I had to spend the entire morning waiting for the TRANSMISSIONS  to end.  Can’t they keep it short.  Or more to the point, send them when I am not trying to get to the hill.  Unfortunately my foil hat got used for last nights Bar B Que, so I was wide open.  When I did get to the hill at 11:30 AM the softening was just hitting it’s stride and casual back to back Trams were running with light traffic.  The grooming has gotten even more sparse, leaving the old standbys rumpled and  tricky.  Every thing became approachable by 12:30 PM when the full thaw hit.  There was some high speed runners charging the heavy slush with wild abandon, much like a fresh powder day,  requiring a look over the shoulder during every turn.  I had thought I was done with that annoying necessity… But NO!  The smooth groomers became delightful, during that window between crust and sludge.  I always pretend that I am doing an exotic out of area apron, without the hiking.  Tomorrow should be similar with the snow going off at about the same time.  I am going to be there for first boat, damn the TRANSMISSIONS!!

Some times you wake up, look outside , and just know that the day will be a challenge if you go.  Tuesday morning was just such a morning.  I was not too enthused, but there are mere days left of the regular season , so I figured I better go up and do it just because.  Light rain on the Plaza, while waiting for the first Tram, and a shrouded mountain top did nothing to improve the energy level.  However, a contingent of the truly hardy was on hand for the ride up.   Numbering a dozen season hardened warriors, they surveyed the minimal grooming and the possible options.  The wind was blowing briskly on the peak, and the temp. was hanging at 33 degrees, making the precip. just barely snow.  Chips was nice and carvable and the warm temps. made the lower section  soft corn on the groomers only.  Off trail was touchy, though traversable , begging one to bail for the limited grooming areas.  A 20 minute Tram schedual made for perfect timing  for non stop back to backs.  After 11:00AM the time was moved up to 15 minutes with increased traffic.  11: 30 AM  brought a full on rain event which saturated the lower mountain , rendering it glop and glue.  My knees just said NO WAY!!  It was at this juncture that I made my way back to the valley to get stuff done.  With a break in the precip. tomorrow should provide good , uncrowded groomers, so I am down with that.  See you then!!

At 6:00AM this Monday morning the sky was clear, and I got up super charged, as I am able to get the last week of the full season before I have to leave the real world.  There were few hard corps takers for first Tram and that was to be expected as the clouds had rolled in, though they clung only to the highest peaks.  I went out into Mineral Basin to start out the day, as the Tram was running on a 15 minute schedule and there is no way to make it .  The back was very velvety as the new snow had been tilled into the old surface, making a very skiable surface.  I ventured off trail on 3 occasions, just to test the water, and found it to be about 4” of grabby snow, so I moved quickly back out to safer terrain.  My knees, at this late stage of the season, are getting fatigued and I am not going to push it.  Jumping back to the front side found Chips to be velvety as well with the till mixture prepared in the same fashion.  The grooming had been cutback significantly,  and  care needed to be taken to avoid meandering into some gnarly section.  Moving over to the Gad side  found the new snow deposited on top of the groom job from last night.  Being only 2 to 3” deep made the grabbiness negotiable and down right enjoyable.  I went back for more.  The underlayment was certainly crusty, but the quality on top gave it a very carvable feeling.  The sun came out occasionally, now and again, making the freeze let up, and a nice corny essence prevailed.  The clouds moved in and out all day and the temps. were a tad on the cold side.  I did finally, in fact, wise up and put on a hat before I left the locker…. Pain instructs.  More unsettled weather on the way so you just have to show up to know.  Only a few days left of the regular season so get it while the getting is good!!!

Sunday morning looked dubious, but as the days of the season dwindle down,  I am motivated to get as much as I can.  Light snow was falling for first Tram, and a fair turn out was on hand to get the new snow that had fallen overnight.  I opted for the Regulator groomer to begin and tested the quality off trail on the way down, finding the density high and very grabby.  My knees were screaming  “HELP ME PLEASE”, so I made my way back to the buffed, which was thick, but consistent.  The  Second run found upper Peruvian about 6” deep and held my ski like a vice.  Again I promptly bailed for the groomers, which were getting a very sticky addition of rapidly falling snow.  I had to call it macaroni to avoid injury, and found the Forklift Chair to be delightful.  The sun made an appearance as the morning progressed, morphing the snow to a more skiable consistency.  The Tram line built up briefly as the faithful arrived finding fun where they could and I wished them well,  but I felt good about my decision to call it.  The over all complexion of the hill has smoothed out on most exposures and the bumps are hard to find.  It looks like the weather will be unsettled for the next while , keeping the conditions difficult to predict.  I am going to keep up the attempts until the DARK SIDE of the FORCE calls me off planet.  See you on first Tram Monday!!

Wow is it raining, and raining, and then some.  I checked the Bird site early, and found it to be 39 degrees at the base.  That did not bode well for the day.  I had heard that it was raining at the base , but snowing a bit further up the hill.  It looks like another blast up stream with no cold front, so the spring has definitely pushed the winter off for good I think.  I am going up in the AM and will give a more in depth report tomorrow so until then…. Ciao

Friday morning looked ugly.   Rain on the window of the trailer and a soft patter on the roof.    Should I go or should I stay?  I have a bunch of stuff to do before I have to morph back into  ASPHALT MAN … You know get new tights,  stitch up the burn holes in the cape, polish the shiny paving boots, – got to look good you know- refinish my shovel, and descend down from the mountain top where  time itself seemingly stands still.  So I think ” got to go to know” so I mounted up and made first tram.  Fog had shrouded the canyon as I entered , but a glimmer of sun broke out as I gained altitude.  Maybe it will be interesting.  More than interesting it was as the cloud cover and above freezing temps. had kept the snow pack from getting fully firm.  Chips was velvety up high and began getting down right sumptuous as I made the descent.  The HELL HOLE had been buffed and was like Buttah,  shear Buttah.  20 minute Tram schedule made it perfect for rapid back to back rippage, but that allowed no lollygagging.  Light traffic necessitated the casual Trams, and that translated into uncrowded slopes.  It was going to go fast so I got down and dirty hooving down as much vert. as the Tram would allow.  Just a few others were on the pace so everything stayed vacant.  By 12:30 PM things began to get a bit slushy, though the glide factor stayed good with only occasional glue spots to be cautious of.   Unsettled weather moving in and I’ll get all those  peripheral chores done tomorrow.  I better take off the tinfoil hat to be sure and get the TRANSMISSIONS from THE BIG GIANT HEAD because I need the money.   What, you think I listen to that noise for free?!!!