There is a light snow falling  Saturday morning here at the Communications Trailer signaling the beginning of a, hopefully, fruitful cycle.  I have been adjusting the antenna and Sat. dishes all morning as I try to re establish contact with the home planet, which  experienced a down load of Surf footage that I forwarded last summer. It seems that they all just got so caught up in the G- Land  segments that they forgot to keep the link open.  No worries though as my inside viewers have kept me in the loop.  It seems that the upper mountain is a tad firmer today due to the wind direction making the snow guns ineffective and were shut down.  Sunshine remained on Regulator   until the cloud deck moved in and flattened the visibility.  The Trams were full and the attendees were letting loose  on the one open run making for some  crowded conditions on the lower mountain. The new snow will be a great improvement as always, where just a few inches can make all the difference.  I still think that care should be taken if  you venture down the Bass High way and go very slow right at the bottom.  The Shuttle is still the best idea if you plan on going back to the Center.  See you on first boat!!

After yesterday’s trouble with Regulator I was not sure how it was going to be for first boat.  The Guns were working all night  producing dry, consistent, snow which  covered the entire Regulator face with a virtual sugar deposition.   The accumulation continued to sweeten throughout the day making it better with each run.  No pressure, great snow, sun,  made today a special one. I will not be up tomorrow as you know, so I’ll just say that getting out early is always the best shot at the goods.  Those goods are where ever you find them.   You can rest assured the groomers will be as fine as can be giving you  a blank slate to work with.  What line will you draw?  Ciao!

I am glad I bought that double soft shell last July as I tried it out during today’s deep freeze and  it seems to work just right.  This Thursday morning had the Tram not running due to a freeze up on regulator due to a leak in the snow system.  They were working hard on the situation and had a winch cat trying to get it up and running, however, I had blazed out of there before it got going.  The Temps. were very cold though the Sun was clear and warm.  The Groomers were dry, chalky, and as good as they get.  Good edge- ability and low attendance provided a better chance to let loose a bit more.  With all the folks around one feels constrained.  The Bass Highway remains a problem, making the Shuttle a good call.   Another cold night on tap should let the guns get a better finish on Regulator, so first bucket is the call for  the freshest Gun Powder.  Dress warmly and think deep thoughts!! Ciao !

There were only the few first Tram regulars on deck to start out Wednesday morning where the Guns were on but snowbody’s home , cept for usins.  No pressure at all for the sweet Gun Powder heaped up over night, which was really pumping out in the much colder temperature.  The Sun helped out a bit as the day got going but the temps. remained biting requiring more layers and heavier gloves.  The Bass highway remains problematic leaving the Shuttle as the best option.  The Snow Making effort is in full swing and running 24 hours a day.  A cloud had developed over the lower area of the Gad valley from the guns,  initially making it seem overcast, but it was clear and cold.  Tomorrow will be even colder so dress up for the condition.  The Main run is in great shape and no rocks are showing any where.  Even the upper section of Big Emma is well covered, where there is usually a scrape off and the rocks tend to show up,  but in this case it is all good to go.  Good edges will be safe from damage if you stay on the main run and will give you the ability to lock and load your turn if you get a safe opening.   Off trail remains problematic, so tread there at your peril.  Early Trams still pay off and there is plenty of room, so take advantage of the leg room.  In fact, if you had a partner you could do a full on Tango on the first Tram and just kill it.  Think about it!!

These short days get that really low sun angle.  It seems that all of the snow guns are back lit.  I guess you had to be there.  The fresh Gun Powder was on all day with the wind  blowing up slope as the machines turned out sugar all day long.  The really good turns were to be found in the wash and was worth the effort  of getting low and slow in them.  The harder areas require a bit more attention , but you can rest confident of well covered rocks on the main run.  Off trail is still very punchy as it has sat for so long and has no cushion. Very light attendance, again today, provided a relaxed atmosphere to get warmed up for the season.  Though the light was flat the first couple runs, the snow quality was certainly worth showing up for.   The Bass High way is still problematic and should be avoided.  I have still opted for the shuttle as you get more vert. and don’t miss any runs.  There might be some weather moving in for tomorrow, so the visibility may suffer though the groomers should still be strong  in any case.  See you then!

The hand full of faithful, who showed up Monday morning were treated to a personal tram with your closest friends sampling the buffage the snow guns produced overnight.   Machine Gun Powder!  Regulator was re-groomed and the new man made was frosting on the cake.  The Bass highway is still not recommended, leaving the shuttle to get you there , but you do not miss any Trams with the present schedule.   The snow under the guns remained soft as the day warmed up , but did not get too soft.  Tomorrow morning will , no doubt, bring more of the same sweetness in the AM. so get there early for the best of it.  There is no bump development on the main runs leaving the covered rocks  safely out of harms way.   There is lots of great energy coming up the canyon as new comers arrive each day with great anticipation.  Well not much to say so we will see you on the Boat!!

