Tuesday.   Ran out of gas Monday and could not rally to report, sorry.   Winter has returned and the cold with it. ,  sub zero this AM.  Groomers really special.   Off trail had stiffened up with the strong north wind.   Again, the wind giveth and it taketh away,  some of the deposits in the south became incredible as the day wore on and the transport filled in the tracks from run to run.   40” of  0 %  it does not get better it just gets deeper,  this is my idea of a powder day, walk on trams, perfect snow and fresh tracks every run.   Lights went out late with the approach of a small disturbance tonight.  Aspects should hold overnight so be sure to tap the south faces early before they get hacked.   Bumps beginning to form in high traffic areas so move of the obvious and go under the radar.. early will be best.   If we get more wind it will improve. Upper Scott still scoured and boney but shot is hot.   Ta !!

Sunday.  Jan. 25,  2009   Well one extreme requires another.  It seems I had said that very thing to someone.   It usually is the way.   Snow getting lighter as air mass gets colder.   Snow in my drive way like concrete.  Snow on the hill much more workable.  Reports from yesterday were of marginal and foggy conditions. Tram had problems today and the crowds were expected.  Everyone going off.   Good to see the enthusiasm.   more snow tonight so it will be approaching epic if the density lightens.  looking good.  Entries to shots getting better but upper Scott still really boney and Rat,s nest is getting more user friendly.  Still, use care.  Bunjies still just under the surface.   Ta!

Saturday is my day off from skiing.  I slept in, at least as long as the critters let me,  walked out to get the paper and looked up at the canyon ..   Rain on the roof,   very warm,  looks total milk bottle socked in.   Good,  more Spackle, another coat just to add a little cushion.   You can bet it was stiff and grabby.   Called around a bit and was told what i knew, that it was a real training day.  Training days are good.  It is always good to practice your IFR skills.  Fortunately I have done my time and can forgo the exercise ,although one does feel like super person when you finally get some vis.   See,  a silver lining and everything.   Raining heavily off and on all evening  so that means more of good stuff for tomorrow.   Time to bring out the heavy artilery.  I will have to dig that pair out of the back of the locker, but they have been neglected back there and have been patiently waiting their turn.  Be careful but carry sufficient speed to power blast your way through grabbiness.  good to go !!!

Now that we have spent the last couple of weeks properly sanding and polishing the work surface ,thank you everybody you did a great job,we now apply the Spackle coat or primer coat if you prefer.  remembering the lines from before, we begin the serious trowel work which is required.  now no one said this would necessarily be easy.  the first 5 runs were very smooth and spreadable  but as the hard work went on the dreaded harbor chop rose up to challenge the most intrepid finisher.  for myself, i left the mop up operations to the ones with younger knees .  continued application of the next frosty layer should give us some rather buoyant material to work with.  overall shots are still pretty smooth but still popular access will have some variable substrate . watch out.  that fin under macaroni…. still there!!!  see you tomorrow.   peace out .

I am certainly glad i got to enjoy the top down days of the past week cuz the high has popped like a zit.  Way is now open for some more of the kind.   Today started early with overcast and warm conditions..  Got some early trams and it was like butter,   perfectly carvable and polished by the wind on the main runs.  north facing still holding strong though the popular spots did get out and picked up some increased traffic so some of the bumps started to develope, but it held up much longer than i thought it would.   And just in the nicotine  the new cycle moves in.    Rained a bit too just before we got a 15 minute flurry which dusted the landscpe and made it quite velvety.  Visability was in and out with a couple of sucker holes just to keep it ineresting.   When the top got socked in it was time to head for the home 10-20.   Remember, most aspects stayed smooth so additional snow won’t cover any real nastiness.  Remember the reefs.  Steer clear.    This warm heavy snow ought to stick,  keeping fingers crossed.  Still this is where the big waves of the ski world break so not to worry.   Might be bouncing off the bottom a bit but you can handle it .   later.

Just as I had suspected the morning was crusty on the warmed surfaces and the north was still rippin.  many voices calling for new snow but the wind was working it’s magic and filling in the lea side and it was goood!!!!   south ex exposures did not soften as much due to the wind.  other northern aspects still holding their own due to the light traffic.   Tomorrow shoud be great again.   during these days i try to slow down a bit when i go off trail and try and dig into the turns for more umph.   the shots i have been mining are still solid and ignored and the dust is delightful.  let the wind do it’s thing overnight and it will be good to go in the morning.   first tram ,for me, is always best.  I have no idea what conditions will be like till i get there so it is no use trying to predict it .  some thing you got to go to know.   don’t forget to sizzle.

High really building in now and the sun considerations really come into play during this time.  usually this starts late next month but for now follow the sun.   south and south west did get really gooey so the morning will be problematic on those aspects.  stay north and north west till morning starts heating then look for some softening.  slight , minute shifts of exposure will yield great changes if you just keep seeking the sweet spot.  afternoon warming will again transform the south into very nice corn shots. just like butter.   exquisite grooming has been awsome every morning and with the big week end over the traffic should mitigate greatly.   I have still been mining my shots and it is paying off.  it doesn’t matter what your shot is .  in these conditions just keep sanding and feel the dust.

It just goes to show that you never can tell what you are going to find.  You might think that the usual stuff is good, and it is , but there are always surprises.   The cat crew has a lot to work with after last week’s snow and wind.    you might think that the groomer is too tame.  but when a steep winch  section is calling, you got to go. South aspects are starting to get sun and warmth so they are going to be crusty tomorrow, Monday.   North is still going to hold although the firmage is rising.   west still suffers from the wind effects of last week, but continued  hitting of a shot will make it become skiable , very skiable.  East is still soft in the spots that don’t see the sun.   Tommorow will be great for charging the smooth and buffable and later look for some variety and make every turn count.   High pressure continues.   Enjoy the sun and uncrowdedness  of the hill.  And don’t forget to sizzle