots are getting scraped sown a bit, however, the snow below is certainly worth the sketch factor.    I was able to fly my Wings first thing this morning, with the low traffic and ultra buffed runways.  There was a cold head wind coming out of the North, which gave me a lot of extra lift, so I lit the burners!   Walk on Trams were going off all day, and tomorrow should be just a touch busier.  I have been going on about the smoothness factor as you may have noticed, it is  hard to relate the wonder of smooth to those who may not see too much of it.  Here is a shot that may convey the essence of smooth of which I speak.   Yeah, that’s the stuff in full effect.

THE SMOOTH

See you there for the first Boat!   IBBY!!