Well, that certainly was strange.  I had just posted for the day, checked it out and moved on thinking about… whatever.  I came back and did a recheck and it was all gone.  So I will be re posting here again.  weird digital stuff.  Or was it ?   Wednesday morning was clear with the sun coming up.  1” of new covered the groomers making them incredible, with a carve-ability that is like butter.  Light wind did not disturb  the  consistency.  The upper Rat’s Nest gate opened today as well as the Cirque traverse.  Rat’s nest is good for now but will deteriorate rapidly.  There is quite a bit of loose scree under the new snow as you get in.  The snow consistency is a tad stiff and required  a direct line to move through it.   The Cirque traverse is in fair shape, but is very bony getting in.  Various vents are still in the middle section, so be careful  in those areas.   Extreme caution should be taken any where  west facing off the Cirque traverse.  The cover on the Peruvian groomers is really good with a dry chalky  feel.  Low sun angle and cold temps. are keeping the goods good all day.   Very light Tram traffic made a very relaxed atmosphere after the recent snow festivities .  Another Tango was in order on first Tram but there were no takers.  Tomorrow will be another strong day with early morning groomers hard to resist.  Light Tram traffic make the first ones so special.  There is now snow to the Tram deck level up on the peak, eliminating the stairs.  Always a nice touch.  See you early on first Bucket!!

The Peruvian Gulch opened this Tuesday morning after a few of the first Trams unloaded.  The snow had been affected by the wind though it skied very smoothly.  The density gave the snow a buoyancy that kept  you on top .  Folks showed up in anticipation of the opening and were taking full advantage of the new range.  Lower Black Jack opened later after Noon presenting yet another option.  The snow out there was soft and consistent,   but I could not help but thinking what lie just beneath.  I chose to ignore the internal dialogue and punch it, there by letting me deal with those pesky aspens which I was skiing through.  With all the pressure off Regulator that gave the wind a chance to work it’s magic by depositing the sweetest sugar wall to wall.  Yeah we have been skiing Regulator for weeks, but sweet is sweet no matter which side its on.  The wind continued to buff it out.  With luck the wind will do some continued massaging of the surfaces giving us some more area to  put the polish on.  The Groomers were so good today after being worked by the Cat Crew.  Perfect carve-ability wall to wall, top to bottom.  Visibility was great all day long with some high clouds moving in later in the after noon flattening the vis just a touch.  Tomorrow will see continued smoothness on the  fresh groom job and off trail getting a lot more worked.  The hazards are becoming more apparent with the ski off.  Be cautious just a bit longer until the snags get exposed in the next few days. The Upper and Lower Cirque remained closed, I have not heard any word in that direction, however, I will pass that along as I get the info.  Things are really starting to shape up so take advantage of this pre holiday stretch where the snow stays good all day.  Ciao!!

I spent the pre dawn hours trying to knock the ice from the antenna mast after the freezing sleet storm overnight.  My link to mountain ops was out and I needed to know what was up.  The folks off planet have no clue so I don’t even let them color my momentum  .  Monday morning saw 3” of new covering the remains of yesterday’s deposit.  On second Tram the shot 13 gate dropped just as I arrived giving me my pick of the lower Gad Chutes.  I chose the Wide One using the info I gathered previously as I rode Zoom. It seemed to have the least amount of snags to avoid.  I stayed right in the gut to insure a clean run.. The Faithful showed up again this morning despite the low overnight total and helped knock all the air out of this layer.  They all started running out of gas, as did I, after 12:30 PM leaving the Tram with walk on status and all the push totally blown out of the crowd. The fresh shot I got was very soft and consistent , which surprised me due to the wind damage the upper mountain sustained over night.  The pressure on that traverse was crazy with folks blazing along with no regard to the reef bands that intersected the traverse at numerous points.  Cursing and horrible crunching sounds could be heard as they ran aground and in some instances splattered brutally with equipment flying in all directions.  Care on the traverses is recommended.  Also, watch your back on the traverses as fast movers are overtaking you at a rapid pace. The snow in the chute deteriorated with traffic and became very stiff  requiring a fair amount of speed to blast through it.  My knees were taking  a beating making me reign in the turns and get down and round. The full extension round move lets me let the skis take the hit in stead of my joints .  The Peruvian side remains closed, however, the Cats have the main runs knocked out and they are working hard to get it up for us.  The snow over there will have some issues  after the wind and general density.  Clearing skies will insure a beautiful morning and great skiing tomorrow , get there early for the best of the day.  I think the major rush is over and the crowd might back off so take advantage of the lull.  IBBY!!!

