High pressure continues, with hard pack wall to wall, but the snow pack is consolidating in a good way with long wind smooth lines in many locals.  Here is a shot of Mineral Basin, where if you look closely you can see folks finding the goods that stayed very nice all day long.  I was mining gold out back there until later in the afternoon, so great options exist if you look around for the goods.  The mornings are still a bit brisk, but the air warms up fairly quickly, and after breakfast I was able to dress down, put on light gloves, and roll with just sunglasses.  There is still quite light traffic and there is no waiting, so tomorrow will be even mellower.  Full on groomers are so sweet when the corduroy makes that whiring and zizzing  sound as the edges shave off the nap.  The Cat Crew has been punching some nice new lines on the lower mountain, with the the gut gathering the shaved dust making those lines ultra silky smooth.  Got to love when perfect is perfect.  Expect more versions of perfection tomorrow, and look for the wind and traffic to continue to smooth some of the off trail gems.  See you there for first Boat.   Stay Frosty!!!

Another beautiful day dawned with slightly colder temps to start things off.  There was a light North breeze which kept the air from warming up too quickly.   On the hill the Groomers were so sweet with a carvalicious feel that kept you going back for more.  Mineral Basin was very  nice and drew the crowd quickly as it was obvious that was where the fun was happening.  Of course they all have been reading these posts, so they had to know to go there.  Doh!!!!!  No matter, there is plenty of room for all, though the increased traffic made vigilance to fast movers a must.  There is a big group of athletes here for the Competition this weekend, and they are hitting the hill hard wall to wall.  I left early to stay clear of the full court press, but it is fun to see the performance level on the hill.  Tomorrow, look for the Competition to move to Upper Silver Fox, so the spectating should be fun.   This hill is still holding up, though the obvious lines are going to get hit today, so expect a bit more chop on the big smooth.  Look farther afield to find those still standing wind slab lines that I have been mining all week.  Perfect is perfect where ever you find it, even in this no fresh snow environment.  The hill is sporting some nice lines here and about, so look for the overlooked sections, and take some time to access the goods.  It is an adventure after all.  Here is a shot of a rock out cropping that has seen millenia of Winters.  This rock can tell stories if you listen.   See you for the fun in the AM., and be sure to watch for BLACK ICE in the Canyon.  You can see the places up and down where folks have spun out.  Be safe.   IBBY!!

It was hazy once again in the Valley as the inversions persists.  Up on the hill it was crystal clear, with much warmer temps. to enjoy after that big chill we had not long ago.  It seems like yesterday that it was a test of endurance to be out in such weather, but NOW is an extravaganza of fun in the SUN.   The firm is still holding tough with the lack of freshness, but the big smooth sections are still holding up to the increased traffic.   The interference patterns have some smooth lines to them as the wind and low traffic has kept them tamed.  It was my day off today and I took the time to dig the Trailer out of the some of the pack that built up during this cold snap.  Tomorrow, look for another day of inversion warmth at altitude and the fresh clean air that invigorates the senses.  Check the Grooming chart to see if any new and exciting lines have been punched out, as the past week has offered some very nice drops.  Often, folks ask me about what I am talking about when I mention  flying the Wings, and what they could be.   Here I submit for your approval a shot from the folks at Powder Shots, who get the action right there in real time. The wings develop a lift dynamic in the hands that create a serious lift platform to dial in the fall line.  They are serious fun, but I put them away after 11:00 Am., when the hill gets too crowded to go full throttle.   See you in the AM!!! IBBY!!

