There are days and there are days and this was one of those days.  Today had a skiff of flat light and 3 feet of wind,  much more than yesterday.  The third tram had trouble going off but finally did make the top but that was it, no more.  The wind was just off the charts.  Peruvian lift shut down and mineral closed and …well ,let’s just say thing were not going well.  The wind over night had further scoured the playing field and just wailed on some aspects.  The north east facing  shots benefited from this but only those shots.  All else was really firm.  The traverse  to the Cirque was blown totally clean to the rocks where the traverse meets the middle Cirque.  Probably 2′ of base has been removed there from very high pressure wind velocity.  There is a 2′ burm remaining on the very edge of the drop off zone so remember that when it gets covered with fresh product there is no buffer.  Total reefage!! Beware!!!  There was some nice crystal corn on the Peruvian groomers which was Ok and the wind deposited sections were smooth but had solidified , with just a thin covering of felt.  Reports , coming back from the  Zoom chair, were less than positive and the wind continued to howl.  For myself,  I took refuge on the Forklift chair and called it an early day .  Snowing in Nevada now, so the precip. is not too far off.   I am confident that we are in for some fun in the next bit so it is OK to rest up for it.   Strange days!!!

Today started with 2”of flat light and 1 foot of wind.  Attendance on first tram was light with walk on trams there after.  The visibility was aided by the profuse scattering of pine cones ripped from the trees overnight.  This gave good definition over all but ,DANG, was it flat.  The temps overnight where balmy and the grooming had a very nice velveteen consistency.  I thought it would be bullet proof but I was wrong.  Good!!!  The wind was top to bottom but did not have anything to work with so the wind buff was scarce.  The off trail had only minimal amounts of soft collections and that was great but you had to be skiing a tight turney line to make good use of it.  The sun came out about noonish and the lower mountain was getting guish as one would expect with such warm temps.  Low overnight temps will make the lower mountain challenging in the morning so it is best to hit the groomers till softening occurs.  The big steep shots are still getting smoother with wind and wear and feel OK despite the prevailing situation.  New snow will be welcome and is promised by Mr. weather.  When?  Time will tell.   For now I am done and heading for the couch!!!

Very overcast from the word go with wind picking up throughout the day.  The southerly flow kept temps mild but did not soften the pavement to any degree.  Traffic was light and the grooming had been scaled back a touch.  The weather report looks good when you look at the satellite images so when the system moves in it could hang around for a bit.  The wind increased all day and a few signs of precip. came and went.  All aspects holding up despite the warmth but are a bit tough to get  excited about.  Many of the hard corps fled early to wait for another day.  Tomorrow looks to continue in the same fashion but uncrowded lifts and slopes will be a good opportunity to practice some remedial edge work.  You can’t cut loose unless you have been held back… Food for thought.

Today dawned flat and balmy with moderate wind out of the south ahead of the next system coming next week.  The higher temps made the overall texture much softer and user friendly.  The sun came out later and warmed things up considerably.  This warming will translate to crustage with the overnight freeze.   It was wonderful to get that taste of spring corn.  More stellar grooming of some tasty shots really raised the fun quotient.  The big north facing is getting smoother with wind and wear providing a , much more, knee friendly ride.  Access to the upper cirque is still interesting but doable so make a note.  Far reaches are still quite cruddy and tests all one’s skill.  I am still dialing back the speed to take advantage of the sweet velvet placed here and there.  The weather is changing and will bring snow , but when is a toss up.  I am staying with the smooth aspects and will be slowly working some of the tight pockets.  The light and visibility will be a concern in the next few days so staying with what you know is recommended.  I have been noticing quite a few injuries coming off the hill so use your best judgement; you know what I mean.  Later!!

The morning was quite cool but warming was promised and delivered.  Spent the morning out enjoying the sun in Mineral and found that the big pitches had been doctored so you have to go for that!!!.  The front side was buffed out as well with more big and unusual shots given the treatment.  A  bit of softness still remains from the last snow so every bit helps.   Very light attendance for a Saturday so the lines were quick and easy.  Tomorrow is going to be a bit warmer and some of the most direct aspects will be getting wet again so care should be taken on that score when they refreeze.  The high north facing is still   holding up and the bumps have mitigated quite a bit from the continued smoothing efforts of all of us.  Keep it up.  I slowed down in the steep groomed sections and took advantage of the dry dust that was piling up which would not be noticed at a higher speed.  Check it out for yourself as it is there!!!

