It was a beautiful sunny morning, with cool temps and light winds.  Overnight wind had worked the hill with a final smoothing.  The Groomers were extra special buffed and I made the transition from untracked corduroy to untracked wind buffed.  All the wind changes from the last few days left long wind lines on all aspects of the hill, which includes some of the most out of the way sections.  The interference patterns that where ubiquitous just last week are residing underneath the transported layer and are not redeveloping yet.  All wind lines held up all day long as the traffic was fairly light, so only the most obvious lines were getting attention.  The Grooming Crew has punched out a couple new delights that have not been worked this season, and these lines were offering steep smooth vertical with absolutely no crust or variation.  What a treat.  The Cirque Traverse is in much better shape after all the additional accumulation, but the high ridge line along the edge has been stripped off, which makes getting up close tricky.  Tomorrow, look for all those big smooth wind lines to still be holding up, the groomers to be rocking and buffed, and more snow to move in during the morning hours.  I think I can safely deem the hill now Fully Fat.  With the exception of a couple of entrances, what ever line you have in mind will be good to go.  This overall smoothness is a very rare condition to have on the hill.  I remember having favored aspects, but to have these wind buffed lines all around the dial is exceptional.  Here is a shot of the quintessential Pipeline looking fully fat.  More goodness is on the way, be ready to dance!!IBBY!!

The first Tram went up at 8:45 AM this morning  as there was sun and wind to greet the folks who were on hand for the early start.   Mineral Basin was open from the start, and after yesterday’s high North West winds  I was looking to the South for the transported snow to be offering some nice lines, and I was not disappointed as I found them loaded with delicious.  While trying to get to all the exposures that I thought might still be holding the goods, I noticed that all the accumulation the South wind had placed early yesterday had been stripped off by the high North winds leaving those High North entrances, once again, dodgy to say the least.  As the South wind continued transporting the goods, those favored aspects kept filling in every run.  Chasing the wind lines was the call for today, as well as staying one step ahead of the holiday crowd.  There were surprise openings of long closed areas that were a bonus if you happened to see the open gate.  Here is a shot of the last few turns I got out in the far reaches where the Essence was spectacular.  Tomorrow, look for the Grooming to be perfect as the new product gets worked into the mat,  the deep guts to still be holding some of that sugar frosting, and continued good visibility.  The traffic should be a bit more relaxed, and maximum vertical should be easy to accumulate.  Check those entrances again to see how they are shaking out now, but I am expecting them to still be touchy.  It is hard to believe they were fat yesterday, and now they are scoured out.  The wind giveth and the wind taketh away.  See you there for the early session.  Peace Out!!

The wind out ahead of the cold front had the South wind nuking on the peak this morning, which loaded the High North aspects with beautifully placed product.  I was, once again, able to ski directly into shots that in previous times were a bit tricky.  The wind kept buffing the surface, erasing the tracks as fast as you made them.  Visibility was fair until the Front moved in at Noon, when the wind switched out of the North West with a furious blast that delivered inches per hour.   The smooth aspects, and all other aspects, began to build up a sweet frosting feel that gave  that Heroic definition to the turns.  Only the visibility was an issue, however, the unbelievable quality had many commenting on how perfect the hill was feeling.  I had to agree, and kept hitting the big North facing drops to get as much of that rarity in as possible.  Tomorrow, look for improving visibility as the storm cell has moved to the East and the areas that were closed today will be opening for those who missed out on today’s extravaganza.  Once again, entrances are greatly improved, interference patterns in the high traffic areas are gone for the time being, and the hill is in good enough shape that you can go for your favorite lines and get the prescription filled.  More snow is in the forecast for the middle of the week, so we have to get busy and get this installment worked in before it arrives.   Here is a shot of the Mine in the distance as the sky cleared before the Wall of Voodoo moved up the Canyon with the heavy blast. This vantage point never gets old. It will be great in the AM, so be there for the morning session.   Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