I left The Trailer shrouded in gloom as I headed up the Canyon this morning.  Breaking thought the cloud deck at Tanner’s Flat revealed another beautiful day high above the inversion layer.  This hill was offering some very nice Groomers on all sides of the hill, with some of the long wind smoothed lines still holding the smooth despite the heavy traffic.  More big lines have been hit with the machine, offering extended goodness on some very steep sections.  There was a light breeze keeping it a bit cooler today than yesterday, but those direct South faces were softening up a bit with the warming.  There is a large influx of good skiers hitting the hill with the competition being held on the Rasta Chutes this weekend.  With this in mind be aware of fast movers coming from lines usually un traveled, so keep looking up the hill and be aware of the surrounding action.  Tomorrow, look for much increased traffic, but the up hill capacity will deal sternly with any serious build up.  Those long smooth lines should hold up one more day before the chop breaks the smooth.  Look for the Sun to have warmed the Mineral Basin early on, leaving the front side to get lighter as the Sun gains it’s high point in the sky.  There are some shoals beginning to show up here and there, so keep and eye out for the tell tale signs that indicate the rough.  Here is a shot from the Tram Dock with the Sun refracting in the camera lens.  Just for art.   Ciao!!!

The hill is warming up nicely as the inversion builds.  It was a beautiful day above the gloom of the Valley, and the Groomers were offering some of the best velvet smooth rides anywhere.   The Cat Crew has been punching out some new and exciting lines for us to sample and the high speed dial is cranked up to 11.   Some of the long wind buffed lines from recent days are a bit more choppy after the heavy traffic, but other lines are getting better with the traffic as they smooth out as they get worked.  You just have to look around a bit.  A low amplitude rumble is fairly wide spread off trail and those wind lines will get you around them, but for those who love the bumps, you will find some higher amplitude patterns in the heavily traveled areas.   Penelope, was telling me how she looks for just the right line of bumps and thought that there are sections that have some very nice rhythm to them.  Tomorrow, look for increased warming which will seem even more tropical than today.   These warm temps are a welcome relief after the ultra cold we endured last week.  It really makes you appreciate the comfort that warmer temps provide.  The snow is still holding the cold for the most part, but the direct South lines were feeling a bit pasty later in the day, so look for some crunch on those lines.  See you there for another day of high octane rock and roll.   Here is a shot of Mark Malu looking smooth and silky.  Just perfect for a total commitment to the fall line.    Peace Out!!

The Valley was covered by an inversion cloud deck, leaving the high country Sunny and bright.  The wind was howling this morning, and as anticipated the wind did some serious industrial smoothing to some of the big lines in Mineral Basin.  There were many variations to choose from back there and those shots were as good as it gets.  It gets deeper, but it does not get better, and the best part is it stayed good all day long.  While the wind giveth, it also taketh away, which meant that some of the sections were seriously scoured, even to the point of sever scalloping of the surface, so it payed to stay focused on the lines that were packing the smooth.  I went on a couple of recon runs and found a wide variety of soft, hard, bumpy and all manner of interesting consistency, but the runs were fun to see what was out and about.   Once again the Groomers were off the chart buffed by both machine and wind, making them well worth the attention perfection deserves.  It was markedly warmer today, though the high wind made it seem much colder, but the temps kept the pack nicely

DAY IN HEAVEN

refrigerated.  Tomorrow, look for some of the wind buffed sections to be worked over again, and will be going off for the morning crew.   With the inversion building in it will be getting warmer up high as the the high builds in.  The low traffic makes the back to back program easy to rack up a mighty sum of vertical every day  Here is a shot of the Valley covered by the inversion layer, making it look like Lake Bonneville might have looked 10,000 years ago.  IBBY!!!

There was an overnight impulse that covered the hill with an inch of Essence that put the frosting on the morning session.  The temps. were much more realistic, though it was still quite brisk and you still needed to watch for the frost bite.  The clouds began to break up around 10:00 AM, letting the Sun shine through improving the visibility.  Mineral Basin cleared off first,  offering some very nice cruising on the Groomers.  I ventured off trail, sampling the big long steep section, thinking that the North wind had filled it in sufficiently, but it still was sporting that rumble, though it was a fun recon run.  The Groomers were off the charts perfect and it was so fun to uncork it and fly like the wind.  There were cold clouds hanging around all day, so there were light fluffy flakes falling all day

Rare Light

with the Sun shining through them.   Here is a shot of the Sun refracting the light over Little Cloud.  I love when you get those rare light effects.  Tomorrow should be warmer yet, and the Groomers will be going off again top to bottom.  Check and see if the overnight wind smoothed any of the big lines in Mineral Basin as the wind was still blowing stoutly out of the North, so those East and South faces might be smoothed out.  The early runs will be worth getting and early start, as there are few folks out now that all the air has been knocked out of the freshness.   The cold temps are keeping the quality good all day on all aspects.  See you there for the early rock and roll session.   Ciao!!