The morning was cold with a wicked wind to match.  The hand of the wind scoured the entire slope.  Several inches of light fresh snow covered the very firm conditions.  This light snow really made the day.  It  gave a nice bit of tooth over all.  The high north sections are still cold and dry and they  were also helped by the wind later in the afternoon.  The remote trees have sizable bumps so be warned.  I am avoid-ant of bumps so I share these insights.  Winds backed off as the day progressed and the sun was feeling great.  Continued fair skies for a bit so  look for small peripheral lines where dust has piled up.  I have pulled back the throttle and dialed some more soul into  the turns since it is so hard.   It is much harder to stay in the pocket when it is this firm.  Tomorrow look to the high north facing shots and of course take advantage of the groomers which are so fresh!!    Consolidate for the next cycle !!!

The morning came up balmy again  with stout west wind blowing off the ridges.  Precious little transport left little in the way of relief from the last wet deposit.  The hill had a taste of the east especially down low.  I went out and hit the far north shots in the basin which were cooking up yesterday.  Hard, wind slabbed and supportable was the reward at the end of the traverse.  Ultra flat light made the details fade so you had to know it was good to go .  These sections will hold up well even with traffic as it is that firm.  West and south still have the heavy crust going so caution is advised.  The cat crew was busy last night and buffed some big terrain making lemon aid out of lemons.  The high school highway was buffed as well and was uncrowded and stellar.  The weather is calling for snow so keep your   fingers crossed .  Some of the less trafficked areas are getting some bump mitigation from the wind  so that is good.  Walk on trams again today set the stage  for a massive vertical assault if one were so inclined.  Continued traffic in all areas is creating some ski dust, just enough to get an edge into.  Lights were out but the sun did peak out several times.   With new snow be careful of the heavy bump areas and the brutal crust deposits west facing.  Take care!

A very balmy morning greeted the faithful this morning.   Stout wind on the peak had not moved any product so the groomers had a sugar frosted texture.  It was a very noisy morning on the hill but a quiet and low energy mood on the tram.  The wind deposited skiffs of buffage and made what would have been ho hum to wow!  The softening yesterday had left the crud frozen on the lower mountain.  The off trail was quite difficult.  It was like being fast forwarded 5 or 6 weeks.  Continued unsettled weather will help heal this as it has in the past .   Days like today make one take stock in how great it has been recently, oh yes it has!!!  Another special piece of extreme grooming was fresh and oh so steep this morning.   Thanks to the cat guys from all of us, Ye-ow!   I am betting on snow tonight as the temps dropped after 2 pm and the clouds rolled in looking like they had some promise.  The lights went out in a big way and I had to call the day good to go !

This morning looked ominous with a big cloud hanging over the hill but it had moved off for first tram.  Very mild morning with wind and a promising day with sun.  Just as I had suspected the wetness from yesterday had frozen and made for some sever crustulation.  Staying on the groomers was the wise choice till the softening occurred.  The softness started happening at about 1:00 pm and the lower mountain was really carvable but a touch sticky in a couple areas.  The wind did not or could not transport any snow to speak of but it did buff the already smooth sections.  The sun was out in force and the wind built throughout the day. A few shots were blessed with a bit of filling but those shots were few.  As  the day drew to a close clouds came in from the north and the south dropping the temps quite a bit and the lower sections got really  fast.  They are calling for more good weather but I think any thing can happen so I am keeping my fingers crossed.  The bumps continue to grow and spread with added traffic but ignored areas are staying smooth.  The west and south facing saw the sun again today so expect the crust in those areas first thing.  The exotic high north facing still staying soft but has seen a lot of traffic.  Walk on trams all day so it is a matter of how much you can take.  I am out of here!!!

The early runs were unreal on the groomers as the weather had not moved in yet.  1” of hydrovelvet covered the groomed shots like the living room shag; perhaps a nice avocado or vintage rust.  Again, how do you argue with perfect.  The snow started moving in with a fair amount of wind and made conditions quite soft.  Care still needed to be taken off trail as the very intermittent visibility proved difficult to negotiate.  Staying by the trees and known runs was the call .  The lower mountain began to get some rain  and snow often at the same time.  It finally decided on snow but weather started backing off in the afternoon and actually got the sun to provide a couple sunny regulators for the bonus round.  The forecast is not too optimistic about significant snow fall tonight so be aware of the lower mountain which got a bit gooey at the end of the day, there could be some chunks and grabbiness .  Maybe some sun tomorrow and honkin cruisers !!  Be there!