The Sun returned after a few days of obscurity, which made it a full on Sunny Saturday.  A fresh coating of Essence covered the dance floor to make the early Trams a treat for the early risers.  The bottom was fully in play with the old crust still making those affected aspects very tricky.  The Groomers and High North aspects were the place to be to get the most consistent lines, which were still holding strong after last week.  From the Trailer I kept tabs on the mountain cams and was glad to see such a pristine morning.   I took it very easy today to let my back rest up after last weeks vertical fest.  Here is a shot my friend Tom took from his aircraft of the Snowbird area.  It is kind of fun to get a bird’s eye view of the hill. It is a very cool perspective that you rarely see.  Thanks for the great shot Tom. Tomorrow, look for the new freshness to be mixed into the mat on the morning Groomers, more Sun for high resolution visibility, and more full on vertical.   I will be back on the hill tomorrow to get a first hand look at how the hill is shaking out.  See you for the morning session.  Peace Out!!

There were visibility issues all day today as the peak was heavily shrouded in clouds with the arrival of the First Tram.  I worked the front of the hill for the morning session, staying close to the trees for the best reference and reflected light.  The Groomers offered that smooth consistency that is all you have to count on when you are flying on instruments only.  It is a treat to be able to trust the dance floor when you can only feel the corduroy.  Lower on the mountain the visibility improved, and with the great dry chalky feel of the snow, it enabled a much more aggressive approach to the fall line.  After the morning visit to the Forklift Chair,  I made the drop into the abyss of Mineral Basin, which was very challenging to get any sense of detail.  The Groomers were, once again, very consistent and one had to use the memory of the transitions to determine just where you were on the descent.  The last 500′ offered much better vis., but I was all about getting back to the front to some semblance of reference.  In one respect, it was a great training day to make you feel the fall line, keeping your hands up as you pushed into the fog.  Tomorrow, look for some overnight accumulation as a slight impulse is slated to move through.  The Groomers will be offering the dreamy dry chalk that will let you lay it down like Ligety, and light traffic for the morning session.  The forecast is for clearing skies, but it might take a bit for the vis to improve.  Due to the very foggy day, I was not able to get any kind of realistic shot off, so here is another one of my art pieces for your consideration.  Syrup won’t stop ‘ EM!!

There was sunshine out in Mineral Basin to start out the day, with great Grooming that brought up that cold dry snow.   I was pulled into an East facing drop, on the way to the buffed, by a wind line that looked promising.  I did not listen to my own advice to avoid these aspects, only to find out that I was right about the Gnar, with the crust being very difficult.  I made a bee line back to the machine worked lines at the first chance I got.  Doh!!!  On the front of the hill, the clouds began to move in to obscure the morning light.  Here is a shot of the East Twin being covered with the approaching cloud deck.  This ended the best light of the day.  The new snow from yesterday began to pile up, leaving areas of hard pack in between the piles.  In the variable light this was a touch problematic, but staying with the trees and the known smooth helped to smooth the ride.  I had to dial back the attack to give my back a rest after that early morning tangent.  I won’t be doing that again any time soon.   Tomorrow, look for partly cloudy skies, great lines on the Groomed runs, and low traffic for the morning session.  The consistency will still prove to be tricky, but look for those lines that have been holding strong all week.  Off trail continues to be variable, and special attention should still be taken to aspect as I was soundly reminded.  See you there for the morning festivities.  Stay Frosty!!