Sunday morning was cool and quiet.  A mere handful made first Tram leaving the run wide open for what every you had in mind.  I opted to ski under the snow guns taking advantage of the fresh  frosting placed continually under them.  Each run had a fresh covering as the traffic was so light that no one was taking advantage of the goodness.  It  was there for the  taking and I am sorry but I took it all !.  The traffic was a bit more condensed lower on the mountain where the lift was letting folks off.  The Lunch Run is now open and has good cover giving a choice of  access to the  Gad restaurant area.  Big Emma was still smooth, however, a bump line had been established to the right of the grooming giving those who wish to take advantage of that feature another option.  I did not see any nasty snags in the troughs so it might be alright.  You know that I avoid bumps at all costs, so I did not sample that line personally.  It is still  ” STRONGLY’ suggested to avoid the Bass Highway as it is still really difficult and snaggy.  One more night of snow making and it might come together . We will have to wait and see.  They had guns on it today and it is quiet close, so I have a good feeling  about that.  The first Tram should be quiet and perfect for early morning training runs which become impossible when the run  gets more populated.  The Shuttle is still the best access back to the center with regular cycles, so waiting is not a problem.  See you on first Tram for the untracked under the guns!!!  P.S.  be very carefull of the Black Ice in the bottom third of the canyon.  It is prime right now and will get you if you are not aware of it.  Ciao!

First Tram  Saturday morning had  7 folks on it.  It was like having a private club, what a treat.  Regulator had been re groomed and was firm to say the least.   You could get an edge into it , but  I did not want to get going too fast at any time.  The snow under the guns was buttery and un tracked all the way to the bottom.  I stayed as close to the guns as i could. Those early runs really pay off. The Tram was running on a 15 minute schedule, so there was no way to get a back to back.  I tried to navigate the Bass Highway twice and just gave up, opting for the shuttle buss to get back to the center.  It worked out well as I was getting to the Tram 4 or 5 minutes before the Tram left, requiring no hurry.   Two Trams an hour was the best you could get.  The better option was to just stay on Zoom  laping it, and the snow lower was better.  The Bass Highway is NOT RECOMMENDED.  More snow making tonite might give them a chance to hit the two areas that were impassable, so a look see in the AM would be advised.  There is still plenty of soft loose snow on the main run to bleed off speed, it is best to aim for the piles and be as direct as possible.  No lift lines and very light traffic on the hill helped make today a  good training day.  It must be noted that the porcupine, that had hung for at least 15 years in the Animal Grove, is now gone.  It has been a constant over the years and the pelt has blown to the ground getting buried under the snow.  It is not a sad thing, just a time marker that is all.  Where does it all go!!!  Be there for first boat and get some freshies!!!

Sorry about missing the Thanksgiving day post but I was on a sojourn to Idaho for a family dinner which was very nice indeed.   I contacted my deep cover source and got the skinny for Friday for you. Yesterday had been quite warm and the sun softened the snow pack as it will.  That set the stage for Friday morning which had Regulator hard and slick.  A few rocks at the left hand wrap around could be avoided by staying to the right.  The rest of the hill remains the same, however, the Bass Highway is very thin and it is advised to go slow and  hug the  left hand side to avoid the  exposure to the rocks.  It is great that there is access back to the center.  I will be making a rare Saturday appearance to make up for the past two days.   The attendance has been very light, though that might change now that the holiday is over, but given the low base and limited skiing I don’t think you will be waiting in any lines to speak of.  I say get there early and get the best of the groomers and quiet time.  See you all dark and early. Ciao!

Wednesday morning was clear and a tad brisk with a light attendance for first chair.  The day would be warming slowly as the sun goes higher in the sky.  Freshies were available for first chairs underneath each snow gun all the way down the hill.  A real treat to get some untracked goodness  with no natural new snow, but untracked non the less, and it was sweet. 5 or 6 turns was all that you could put in there,  but you can’t argue with a dessert topping turn.  Also, the left hand side of the groomers is favored for the  softest and consistent snow during  the morning sessions.  The kids are out of school and were making their presence known, so be looking over your shoulder for the fast movers.  Thursday is still looking like the first Tram day so be careful if you go up high.  For my part I will be doing the Thanks Giving thing in Idaho so I will be reporting via remote viewing.  Happy Turkey day!!!