Fully 20” of new snow was on the Plaza when I got up this morning. It was obviously a bit dense;  I am betting in the 10% range.  This was exactly the kind of snow we need to get us going. It will have a good cushion as opposed to light snow which won’t really cover the hazards.  The Tram was delayed for a long time and the chair openings were delayed as well.  The faithful were in full attendance and who could blame them after waiting for so long. The one run still remains and Big Emma got really crowded  requiring constant vigilance. The new snow skied with buoyancy and cushioned the firmer base, however the density made the transitions a bit tough. After weeks of hard pack it is tough to switch to the 3-D medium of deep snow.  The ski responds entirely differently in deep snow making you work to move smoothly through the turns.  There is a delicate balance between carrying speed and maintaining the flow.  I was getting knocked  around quite a bit, so I took the slow and round approach as it gives me the stronger endurance factor.  If I keep going too fast I run out of legs and that could spell trouble if they fold up like a folding chair.   By  Noon the harbor chop was in full effect sending me headed for the locker and then the couch.  It was snowing hard when I left bringing more goodness.  Tomorrow might have some delays as well, so keep posted on the Bird site.  I am sure they are working feverishly to get Peruvian open and with this new snow that will be happening soon.  Folks were finding all those snags  that I was talking about in the past few days.  As I went back to the Tram I looked up to see folks plastered everywhere after the encounters.   Ouch!  It is ON now so let’s get busy!

This Saturday morning found a light dessert dusting on the trailer and much warmer temps.  The early Tram saw 4” of fluff of top of the groomers which still are quite firm.  The new snow got piled up requiring more cautious approach with the slick spots by  aiming for the piles. .  Be careful of the off trail when we get this new snow.  There are many hazards in full relief, that I have been checking out as I ride up the Tram.  I  think  how nasty  it would be to hit one when charging a line.   You know  that after the first hour those hazards will all be found as if by magic.  Those of you who have been riding the Tram know what I am talking about.   Another storm or two and it will not be a problem getting us back to Rock and Roll as usual!!  Hey! Soon I will have a lot more to share than descriptions of one same run.  That one run does set you up to Rock the rest!  So check the reports early .   Ciao!

Friday morning was balmy with a blistering temp of 11 above which is a lot better than 11 below as we had yesterday.  It seemed almost tropical. The relative warmth did little to soften Regulator on any aspect leaving you to be strategic or give it all the coals.  I opted for the more strategic approach to take advantage of the pockets of sugar that are strewn about and can give a bit more bite to spill off speed. Big Emma held up for most of the morning , but was scraped after noon.  The left side still gets you the softest snow and that is where I was heading as soon as I turned the corner.   New snow is in the forecast and since great things happen here I feel good about the prospects.  Tomorrow is my day off so I will report via remote viewing.  It is a new feature I installed in the trailer for just such the occasion.  See you Sunday  !!

Thursday morning was Extra Primo Firm . A consistent grooming job together with an overnight wind had scoured the extra fluff.  There was plenty  of surface to grab , however, slick spots right at the Regulator break-over can catch you unaware sending you sprawling if you are too committed.  The left side is still favored overall.  It is a great time to be scoping out the hazards ahead of the incoming weather.  The Cirque has some special treats toward the lower end that definitely should be taken notice of.  Mine dumps and some venting keep these sections thin, cover that with 2′ of fresh …. Give it some room.  I also spent some time looking out into the areas that are now closed and think of what will be, cause you know it’s coming.  Soon!  Lots of really great sliders are here and ripping.  I have been hanging back a tad to give the first surge a head start.  It is not bad when you have the whole hill, but now the crowding issue is real.  The day warmed up a tad, though I think dressing for the cold tomorrow will be rewarded.  The energy is really gaining momentum and folks are really starting to turn it on and go full on.  All right, first tram has been very empty so get there early and get some of the buff before it gets skied off. See you then.

