The fog was thick as I drove away from the trailer this morning, but the clear skies were right there just above the murk.  With the thick fog washing around in the lower Canyon, black ice was a no brainer.  The sanders had made a pass, but I was not taking any chances.  This situation will be there again in the morning, so be aware of that.  With yesterday’s low visibility, low traffic, steady Northwest wind, and snow that fell well into the evening, left Mineral Basin a solid choice for first run.  But!!! the front side of the hill offered it’s own perfect ride, with the upper mountain smoothed by the wind, and the Big Groomers pumping out the adrenalin laced goodness.   Which to chose.  Either choice was a big win, except that you can’t be two places at once.  Dang!  The temps. remained cold all day long, with minimal  deterioration to the quality even on the South facing exposures.  There is a low amplitude rumble that is beginning to rise up off trail, though it does not present any problems over all, just a bit pesky after all the ultra smooth ripping.  Still, there are plenty of aspects that are still holding the natural smooth, and that has certainly been helped by the wind patterns. The forecast is for continued cold out of the North, so be sure to have the extra layers on hand.  I ended up putting on more clothes at 1:30 PM., as the wind picked up and the temps dropped.  Brrrr!  The remote trees still hold soft snow, but the traffic has worked up the bumps to a certain degree. More Sun and Fun is on hand for tomorrow, so get ready to Rock! Also be aware the Canyon is closing for data collection, and will reopen at 8:00AM.  IBBY!!!   Here is a very rare sighting of the Dreaded Snow Snake, you never get to actually see one, but here is a classic sighting.  Photo Shopped? You be the judge!

Yesterday was sunny and blue, with wind slab goodness wall to wall.  Today started out with a few flakes, and only 2 inches to dial through, but the storm kicked in with a vengeance dumping some high density, cold, velvety, product over all the aspects. What a difference a day makes.  The smoothness held out overnight,  finding the Upper Cirque and the Upper Peruvian shots good to go.  There were a few scoured sections to keep you on your toes, but the over all ride kept getting better and better as the day progressed.  It was still snowing when I left at 3:00 PM. so I will bet there will be some freshies to find in the AM.  Upper Old Ladies is very sketchy where the wind has blown off the cover, exposing the still cohesive crust that exists on the West facing aspects.  Lower down the depth kicks in and you can get a grip, but the first entrance is very interesting.  There was very light traffic today, so the harbor chop did not whip up too much, but a long averaged turn moved me through the variations more reliably.  Tomorrow, look for continued improvement in the overall recovery from the old crust, as the continued traffic is breaking it up as time goes by.  Visibility was an issue throughout the day with periods of rime ice that would lightly coat the goggles, but not so badly that a quick wipe would not clear it off.  This high density snow seems to be sticking to the old layer, though the the remaining crust does resist the coverage.  We will see you dark and early for another day of exceptional quality.  IBBY!!!

Today I have completed 60 trips around the SUN,   35 of which have been spent at The Bird.  Today I was gifted with sumptuous wind deposited, natural,   Grooming on huge areas of the mountain.   Mineral Basin was especially graced with the ultra smooth wind buff, that was true hero snow, with every turn a perfect moment.  The front of the hill was also going off, as the relentless traffic has finally begun to break the crust of last week, revealing re crystallized essence that had to be experienced, so trying to describe it would fall flat. With very light traffic, back to back to back Trams were happening all day, with only the Mineral Basin chair building up any kind of line.  There is only minimal vestiges of the old crusty layer, leaving the lines consistent enough to take a full power approach.  The High North aspects also were worked by the wind, though they did not exhibit the extra depth of the East facing, they are very smooth and soft none the less.  Tomorrow, look for some snow to be moving through the area, making visibility an issue, but the overall smooth complexion of the hill will help in navigating the runs.  The smoothness held up all day on the groomed runs, so remember them from today, and take that same relaxed approach to them tomorrow.  The hill is back up to great, and today was an incredible gift, plus, all my friends were there!!!   See you tomorrow!!! Peace Out!

There were doubts about the conditions after last week’s weirdness, but I can tell you with confidence that the hill has returned to nearly full effect.   The snow yesterday, in combination with the overnight wind, brought the smooth softness to most aspects on the hill.  There were some scratchy sections to be negotiated, but they were few and far between.  The faithful were in strong attendance as the day got started, so I jumped back into Mineral Basin to get a few laps in before   the line built up.  Boot top perfection was on tap back there after the wind had deposited long pillows of fluffulecence top to bottom.  The front side of the hill was also greatly improved, with the high entrances having been filled and covered to full charge, with Great Scott once again delivering the Big Mountain Smooth that I wait specifically for.  All of the traverses and far reaches were not left out of the improvements, making previously rasty shots much more rewarding to those who went that far.  Tomorrow, look for continued sweetness on all aspects, with minimal need to consider aspect choice.  I feel the traffic will be fairly light, so those that show up will have no problem getting their fill.  As anticipated, the longest, steepest, shot on the lower mountain was once again tagged with the Grooming paint.  I kept taking advantage of the soft piled up confectioner’s sugar that built up on the sides, which was scrumptulecent in the first degree, and I could not get enough of that perfection.  Look for more shots to get worked for our carving pleasure, and take full advantage of the mid winter snow quality. See you in the AM. for fun , fun, fun!!!   IBBY!!  Here for your consideration is a shot from inside the WHITE ROOM.  Getting deep, with no escape.  Just where I want to be!!!

