The Canyon opened early this morning, getting the day off on time for the morning crew.   The wind was nuking out of the South out ahead of the front that finally moved through at 5:30 PM.  Once again, I dropped into the milk bottle that was Mineral Basin, just to test the depth back there.  There was  easily 12” back there and at least 30” of fog to go with it.  I once again got zapped by Vertigo, but if  I drop into a milk bottle, what do I expect?   The Front side of the hill was being filled and stripped depending on the aspect.  The High North was getting the lions share of the filling, with the West facing getting the scour treatment as the wind just picked up  intensity as the morning continued.  The Tram kept running, with the wind blowing straight down the cables, making the peak a trippy experience.   Where else are you going to step out into a maelstrom of such magnitude, on purpose, and meander off into the void just for grins and giggles.  The storm kept filing in the tracks as fast as you skied it, so run after run was untracked.  Now that is a Powder day.  The Cirque Traverse was getting very nasty at the middle section, which required close attention, especially as the wind whipped snow obscured the details to ZERO.   Tomorrow will be a hurry up and wait situation, as the Canyon is closing tonight and will be delayed in the morning opening.   It is snowing very hard here at the Trailer as I write this, so I expect this system to bring some serious accumulation.  This is the stuff we have been waiting for.  I am just going to relax, enjoy the morning, and get to the hill when I can.  See you there.  IBBY!!!    P.S.   Here is another piece of Art from my experiments with gravity.

HIGH CONTRAST

There was only a skiff here at the Trailer this morning, so I did not expect the accumulation that greeted the faithful.  Today’s offering was a prime example of Utah Light,  offering blower deep face shots, a much improved ride, and a return to the conditions that everyone knows and loves.  The West facing exposures seemed to heal up from the crustiness that was resident this week, with the North and East facing aspects offering a slightly softer bottom feel.   The interference patterns were still fully in play, as the light density Essence only marginally cushioned the ride due to the high amplitude substrate.  The low visibility also made negotiating the  variations a bit more difficult,

FLOWERS IN WINTER

and I was struck with some moments of vertigo out in the open, non referenced, expanses.  I had to go sit one out to regain some semblance of equilibrium.   I hate those whurley, pit of the stomach feelings.   Powder Paradise and the Road to Provo remained closed today, but may get the nod tomorrow, so stay stoked for more deep.  The Cirque Traverse is in much better shape than just the other day, however, it still has those pesky cross chop features that make that middle section a challenge, so use caution going into that ratchet chop section.  Overall the mountain is looking and skiing very nicely, with plenty to choose from wall to wall.   A bit bigger storm is forecast for the near future, which will only amplify the stoke factor for everyone.   There will be a road closure in the AM, so check the access before leaving.  Here is a shot of an exotic flower that I thought juxtaposed the milk bottle visibility of today.    Ciao!!!

A grey overcast sky, no new accumulation overnight, and not really too much to get excited about, kept the traffic very low for today’s festivities, but today was a sleeper.  Granted there were some aspects that were less than stellar, but high winds overnight did some amazing things by filling in and compacting some of the the big High North lines.  It is very rare to get these big mountain lines that smooth top to bottom with absolutely no pressure.   I could not help but think back to “Back in the Day” when the high aspects would smooth over and stay smooth for days.   Today, we just got the goods for the day before the crust began to break, but those runs were just deluxe.  Also of note was the Grooming job, which was augmented by the wind, on Anderson’s hill, and Lower Primrose Path to complete the top to bottom ground pounding.   As I frequently note, this line could have been any big mountain back country extravaganza, except that it was lift serviced.   Digging deeply into each turn afforded some sumptuous feel under foot, and the consistency in the wind lines was simply creamy and dreamy, and I was not alone in this assessment.   Regulator,

WIND BUFF

and the West facing shots were sporting some serious glaze after the wind stripped those aspects clean.  The wind giveth and the wind taketh away!! Tomorrow, look for some accumulation overnight, which will really buff out the hill.   Be sure to check the road report for access in the AM.   It is going to be good.  The stage is set for some serious rippage.   See you there in the AM!!! IBBY

Transmissions from the GALACTIC FEDERATION were coming down the ION BEAM as fast as I could translate the DATA STREAM early this morning.

