It was clouded over this morning with a light rain falling on the Plaza, but the First Tram proved to be sensational.  Both front and back were good calls this morning, though the visibility was marginal to start things off, but that feature kept the snow from glopping out in the high angle Sun.   Great snow was as to be had on both sides of the hill, as the lower section did not freeze up, leaving it very blastable even down lower into the transition to rain elevation.  Later in the day the Sun came out, and I had to bail to save my knees from the stickiness that was going on the lower mountain.   It is best to stay up high when you have a chance, to avoid the lower conditions.  Tomorrow, look for the High North to still hold some of the soft, but the Sun hits it quick, so an eye to aspect will really help in the AM.   They promise a  sunny day, so get there early for the best of the day.   Here is a shot of that snow wave that broke for 3 weeks.  Ciao!!

The forecast was for Sun today, but this morning offered a touch more fresh snow, and marginal visibility for the first Tram crew.   The cloud cover preserved the quality, adding to the fluff as the morning wore on.  Mineral Basin had some nice Grooming that was steep and smooth, that is if you could find it in the fog.  The trees on the front side gave some reference cues, but a stretch of Will into the white out was the best purchase you could get.  The underlying crud was set up and stiff, and it was fortunate that I was able to try out some Demos in the marginal conditions.  The new crop of skis coming out next year is exciting and a big improvement, so look forward to some interesting developments and save your pennies for the new gear.  Tomorrow, look for Sun to finally make the forecast appearance, so the early runs will offer the best of the day before the sticky effect kicks in on the lower mountain.  The cover is still good after these few days of freshness, but again, the underlying crud is just a touch problematic.  Look to the High North to still be holding some of the best lines, as they have not been hit as hard as some of the other aspects, so look there first before they go away.  Here is a shot of some pines which are sporting an interesting pattern of freshness on each little cluster of needles.  It was a tough shot to catch as I was zipping by on the chair.  See you for the fun in the AM.   Peace Out!!

It was raining on the Plaza this morning as first Tram left the dock.  The rain turned to snow just a few hundred feet up the hill, with the peak offering some Winter snow covering the dance floor wall to wall.  The groomers were the best call, with untracked frosting cushioning the smooth lines.  You had to know that farther down the hill it was going to morph into a soggy mess, but for the upper two thirds of the hill there was nice carving.  There was a small band of transition snow that felt like glue, which segued to a granular corn feel as the snow turned to rain.  You came off the hill looking like a glazed doughnut after the rain had frozen on impact, but the turns above were well worth the soaking.  The rain turned to snow as the temps dropped, but it was just on the edge of transition, threatening to return to the liquid form at any minute.  Later, it did, soaking the crud down low, leaving it very difficult to punch through the thick piles.  That was my cue to head for the home 10- 20, and to avoid possible injury.  Tomorrow, look for the groomers to have been worked, offering some smooth sliding, with the fresh deposit mixed into the mat.  The off trail will be dubious, but might still be soft up high, especially on the High North aspects.   Get there early for the best of the day.  I think we might begin to see some Sun, so the quality will go South as the day heats up.  See you on first Boat.   IBBY!!

The rain was pelting the Trailer this morning, making me think twice about going up, as the temps seemed warm.  I had the juice going, so I went up on time and hit the line early to avoid the PSIA jam for the opening bell.  On this morning they missed the window, with first Tram leaving with only 11 of the faithful on board to sample the  new installment of late spring Spackle.   The high density skied very nicely on the groomers, but did not mitigate the rumble on the off trail sections that had left over chop from yesterday.   Visibility was marginal, however, there was enough reference from the trees to reflect the light.  The low first Tram turn out enabled a quick lap through the sumptuous frosting to get yet another sparsely packed Bucket.  Bonus for those of us who made the effort to get the jump on the day.   Mineral Basin was a milk bottle, so I stayed on the front side to take advantage of the better visibility.   Tomorrow, look for, perhaps, another dose of overnight flurries that are predicted to move through.  It was raining at the bottom when I left the hill at 1:00PM, so the underlying crud could be problematic down low, but the groomers should still be offering the big mountain smooth.  You just have to pretend you hiked a long way to be there.  I often times forget the quality of the terrain after the up hill rapidity of the lift service.  Those first 5 runs this morning were special, in that I knew that the quality untracked I was scoring was going to be gone the next run, so I dialed in the deep absorption turns to get as much of  the deep  drink  of each cycle and release as I could.   MMMM  Good! Here is a shot of the first Tram looking spacious and rare.   You just had to be there, or not!   IBBY!