The wind continued to work the hill after closing yesterday, leaving the hill wind worked smooth after a long siege of interference patterns during the past dry spell.  This is such a rare occurrence when all the high aspects get smooth and dreamy.  The cognoscenti made as many runs on these favorite big drops as possible to get as much of such a rarity as was humanly possible.  The deep contacts were all atwitter with news of the spectacular nature the hill provided today.  I really missed out on this today, but I got a full heaping helping yesterday, and I can tell you that it is as good as it gets.  Once again, it gets deeper, but it does not get better.  Powder Paradise and the Road to Provo opened today, offering more of the wide open smooth frosting that has been delivered in the last few days.  Tomorrow, look for more weather to move into the Front with mild temps out ahead of the cold front that is moving in out of the North West.  The South wind should be working ahead of this front, so the wind buffed sections should be offering the ultra buff as the wind continues to work the aspects.  All aspects are in very nice shape, with only very rare echos of the rime layer.  Entrances are getting much better now, and access to some of the drops that have been holding me off due to the gnar are good to go.  It is going to be a great day of storm sliding, so gear up and ride the storm out. Here is an example of the art I have been producing as I find the new path.  Stay Frosty!!

There was yet another dusting of Ultra Velvet covering the dance floor as the morning got off to and early start with another Customer Appreciation day.  First Tram left at 8:15 AM, and since the road was closed until 8 AM  I did not get on the hill until the 8:45AM departure.  It was no issue though as Regulator Johnson was the only run open to kick things off.  The Peruvian side of the hill opened offering the most sumptuous wind transported extravaganza imaginable.  I was able to access the High North aspects with ease as the upper entrances had been loaded up nicely.  The wind kept refreshing the tracks as soon as you passed, making each run a treasure.  These are the days you remember as the perfection lasts all day long.  As the day progressed, the lower mountain became quite manky, with the Cat Tracks becoming like a linoleum floor.  I just could not seem to find the groove when I got on them.  Both sides of the hill were getting the benefit of the wind, with even the West facing aspects catching some nice accumulation.  The trees also have been helped by the wind, with many of the tightly bumped sections mellowing out.  Tomorrow, look for some more overnight accumulation, clearing skies, and continued warm temps.  I think the wind will still be a feature as the next system moves in from the North for Sunday, so keep your eyes on the wind worked lines for excellent feel.  The hill is getting fat, and there are less features to avoid, and some features will only reappear this spring.  Here is a shot of the only glimmer of visibility that opened up all day.  The Mountain Coaster frames the Mine out in the distance.  Ciao!!

The Canyon opened a bit early this morning and I was able to grab second Tram, where Regulator was the only run open as the control work was on going.  The wind was ripping with very high density snow falling and a few new inches of frosting covering the dance floor.  When the Peruvian Gulch opened it was a no brainer to hit the High North aspects as that is where the transported snow was going.  As the day went on the wind really started smoothing lines on the upper third of the hill that were absolutely STUDIO!!  It does get deeper, but it does not get better.  As the high density installment got tracked out the harbor chop began to crop up, especially on the lower third of the hill where the consistency got very Manky.  Still, the upper third of the hill was worth dealing with the lower elevations.  The Tram closed around 1:30 PM and I called it a day, as I did not want to chance a tweak in those sticky lower sections.  Tomorrow, look for additional high density accumulation as the Westerly flow continues to bring impulses along the stream.  This heavy density coating is filling in the features and gnar that have been plaguing us, and I was able to ski into the top of Scott with no problems.  Nice to have that option back again.  It will be another great day of snow sport sliding on some very nice frosting.  Here is a shot taken out in Mineral Basin when a little Sun popped through the clouds revealing  this perfect exposure of goodness just waiting for the word GO!!   IBBY!!

The next impulse of this Westerly pattern moved into the Front this morning leaving a few centimeters of ultra velvet covering the dance floor.   While the visibility was marginal, the excellent grooming job gave confidence to drop into the smooth lines where you could dig into each turn as deep as you wished.  With the visibility as it was, Mineral Basin was not calling me there, though the tree lines out there did offer some good reflected light.  Some of my deep contacts went back there and found some very nice lines.  The wind was working the product and some wind buffed sections were happening, but the increasing snow fall kept me chasing the smooth lines as the high density Essence built up.  Though the density was high, the feel was magical and did not slog down the turns.  Rather the luxurious feel made me dig deep for the turns as I was trying to bring some of the articulation that the Olympic racers are putting down.  My mantra has been to Lay It Down Like Ligety, where tipping the ski and moving through the turn is so satisfying.  Tomorrow, look for accumulation to have built up over night as the flow continues.  The Canyon will be closed in the AM for control work, so you can kick back a bit as it gets opened somewhere around 8:30 AM.   The guts on the hill have been filled in, but some of the those high points still need to be taken seriously.  The traverses are also improving, though the high amplitude cross chop still is a feature.  Here is another shot of the build up on the pines I saw as I motored around the hill.  See you when we can get up the hill.  Peace Out!!