The hill had received a light dusting of fresh Essence overnight, with just a trace to be seen in the parking lot.  Up on the hill, 2” of accumulation was covering the dance floor with the smooth lines offering the best feel.  A very light turn out made the lines available last longer, as the very difficult visibility obscured the fresh lines that were to be found if you looked on the side lines.  Out in Mineral Basin, the visibility was improved if you could get down the first 300′ of vertical where the details were much better defined.  The low angle lines were offering the best feel as the higher density product was a cushion over the old layer.  I did venture out on a South facing aspect, just to see if it was as crusty as I had anticipated, and I was quickly sent packing, making a strait line back to the prepared lines to escape the static.  On the front of the hill, the trees were offering the only reflected light by which to navigate.  Again, it was wise to stay on the Groomed lines to avoid being bounced by an unseen variation in the pack. It was continuing to snow when I left at 1:00PM, so we can expect some additional accumulation overnight.  There was not much in the way of wind, so stick with the tried and true lines for the best ride.   Tomorrow, we can expect some more weather with the associated visibility issues.  The temps. are marginal and the cold is not an issue as it was just some days ago.  Watch those crusty exposures, as they will not have improved much unless we get a significant dose of the goods.  It is great to have some fresh snow to work, and those few untracked inches were a delight.  Here is an ART image of mine, as I could not see to get any kind of shot off today.  See you dark and early for fun and excitement!   I’ll Be Blasting You!!!

The morning crew got to see the only Sunshine of the day as Mineral Basin was offering some great illumination before the weather started to move in.  There was fully an hour of good vis before the clouds lowered and snow started to fall as the wind started to really pick up out of the South.  The High North wind lines were offering the best off trail lines of the day, with wind transported goodness  making them velvety and buffed.  On the front of the hill, the Groomers were offering the best lines, though there were some nice lines to be had if you were willing to deal with some of the tougher entries.   Here is a shot to the South with some very interesting clouds capping Timp.  As the weather changed, the temps remained fairly mild, with the bottom of the hill getting springtime soft after Noon, when the lines became very pliable and consistent.  The Sun tried to make repeated appearances, but the clouds were winning the day, and snow continued to fall with minimal accumulation.  Tomorrow, look for more weather to be on tap, some overnight accumulation, and fresh Groomers to work.  Traffic should be light  for the  morning session, so get there early for the best lines of the day.  Wind lines will continue to improve, so look to those aspects for the best off trail lines.  It will take a bit of looking to see where the best shots lay, but going with today’s lines will give you the consistent goods that are waiting a visit.  Dress for weather again.   Speed Safely!!!

It was 40 Degrees on the peak as the first Tram docked for the morning session.  I had dressed for the occasion, with just a light shell and driving with the top down right from the word GO!!  Mineral Basin was offering fresh Groomers, with White Diamonds the featured new line for today.  Here is a shot I took when I got to the bottom of the drop to chronicle the event.   A quick Lewis and Clark lap was a treat with some nicely placed wind buff to top off the dream.  On the front of the hill, a new and exciting drop had been nicely worked out on the Road to Provo, featuring some excellent wind buff deposited in the gut of this big vertical extravaganza.  I had to make numerous takes there, before it got discovered, to get as much of the exquisite line that had not been done this season.  What a nice touch for the day.  Those High North wind lines were still to be had with not much traffic there to chop it up.   That was a keeper all day long.  With the super warm temps, the snow really began to deteriorate on the direct aspects, with Regulator getting down right pasty after Noon.  The North exposures were still holding the cold, but all those shot that saw the Sun were taking it straight on.  Tomorrow, look for some clouds and weather to have moved into the area.  All those aspects that got soft today are going to be very crisp indeed.  Remember your smooth lines from today, trust the Groomers to be consistent, and stay off those very gnarly lines that got cooked today.  Here is a shot of Toad Hill framed by the Mineral Basin Express.  I just had to take this one.  Dress for weather.  Speed Safely!!!

With an early first Tram departure the day was off to a great start.  Mineral Basin was bathed in bright Sun, making the fresh corduroy fly by as there was nothing to slow the flow.  Once again, there were clouds filling the lower Valleys, which always makes me feel like it is heaven.  Here is a shot of Timp. to the South  looking massive. What tectonic forces lifted that hill one can only wonder.  Needless to say, it has been there for a very long time.  On the front of the hill, cold dry chalk Groomers had been prepared, with a couple extra special first tills of the season to enjoy, as well as the stand by drops that were truly unbeatable.  Regulator was offering great turns from the first bell, but it helped to let the Sun come up and shine some light on the situation.  Off trail, there is still good snow to be found, especially  on the aspects that see little Sun.  The wind lines were also a nice feature if you took the time to traverse to access them.  Tomorrow, look for more fast fun to be found on all sides of the hill.  Those wind lines will still be holding up as they were not getting much attention and will remains buffed.  Watch those South faces that saw the Sun as they will continue to be crunchy and difficult with not much in the way of softening.  The conditions are really good even though it has been a while since we had some freshness, but look for the perfect lines where they live and it will be as good as any day for freshness.  See you for the early morning fast fest.   Stay Frosty!!!