WHITE ROOM

I don’t know about anyone else, but it seems like they- whoever THEY are- turned up the Time dial, making it go by like rushing water.  We are still firmly in the heart of the season, though I feel like the season is impossible to slow down.  There was just a few inches overnight to add to the healing power needed to make that crusty layer a memory, but in the spirit of maintaining a tenacious grip on time, I am content to accept every Millimeter of essence that graces the hill.  The hill remained overcast all day long, with intermittent weather moving through the Valley.   I spent the day belly up, setting my sights on the week ahead.  Not to rush things mind you!.  Tomorrow, look for the hill to have improved incrementally, though the Groomers can still be counted on to deliver the goods, especially if some more of the big , steep, lower mountain shots get the Grooming nod.  Friday, Lower Primrose Path was off the scale with such perfectly morphed  consistency, that I was just trying to squeeze  the most out of each turn.  In this way I am attempting to STOP TIME in each turn.  Now we all know that stopping time impossible, but this is my attempt at stemming the relentless flow.  Plus, I get a ton ultra quality turns in, so nothing is really wasted.    Here is a shot of the Superior apron with a debris field that had been kicked out from above.   With the ice lens that exists, great caution should be taken on the steep aspects.  I will be there for first Tram in the AM.   Be safe!!! IBBY

Slide debris

The Sun was out, the Groomers were off the chart buffed, and the traffic was light, so I reached out and got every bit of today that I could grab.  I was able to bring out the Wings for 2 blistering flights on each side of the front, going super sonic.  I had to put them away when the hill traffic got a bit too unpredictable to call at such envelope pushing speeds.  I have to be very cognizant of the politics of speed.  Even though I put them away, it did not detract from the unbridled rippage that was available.  Lower Primrose was given a till just before opening, delivering cold, satin, perfection that had to be caressed in place of a shralping to really get all of the nuance that was in play.  All my time was not spent entirely on the groomers,  I made a number of sojourns out on the traverses to get a first hand look, finding some very iffy access points to the steep aspects.  That crust is still lurking about with some severely  greasy sections.  The overnight wind also played a part in the off trail crud getting set up and a touch slabbed over on most aspects, though there was some very soft and consistent fluff hiding in the West facing hollows and the North facing trees.  There is snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow, so look for some variable visibility associated with continually improving coverage.  That crust is still going to be an issue, so be aware of that bit of trickiness.  Another note of caution is the BLACK ICE that is lurking in the Canyon.  Do not think that the ICE is relegated to just the lower part of the Canyon, as two vehicles spun out into the snow bank at the White Pine Trail head just seconds ahead of my arrival.  There was nothing to be done for them as they were axle deep  off the shoulder.   Wooops!   I am taking my day off tomorrow, so make the turns for me, and be sure to check out the Northface Event that is ongoing, with amazing demonstrations of envelope shattering chops.   Peace Out!!!

The Sun was out in force today, though the morning temps. were still cold, preserving the new installment that has that soft silky feel.  The turns on the Groomers felt like  a pillow top mattress, where you sunk in just the right amount for total comfort.  The crust was almost a non issue on the Groomers, which offered perfect turning, especially the far right side of Big Emma, where I almost missed the turn back to the Tram for the goodness.  Off trail there were some sumptuous sections, which stood in sharp contrast to the high glaze from the recent precipitation event.  Yeah, lets call it that ! Special attention had to be paid to the shades of white that were an indication of the surface quality.  This became of utmost importance when negotiating the upper elevation, high angle shots, where missing the vein of sweetness resulted in a tenacious edge grab on the  High Glaze.  Fortunately, the goodness was widespread, so any long side slip would finally be rewarded with deep cold essence.  There is good, and not so good, but there was plenty of great if you looked around a bit.  Tomorrow, the Groomers will be incredible, with carvelicious smoothness a given.  The Upper Cirque and Upper Silver Fox is closed for the coming event, but there are plenty of other aspects

HIGH SHINE

to charge.  The Wilbre Bowl section is not in particularly good shape just now, with some ultra slick and crunchy challenges.   I did not hear many raves coming from that area.  More snow is forecast for tomorrow night and Saturday morning.  Here is a shot of the high shine on some of the aspects.  Yes it is that hard, but this hard surface has been mitigated in a big way by the new snow, so don’t get the idea that it is all like this. It is not, it was just a shot too good to pass up!!!   Peace Out!