Wednesday morning could have been colder, but that was plenty cold enough for me, I can tell  you.  I bought some cold weather gear in July when warmth was not on the radar and it is working well in these conditions.  I had to add a gator and a nose guard to ward off the frost bite, which was hammering anyone with exposed skin.  The Grooming Crew did a stellar job on Regulator last night and left it velvety and very fast.   The old and the new snow mix together well. The left side of Regulator is getting hit hard and I checked it out  to see what all was going on over there.  It is quite thin and there are shallow reefs just below the surface, however, the snow was dry, chalky, and soft, letting you stand on the platform where that would be  iffy out on the firmer areas.   There is a stout line of bumps that have been developed on the right side of Big Emma.  The ruts are quite deep and perfect for those who would partake.  There does not seem to be any trouble with coverage there, but I would have to guess that there might be a couple of rocks in some of the troughs.    I have been favoring the far left side of Big Emma as that is where the snow gets pushed and remains out of the line of fire.  Be sure to look up hill when setting up for the Bass High Way as the Rockers are on the gas and need to be taken into account.  Speaking of the Bass High Way the  groomers kicked up a few more rocks on that middle section, so be aware of that.  Continued cold temps are predicted, so dress accordingly and get there early for the best of  groomers.    Back to back Trams are back giving you the big 3 per hour program for those who follow that program and you know who you are!  Still those adventurous souls are trying the off pist off the Wilbre Ridge.  This is a really nasty section with ledges, snags and all kind of fun underneath.  Sojourns into this area with this coverage is asking for trouble and you will find it.  Dress for the cold and watch your skin for frost bite.  See you all on first Tram!!!   Peace Out.

There was a lot more interest this Tuesday morning than I have seen in a while.  Folks are ready to cut loose and with 5 fresh inches well you can bet there were some smoking runs.  Now Regulator is the only run open so you can stand at the bottom and catch some real charging skiing. I have still been shwagging most of my turns until I can trust it.  One of my close friends broke his leg yesterday and his season is over already.  Man I feel for him.  The off trail skiing off Wilbre is the worst.  I saw some folks venture down through that area yesterday and they were having issues.   The Bass Highway is getting progressively better and has been taken off the not recommended list.  If you have pristine edges and want to keep them that way take the shuttle.  This was also the first day of back to back trams.  You can get a lot of skiing if you catch every tram, which is not too hard to do.  Regulator was getting a lot of traffic venturing out off the beatten path finding what they find, in any case, they are packing things out so when we get a good deposit  it will be a better situation.  The light density snow did nothing to soften the underlying snow, however a constant neutral turn will get you through those pesky transitions.  I am working on my knee preservation program building up the stamina as we go.  I have heard rumoring of things Peruvian in the not too far distant future.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Depending on tonight, tomorrow should have fantastic groomers right out of the chute ,where the new snow gets mixed in with the Man Made combining to make a race ready surface.  I can go for that, how about you!!.  Of course I will be on first Tram so be there and join the fun!!!   IBBY!!

4” of new snow started Monday morning with a very light first Tram.  The usual suspects were on hand regardless of what may be in store. That is the magic of  First Tram is that you never know what you are going to find.  The snow had been blown around into areas and left scoured areas firm.  Conditions got better as the new snow got pushed around, however, you really needed to be neutral in dealing with the variations. The visibility was not to bad with plenty of definition.  Aiming for the piles was the best bet making best use of the new snow.  More snow will be coming tonight and a re groom job should make for excellent runs all morning.  The Wilbre chair is open now with limited skiing on the man made runs.  Any adventures off the main lines will be a bad I idea.  No base and rotten snow will be a real challenge if you were to drop off the cat track.  The Tram is running on a 20 minute schedule for most of the morning making a trip all the way down to the Wilbre Chair a great way to get the most out of your time.  Get that in and you can still get the Tram with no hurry.  The Bass Highway is now covered over the area going back to the Center, however there is very thin cover and will require a bit of care and you may catch a few rocks.  Snow Making is still ongoing and the Peruvian side is getting primed for the next installment.  See you on first Tram in the AM. Ciao!