Once again the morning was blistering cold, however, the Sun was shining and the air was still once again, making it seem a touch warmer than it really was.  They were shooting a movie on the peak and this shot of the helicopter,  just before touch down, was interesting with the blade wash creating this image.   I am so glad I was not standing around in that cold, rather it was a full on rock and roll morning as there was very light traffic, perfect groomers, and wide open for full throttle shredding.  I would have taken my Wings out if it had not been so cold, but perhaps tomorrow, when the temps are predicted to be a touch warmer.  The off trail is a bit bouncy as the traffic has whipped up the harbor chop, so look for the old smooth lines that are a bit off the beaten lines.  I tried one

Touch Down

of my faithful smooth areas only to find it had been found by the faithful, so I had to look further afield for some smooth.  Coverage is good, but some of the traverses are getting scrapped off a bit in the choke points, so expect some surprises as you move along.  Tomorrow, look for another super cold morning, excellent groomers to rip on, light traffic to enjoy, and fun wall to wall.  The early morning session is so cold, coming after 11:00 AM will pay off with a bit warmer temps., but those early morning rippers are worth the effort and cold exposure.   See you there for the first runs if you dare!!!

The peak was posting -13 Degrees this morning as the first Tram hit the dock.  It was still and Sunny, but the cold just penetrated the extremities quickly.  Mineral Basin was bathed in Sun, and the still air made it inviting.   The cold snow was very fast, though it was a bit sticky on the cat tracks, and the Groomers were stellar quality, with carvelicious consistency even on Regulator, which has made a great come back after last week’s wind blast.   I took a full Lewis and Clark loop out in Mineral Basin,

ULTRA COLD

even though the temps were so cold, and I found the still air and Sunshine made the temps tolerable.  Here is a shot of Timp. in the distance with the cold air clouds holding on to some of the peaks.  I must admit I did not last long on the hill and made a hasty retreat to the Forklift Chair where the fire was burning and the hot coffee was warming the fingers.  The off trail was set up a bit, especially on the front of the hill, but the overall quality was very nice.  Tomorrow, look for continued excellence on the Groomers, with the off trail offering variable consistency, so we will have to look around a bit for the smooth lines.  The cold will still be a factor, so be sure to dress for it and have all your heating pads ready to insert into the glove pockets.   My fingers were screaming as they thawed out, so I will double up on the hand warmers in the AM.  See you for the first Tram.  Stay Frosty!!!

The snow fall began to wrap up this morning, and the hill was reporting only an inch of accumulation overnight, so the Faithful were tasked with savoring the accumulated coating.   I am taking the day off to let my knees rest and clear off the antenna array.  The snow here at the trailer was so light I was able to clear the array with my air compressor and just blew the Essence from the dishes.   This was an example of ultra Utah Light.  So fluffulecent it fully exemplifies the definition.  If you are asked, you can say this is IT!!!   The traffic will be working the product on the hill, so the bottom features of the past hard pack, that really showed up yesterday,  should be smoothing out a bit, but there is still a solid foundation with which to deal.  Remember that Upper Cirque approach

Tower 4

got stripped the other day, so tread carefully as you pull up the last 40′ or so before the drop.  The Road to Provo and Powder Paradise will also be available today for those who missed the freshness yesterday, so that will be an extravaganza in both areas.   Now comes the cold air, and the peak temp was well below zero, so be sure to dress for the conditions and keep skin covered.  Tomorrow, look for continued clearing, dropping temps., soft snow, and great skiing.  Few hazards remain now, so full commitment to the fall line is Green and good to go.  Here is a shot of the Tram at tower 4 frosted over and bringing the next load of seekers to find heaven!!!   IBBY!!!