It was a surprisingly cold morning with a brisk wind and Sun shining brightly.   There had been some accumulation overnight, which had filled in some of the lines that screamed for attention.  The sparse local turnout let the few who worked the sections partake in a leisurely manner as there was no push for the off trail lines.  The PSIA crew was working the big groomers in large groups, taking advantage of the dry Winter chalk that made the wide open avenues perfect for working the carve turn.  The cold temps kept the snow from going South for quite a stretch into the day. The far reaches were offering some interesting lines, but the Sun and warm temps of the last few days, began to set up untracked areas, where the highest exposures were still cold, but lower down the zipper crust was problematic, so an excursion out to those areas are disappointing.   Tomorrow, look for the Groomers to once again be still holding the cold dry chalk, making them good to go early on.  There is a forecast for some precipitation going into the morning hours, so you might encounter some visibility issues, but the spring crustiness will be held off for another day.   Here is another shot of the rare Mountain Mushrooms that sprouted up magically very close to the main run.  I managed to spot them and get this shot before they evaporated in the afternoon Sun.  Beautiful things are fleeting and you have to be there to see these.  See you for first Boat!! Ciao!!

The first few Trams of the morning were depositing the early crowd into milk bottle visibility as light snow continued to fall.  The density of the cloud cover made the upper mountain difficult to discern the tree lines that were the only reference points to guide by.  Further down the hill there was a bit more detail, but my equilibrium was tweaked severely, sending me to the Forklift Chair until the clouds began to lift out.    A bit of freshness had fallen, but not nearly enough to mitigate the stiffness of the off trail crud, which had set up after yesterday’s temperature rise.  Over all the smoothness is holding up after the new installments have mitigated the interference patterns.  The High North is still holding up well, though, after the Sun came out today, there might have been some thickening even on those shady exposures.   Remember the smooth lines from the past few days to avoid the combination of  tracked out rumble and high traffic areas that were getting the lions share of the traffic.   Tomorrow, look for the Groomers to be reworked, and, like today, will be offering some very nice lines on the prepared surfaces.  The PSIA is now in residence, getting in line for the first Tram a bit early, so get the jump on the push by lining up a few minutes earlier.  I did my usual thing this AM. and was fully 3 Trams out before I got on.  These folks will be widely spread out over the hill, so be sure to give them the room they need to do the demonstrations.  Be sure to stop and check out the Demo Team members modeling the  techniques, where you can pick up many important pointers if you watch closely.  Be there early for the best of the day.  Here is a shot of the Creek beginning to show signs of the return cycle, even while the accumulation phase of the cycle continues.  TTFN!!

This weather pattern is moving slowly from the East , making the day intermittent, with the rain making a relaxing patter on the Trailer.  I took the day off today to get a recharge for the week.  The report only called for 2” overnight, but I suspect there was a touch more than that in spots.  They are talking about more tonight as well, so I am anticipating a morning to be excited about.  The coverage is getting better and the mountain is smoothing out nicely.  I don’t think there will be much Sun damage to the snow pack, though it is thickening with the warmer ambient temps, and the lower elevations might have a bit more chop.  Mineral Basin has been great these past days, and I have been grooving on the extended range, especially after skiing the corn earlier in the week.  What a difference a few days make.   Here is a shot of the Book Ends from a distance.  It has smoothed out nicely.   IBBY!