I have to admit, I went to bed last night thinking that we would be dealing with some serious challenges this morning, as the rain beat on the Trailer for hours.  Would I arrive to fine another morning of sogginess?   The answer was NO!!!!  10 to 12” of high density snow fell overnight, adhering fairly well to the frozen layer that has developed in the last 2 days.  The dense quality of the new snow nearly erased the knar knar  that lurked below.   Frozen crust areas were exposed in certain areas that had been stripped by the wind, though it was immediately deposited close by.  The new snow was also perfectly spreadable, like a sweet dessert topping, easily letting the memories of the recent past fade in the luxurity of the essence.  The Tram opened up later in the morning after the  Tram Crew did a masterful job of getting it thawed out and running for us.  Other areas of the hill were opened later in the afternoon, so the entire hill will be getting the attention that is required to work out the funky spots.  Tomorrow, look for some more accumulation to continue for a bit after closing as the system moves out.   The Groomers will be killer as well, after being mixed and rolled for us.  This high density snow responds beautifully to the machines, delivering groovalicious quality top to bottom.  Be cautious of the high steep entrances that have not held the snow, as they are incredibly greasy, resisting the sharpest edges with the high shine.   It seems better to take a faster longer line to the hill, to avoid the variability of the inconsistent traction.  Every time I tried to get a bit more angular, I was stretched out by the glazed tiles I would hit here and there.  That last little weather glitch was a fluke and will be a footnote in the season, so for those who are thinking of  canceling or postponing,  I feel confident that hill will  be offering excellence going forward.  I know that I was clearly reminded, by this last weather blip, how good we have it here in the Powder Vortex of the Wasatch!!!  Until the First Boat,   TA!

This morning was clear and a bit colder, so I wanted to get the hill to see what was up.  The light was flat on the hill just before the Sun came up, so I took the opportunity to make an early visit to the Planetary Office and commiserate with the crew and assess the situation, before rushing out to what would await.  The early reports were  not encouraging, but we finished our deliberations and made a survey of the hill. The Tram has ice built up on the cables  from the peak to past Tower 4.   The Tram crew was working at knocking it off, but it was a very slow operation, so the Tram will be a wild card.  The Peruvian Chair offered the quickest passage to the upper mountain, where the glaze layer was breaking up under the traffic, revealing some nice sugar just underneath.  The day was looking up.  With very low attendance, back to back chairs were no problem, and I began to look for some wind transported deposits that were placed in the hollows.  These little treasures kept the interest up, while trying to deal with an otherwise challenging day.   Tomorrow will not be a morning to rush up to get the early turns, rather a little wait for some traffic to tenderize the hill would not be an unreasonable option.  You are aware of the pressure to make the opening bell?  Well you get a free- get out of first Tram- pass with no demerits.  I do not know if there is any snow forecast for the next bit, but these conditions will persist for some time.  These conditions sharply contrast the spectacular run of goodness we have had up until now, and expose any bad habits you might have let creep in during these great past times.  I was shwagging all my turns , as my edges are toast, and I don’t want the knee grabbing impact of a sharp edge.  I will get to lay into the turn with confidence in the near future.  In the mean time, I will be taking it easy and continue the training runs to be ready for the next siege, which you know will come.   Keep the faith!!!    Ciao!   Here is a shot of the peak dock covered in ice.  There is someone knocking the rhime  ice off the cables.

STRANGE DAYS

The rain pounded on the Trailer all night long, so I was expecting at least 8 to 10” for the morning.  My Text Messages said the Canyon was closed for avalanche control and would open shortly after  8:00 AM.  My stoke was abruptly squelched when there was not a flake to be seen in the parking lot and only a dusting up high. It had rained clear to the peak!!!  With the temp. showing 43 Deg., a winter wind blowing,  I figured I would be able to at least get a observatory run in, but…… NO!   The Tram was down as the hill was covered in a layer of ice, and the Groomers were working overtime to re groom the main sections to make the hill approachable.  This was a very grim morning,  as rain seldom falls like that here, and I can barely remember the last time this happened.   I did not even suit up to go, rather I made a Bee Line to the Forklift Chair to get my bearings, breakfast, and plan an alternate day of fun.  I think I will get my oil changed… Yeah, that’s the ticket!!   So…. what about tomorrow?  I can only hope that we get some high density snow overnight to cushion the frozen crustitude that now is wall to wall.  The Groomers will provide the best edge purchase and the off trail… well, that remains to be seen.  The weather is predicted to improve, so getting a good look at things might provide some options, but this will take time to heal.  It might be a Wing morning if the traffic is light and the visibility is cooperating, that is one silver lining on the day.  The other important point is that this is a weather fluke, and we will be back in the SNOW ZONE soon, so not to worry.   I WILL be there dark and early to be  part of the exploratory crew.  How about you?   Ciao!