That sunny day the weather dude promised did  not materialize today, but the first runs in Mineral Basin did provide that sunshine for the first 45 minutes.  As anticipated, the Groomers were really perfect, letting you dig the edge with full confidence. Regulator was the only exposure that still held those ceramic tile sections that have been blow off by the wind.  Floating those sections is easy to anticipate and is no real issue, but know those slick areas are still alive.  The off trail is still soft overall, however the underlying harbor chop is still feeling a bit  lumpy and bumpy.   As the clouds moved in, wind, and visibility went away so I was staying with what I knew was smooth. In Mineral Basin the areas, that prior to the storm cycle, were stripped bare are now looking covered and very doable.  That is a huge improvement over just a few days ago.  Powder Paradise opened up today, however, all aspect around the clock  had slid, leaving some serious deposition to negotiate on the gut areas.  Getting down that section was an interesting exercise.  The line I did find was sporting a tricky zipper crust, but it did not bother the turn accuracy  too much at all.  Tomorrow, look for another installment to move in as the next impulse along the Jet Steam impacts the Front.  Look for the hill to offer some low amplitude rumble on the wide open off trail areas.  It could well be a classic storm riding day with free refills, which is a real powder day for me.  Here is a shot of the Valley I took yesterday.  I seems like being in Heaven when I look down and see only glowing clouds and no civilization.  IBBY!!

The recent series of storms began to move out as some Sun began to poke through the cloud as the day progressed.  The earlier accumulations of the past days seemed to set up a bit with the harbor chop fairly widespread with some crust showing through in places.  That old layer is evident in places where the wind had stripped off all of the recent accumulation.  Out on the Cirque Travers, the cover has improved, however, the high relief diagonal crosshatch is still a real feature.  It will still be advisable to pay heed to the variations.  The Groomers were covered with the overnight accumulation and offered the smoothest ride in the variable visibility.  Baldy and Mineral Basin opened today but went very quickly with the today’s traffic.  The old interference pattens are still in play, though it is fairly easy to draw out some longer turns and mitigate the impact.   Tomorrow, look for a nice day as the Sun returns before the next impulse moves in, the groomers to offer very nice carving, and lots of room to put the hammer down.  Traffic should be much lighter, and remember that the Road to Provo still waits to be opened.  A much more direct approach to the fall line can be counted on, but still expect to find some features to still be part of the mix.  Here is a shot of the recent accumulation resting on the pines.  I love it when you get such high contrast detail in the surroundings.  Stay Frosty!!

The westerly flow continued to deliver the goods, though not in as much depth as the rain in the Valley would suggest.  The high density Essence worked some serious magic on the hill by filling in the deep interference patterns that have been built up recently.  There were gems to be found  all over the hill, with some of the gems laying quietly waiting for a caress.  The Canyon closure, in conjunction with the pent up weekend demand, caused the road to back up from both access points to near record points into the Valley. Here is a shot I took of the back up at Big Cottonwood Canyon after I bailed on the day.  The Canyon had not yet opened when I shot this, so it was going to be a long time getting up there.  Those that did make it up were gifted with some sweet frosting covering the cake.  Tomorrow, look for the precipitation to ease up and more of the closed areas to open after the control work is completed.  There should be some very nice conditions offered on all aspects.  The gnar should be well buried by the new installment, so all those shots that might have causes apprehension will be good to go now.  I will go scouting around tomorrow and get a better look at the way the hill is shaking out.  More snow is in the forecast for the week as the Pineapple Express continues to flow thought the Front.  Traffic  on the hill should be a bit more realistic in the AM with more room to dance.  See you for the festivities.  IBBY!!