We were treated to Quintessential Essence this morning as an indeterminate depth was deposited over the hill, building on yesterday’s foundation of higher density installment.   There were still hints of the old layer here and there, but for the most part the quality was mid Winter perfect, with virtually bottomless lines wall to wall.   Big shout out to the Patrol for getting things open BOOM BOOM BOOM, where if you hit the timing you got fresh lines as the sections opened.  I was able to get totally untracked lines after 1:30 PM with no pressure since there was enough to keep everyone busy all day.   Looks like a serious dose of the goods is on the way, and with this pre storm snow pack, it will offer the best snow of the season.  Things have filled in again after the recent melt off, but here are a couple of spots that had zero cover just the  other day.  Those cliff bands above the Mineral Express had  no cover in the choke points, and today’s traffic uncovered all of it, so keep that in mind.  Those lines looked like they took a toll on whoever hit them first.   DOH!!!   It is hard to talk in more detail about perfection, so show up tomorrow for a day for the books.  Check the road access in the AM. in case it closes, because ….. well, you know the drill.  Here is a shot of the knife edge looking as as sharp it gets!!  See you Sunday!  Ciao!!

A fantastic installment of fresh Essence was delivered to the hill overnight, or should I say, early this morning, as the real intensity did not commence until a couple hours before opening.  The faithful were treated to a luxurious dose that carried a lot of water, which made the hard frozen slush underneath a non issue.  Had the density been lighter, it would have been a totally different situation.  I just barely hit the bottom on the entire first run.  Face shots were blasting up with the sumptuous offering, making it seem more like Winter than deep Spring.  This, however, is the Wasatch, and April can serve up this kind of wonder regularly, which is something I count on.   I have skied some of the deepest days on the 28th of April with no one around.  Well, the Faithful were there in force and getting all of it as fast as they could, so that by 12:00 Noon things were skied out and the vague rays of the Sun were beginning to bake the product quickly.  I had to give it up at 1:00PM to save my knees from a serious ripping.   There is another wave of weather is coming through overnight, so today’s instalment will provide a very nice first coat for further accumulation.  Tomorrow, look for more freshness to be covering the hill for another day of Spring time Powder.  The bottom crunch was beginning to show through after it had been worked over, though I think that the crunch factor will be but a memory for the morning crew.  One note of caution, which I found out the hard way, is to watch the high points and sections close to the rocks, as there are some ledgy reefs that had melted off.   Core shots can be repaired though, but just keep an eye out.  Here is another shot of that wave from deep inside the pit, where you know you will not make it out.  Doh!!!    IBBY!!

We saw the last of the Sun for the next few days as the weather in the Pacific begins to work it’s way into the Front.  This morning was quite balmy, though the wind made the temps feel a touch brisk.  The front of the hill had frozen solid, with only marginal tenderizing efforts making the traction sparse on the easiest runs. Mineral Basin was offering the Sun softened groomers that made the morning a blast, with Baldy Express offering the private resort feeling.  There, were some very carvacious groomers that let the skis slice luxuriant turns which felt like back country corn.  I keep mentioning the back country feel to impart the high quality of the lines made available by machines, which bring you very close to that experience that a long hike brings.  The front side of the hill began to break by 11:00 AM when the previously diamond plate nastiness slowly transformed into the sensual carpet of corn goodness only spring can bring.  There is a perfection to that kind of corn surface that draws hikers to begin early, then wait for the proper moment to taste the delicacy.  Here it can be accessed with a bit of patience and an attention to the movement of the Sun.  By 2:00 PM the entire mountain had thawed just as clouds were moving in, cooling the pack, and holding off the stickies.  Tomorrow, look for some accumulation, but be aware that it is going to take some serious depth to cover the frozen slush piles on the off trail expanses.  The hard pan will present some very tricky problems, especially if it is hampered by some visibility issues.  The High North was hit with the heat, and was a bit crispy, though the smoothness factor there is still holding up.  This is looking like it could be an interesting cycle, so keep you fingers crossed for another LCC Miracle.  Here is a shot of that crystal wave that keeps braking in ultra slow motion.  IBBY!!