SUPERIOR

There was some very interesting information in that stream that I will share on a need to know basis.  However, I was unable to get to the hill until 1:00PM after dealing with that bit of entertainment, which was unfortunate, as I missed the smooth buffage from yesterday’s wind storm.   All that wind did some very nice filling of the trenches, smoothing out big lines, and also stripping exposures clean down to the crusty layer, which left Regulator a distinct challenge for the  morning crew who  had to hit it first.   I was invited to take an exploratory run down the Upper Cirque just to see if the recent installments had healed those shots up yet, only to find that there are still significant vestiges of gnar to be dealt with.  Care should be taken on approach, and a deliberate line may get you by the rocks, but you will be hard pressed to avoid the reefage that still lurks in the middle of each of the Upper Cirque shots.  I got a core shot just being careful, so be aware.   The cold daytime temps. have kept the snow soft and blastable, fending off the Sun damage that begins to trash the pack this late in the season.  Once again, the wind did wonderful things mountain wide, so be on the look out for your favorite lines, and lines that you were holding off on, now that things are filling in, but as I just explained, there are some glaring exceptions to be sure.  Looks like more weather is coming in, so I am not going to even think about it.  It will be what it will be, and that is, as we know,   great!!   Here is a shot of Superior looking freshly frosted and untrammeled.  MMMM  Goood!!

The Trailer was rocking and rolling in the pounding prefrontal winds, which sounded thunderous and exciting.  It looked like it was going to be clear, but the clouds moved in quickly.   The Bird reported high winds, no Tram, Mineral Basin and assorted other lifts in response to the sever weather.  One thing is certain, the wind was working it’s magic as only days like this can provide.   Snow transport really smooths the hill out overall, filling in some of the most persistent interference patterns.   I will be looking f0rward to tomorrow, to see what has transpired.  Already, the  hill has smoothed out considerably, but some of the more sheltered areas still were sporting some rumble.   More snow is in the forecast, so you can expect the hill to be offering the Utah Best, which is especially sweet considering the hard times of the earlier season.   Time to enjoy the goods.   Still be aware of the hard charging fast movers as you work  the hill, paying special attention to the tree lines, uphill merge points, cliff bands, cat tracks, and any unexpected exposure features that might have a high velocity issue to suddenly deal with.    Here is a shot of a very bold fashion statement that I could not resist.  Fun times!!!  See you for the festivities in the AM.   Ciao!!

BILLY GIBBONS?

Today was one of the best days of the season on many levels.  Little Cloud and Mineral Basin opened with some of the most sumptuous snow pack.  Even though it was not blower light, it had a

WILD WINDS

consistency that was nothing short of luxurious.   It had a heft and richness that made one feel like Super Slider, no matter which exposure you chose.   Only some parts of the West facing shots had some vestiges of the rain crust that was deposited the other day.   The Groomers were off the charts buffed with just a light covering of dust that just put the icing on the cake.  One of the highlights was the lower Primrose Path, which had such velvety smooth lines that held up all day long.   It was strange that it did not get rutted or hacked up.   I kept lapping that big smooth line all morning long.  I was able to get the drop of the Mineral Basin opener, which let me take my time and get deeply involved with each turn.  The day was a bit brisk, which kept the snow refrigerated and preserved for tomorrow.  Look for another offering of  ultra buffed Hydrovelvet on all the Groomers, with the off trail still offering very soft crud.  Most of the entrances are getting more approachable, and will only get better with any additional accumulation, which is in the forecast.  We seem to be in the flow now, so expect goodness with each installment.   Day off tomorrow, so turn for me if you would.   Peace out!!!

A fresh installment of Essence was delivered overnight, along with winds that many folks said sounded like a freight train going by.  I was told the wind went over 100 mph at times during the night, which worked the mountain much more than the new snow did.   Regulator was stripped clean, but the transported snow had been placed in just the right spots.  Yesterday, I looked into upper Great Scott to see that I wanted no part of that fiasco, but today the same entrance was much more realistic, with the main line baby butt smooth and buttery.   I had not been in there for some time, and the wait was worth it.  The new snow seemed light, but the wind had knocked the air out of most of it, leaving billiard table smooth lines in many places, as well as some carvalicious accumulation.  Mineral Basin and Road to Provo remained closed, so there is a chance we might see them tomorrow.  The faithful showed up in enthusiastic numbers, with everyone trying to make up for lost time.   The frenetic pace was blistering overall, and I just wanted to get out of the way and let the fast movers have what they craved.   Me?   I have been there long enough to know that I prefer a more meditative approach to the fall line, and that was not going to happen today, so I bailed early.   The conditions were excellent and will remain excellent going into tomorrow.  I can safely dispense with the reef advisories, as most are well underneath the pack, but there are some spines that need to be given the requisite respect.  Now that all of the optional lines are now in play, it is imperative to be cognizant of the fast movers dropping out of everywhere at any time at all.  This includes cliff bands you might be traversing under.  You can expect aerial movers to be blasting off with no spotting and no regard as to what , or who is below.  Just an observation!!  See you there for the first Bell.   IBBY!!