I spent the entire day in the Twilight Zone as I rested up from last week’s full on shred fest.  Up on the hill, the clouds had covered the Sun and the light was flat.  Some fast moving flurries moved through from time to time.  The early morning Groomers were the place to be, with the consistency factor making up for much of the loss of detail.  Conditions remain the same as we saw all week, with that dry chalky feel on the North faces and that off trail rumble still wide spread off the beaten path.  Tomorrow, look for the Sun to return as this cloud deck is predicted to move off and high pressure to move in again.  The Groomers will be offering the smooth surfaces that will let you fly with unmitigated audacity.  Look for the those early morning carpets bathed in the Sun out in Mineral Basin.  Be sure, at some point, to visit the Forklift Chair where these friendly faces will greet you and get you energized for more dancing in the Vortex.  I will be there dark and early for the festivities which will get me back on the pace after lollygagging on the couch trying to give the legs a rest.  See you for the hard driving morning session.  IBBY!!

It was a bit warmer, with a bit more wind this morning as the Sun popped out after a cloud deck had moved off for the first Tram session.  Mineral Basin had had some exquisite lines of Grooming on tap that had been covered with some perfect wind deposited silk.  I had to lap that bit of goodness until it was discovered by the faithful as they began to arrive.  Some fast flurries moved in and out of the top of the mountain, but not before dropping a trace of Essence that decidedly made a difference in the feel.   The Sun came back out again, but moved in and out all day as some clouds moved through.  The front of the hill had some freshly tilled lines that were off the charts buffed with the wind that was working things out of the North.  It is nice to get both the machine worked lines with the added goodness of some wind buffed dust.  Nice touch.  Fast laps were easy to make with no waiting for the lifts.  Here is a shot of Trechzilla, who is our very own local Carvesaurus Rex, resting in his layer after leaving his lacerations on the fresh corduroy out in Mineral Basin.  Be sure to keep  you eyes sharp for your very own sighting of this MYTH.  Tomorrow, look for some partly cloudy skies, moderate temps,  excellent Grooming lines on all sides of the hill, and a bit more traffic than we have seen this week.  The High North continues to provide some very nice wind lines, so look there for those more adventurous runs.  With some wind overnight, be looking for some fresh new lines to appear.   Keep an eye out for the tell tale signs of the smooth buffed. Here is a shot of some nice snow sculpting by nature, framing a still life of last Summer’s greenery.   I will be taking tomorrow off to recoup for next week. This past week has been a big vertical party.  Stay Frosty!!

It was slightly warmer this morning and the wind had backed off a bit.  The Groomers were dry and chalky, especially on that early morning Mineral Basin presentation.   I had to do a number of laps out there just to make sure.  I did not dress warmer, but the added warmth of the Sun kept me right on the edge.  The front of the hill was offering firm dry chalk that was a special treat on one day old line on lower Primrose Path, that had a bit of static to deal with, but offered smooth wind polished chalk lines that kept drawing me back for more.  It makes you work for each turn, but that is what we came for is the rare lines that are a different form of perfect.  Here is a random shot I took today that just seemed to have a far away feel.  It is just one of those points of view you get when you just stop and look around.  Tomorrow, look for another nice morning of hard driving lines on dry chalk and sweet corduroy.  There has been some improvement in the wind lines out on some High North facing aspects that have some wind deposited dust covering them.  You kind of have to link lines together, but it makes it much more interesting.  Still, be watching those aspects that took a lot of Sun, as they will be crispy and demanding.  There are many great lines to get without pushing the Gnar too hard. Traffic should still be light, so plenty of vertical is easy to accumulate on back to back Trams.  See you for the high velocity fun fest in the AM.   Speed Safely!!