There was a combination of fresh dense Essence, high winds, some Sun, and some variable visibility just to make the day a full spectrum experience.  A delayed Tram opening sent the early crowd to the Zoom Chair, as the Peruvian Chair was delayed as well.  The fresh accumulation was very high density, which felt luxurious on the groomers, which was in contrast to the off trail combination Zipper Crust- wind deposited  lines, that made you try to follow the lines of accumulation, which mitigated the zipper Crust that was left over from yesterday’s rain event.  Over all, the day offered some very nice carving, but only if you had the right tools.  I took out some 85mm sticks, but found them to be not up to the task of dealing with the wild variations.  I pulled out the 115mm Guns which improved the consistency markedly.   Mineral Basin and Road to Provo did not open at all, and with the forecast for more snow tonight, those areas will probably be delayed in opening in the morning.  The high winds of the day began to transport the product to the low areas, filling in the troughs significantly.  Tomorrow, look for the smooth lines on the High North, which seemed to be getting the most of the wind treatment.  Look for improved coverage in some of the choke points, as the wind seems to be helping those sections, but be wary of the gnar that is just below the filling.   Here is a shot of the wild clouds that were moving through at high velocity, looking rather fluid as they flew past.  Be there early for best results.   Ciao!!

FLUID SKY

GLAZED OVER

Today was just one of those days that tests the intestinal fortitude of the attendees, with high winds on the peak, near Zero Zero visibility, and just a few inches covering some crusty rumble.   Did I go for the trees on the first run?  No…. I dropped into one of the toughest lines in Mineral Basin just to experience the abyss in all it’s severity.  That decision would prove to be quite fool hardy, as each turn was a guess, and the exact location of the fall line was a toss up with each transition through that vortex.   It might as well have been another dimension, because I was nowhere near where I thought I was.   Doh!!!   Moving back to the front side, the Peruvian Gulch was offering the groomers and the trees to attain reference points and a smooth line to flow through.  Finally, with vertigo hitting me hard after the decent into the abyss, I made a hasty retreat to the Forklift Chair to regain equilibrium and assess the rest of the day..   After breakfast I made one more attempt, finding a freezing rain beginning to fill in and making the visibility fully Zero Zero as my goggles got covered with ice.  Folks coming off the hill looked like glazed doughnuts with the ice covering and soaking everyone!   Here is a shot of a fellow sliders ice covered lenses to give you an idea of the intensity of the mist.  Tomorrow, look for there to be a crust layer underneath any accumulation overnight, a stout static rumble to deal with off trail, with the main bump lines still in full relief.  The visibility may improve, but expect some variability.   We are in a constant flow for the next bit, so a little here, a little there, all add up to low traffic and fresh tracks.   Just stay close to the trees for reference, and avoid the high traffic interference patterns.  Check the road report for access in the AM.   Peace Out!!

It was bright and brisk this morning, with a cold wind blowing, which made Mineral Basin a very attractive draw.  The Groomers were just like butter on the backside, with the 2” of accumulation covering all the off trail with a wind buffed smoothness.   The South facing aspects were a bit slabbed by the wind, but it did not present any problems.  The crowd built up in the back, so I went back to the front, where there were full tilt boogie groomers, which included a fresh mow on Lower Primrose Path for the second time this season.  The dry chalky carvaceous texture of that steep gullied shot made the new novelty a treat.  It stayed good all day, though it did begin to get a bit worked later in the day, but the overall smooth was preserved.  The Cirque is looking pretty well covered, but the Traverse out at the edge is very ledgy and requires a bit of care, as there are rocks in each of the troughs, so use caution.   The exotic trees have pretty good cover, but the interference patterns out there are quite well defined.  The lower aspects out on that far traverse are

PIPELINE

very difficult to navigate through the vegetation that has yet to be covered, so be warned going out.   There is snow in the forecast again tonight, but I will take what I find and like it.   The high relief features are still quite acute, with the popular runs lacking much in the way of escape, but a short traverse can find you a smoother line.  Tomorrow, look for some new accumulation to greet the morning crew, but that under current rumble is ubiquitous, so keep that in mind.    Here is a shot of the top of Pipeline peaking out behind the first ridge.   See you for the first runs for fun.  IBBY!!!