It was cold again for the opening bell, but the Sun was shining brightly with a light breeze keeping the temps from climbing.   The High North was offering the best lines of the day with the Groomers right in there with the consistent feel.  Though it was still very firm, the surfaces got much smoother and consistent, with a light dust covering most of the corduroy on the front of the hill.  The snow guns had placed some Gun Powder on some of those prepared lines, that were velvety and sweet.  Regulator, had been covered with some fresh Gun Powder for the morning session, but it lasted all day long, keeping that line a go to option.   I took a lap, that included a trip through the Tunnel, to access the Mineral Basin after breakfast, and here is a shot  from deep in the middle of the magic carpet.  It is always a treat to take this way over to the other side, and they have a lot of things to look at all the way through.  Tomorrow, look for another crisp morning with continued firm conditions.  Look for the tenderized lines for the best traction on those sections that needed a bit of help.  These lines will soften later in the day, but with the wind and cooler temps. it takes a much longer time to break.  The High North is holding strong and is not showing any signs of fatigue.  Smoothness is still what you want to shoot for as those other off trail sections are sketchy and difficult.  .  When I was packing it up for the day, someone had left these very vintage Mid 80’s Japanese skis in the locker room.  Here is a shot of those old straight skis next to my Dynastars.  Technology has come a long way. It is hard to imaging trying to work that straight side cut through a turn.  Thank the GRID that we do not have to go back to that.  Unless the FIS changes the rules in racing more than they have already.  Syrup won’t stop ‘EM!!

The temps. were cold again today, with the hill really firming up for today’s festivities. The Sun was shining, but that North breeze kept the air moving and the rise in temps. very slow to rise.  Mineral Basin called with the morning Sun, and the Groomers out there had been given a fresh till, so those early lines were really nice and smooth.  On the front of the hill, snow making efforts were being employed on a few shots that sent Gun Powder far down the hill, making those lines so sweet that I had to dial in some tight turns to get more of the added softness.  When it is this firm, any hint of soft edge able carpet is a treasure.  Regulator was also getting the snow making efforts, with long smooth silky lines that make that drop a real surprise for the morning session.  It really held up all day, but got a touch choppy in the afternoon.  Tomorrow, look for another brisk start to the day, so plan for that.  Mineral Basin can be counted on for a bright sunny dance floor with nicely prepared machine worked lines.  The front of the hill will remain very firm, however, there is enough tooth to get a bit of traction.  I was not able to really trust the consistency enough to really stick the turns, but look for some more Gun Powder for some deep digging goodness under the guns.   On one of the Mineral Basin laps I was thinking of Plato’s Cave Analogy when I spotted this image of us riding up the hill.  The shadow was all that was touching the surface, but it was us and our more solid form that was projecting  this shadow.  It is all just shadows on the wall after all.  Stay Frosty!!

The temps. were quite cold this morning, with intermittent clouds, and a brisk wind to start out the day.  The question concerning which side of the hill to charge first was answered when Mineral Basin was seen to be offering the only Sun on the hill.  White Diamonds and Lower Silver Dipper had been given the fresh treatment, so the morning crew hit those prepared lines to start out the party.  That wind was really packing a chill, so a move to the front of the hill offered  some more nicely prepared lines that transcended yesterday’s feel on those big steep drops.  There is nothing like that dry chalky consistency to spice up a steep line.  The Snow Guns were working on Regulator, where beautiful Gun powder was covering the dance floor with a sweet feel that made each side of the hill a real decision issue.  Hmmmm,  which to choose. Heck, you can get both if you just keep the Tram pace.   Here is a shot down Range with some of the light flurries beginning to move in. There was no accumulation to report, but it was nice to see some of the real thing making a return, even if it was just some stray flakes.  Tomorrow, look for more great Groomers to be ready for the morning session.  Be sure to check the Grooming Report to find any new treatment areas.  That dry chalk is still happening when it gets stirred up by the tiller.  On those aspects that were known to be crispy, fresh tenderizing efforts made those lines much more approachable.  The High North continues to hold the smooth lines, with some build up of dust to sweeten the ride.  Avoid those off trail aspects that have been worked by the Sun, and with the present colder temps., they will be a challenge indeed.  Conditions are still very good though firm, and there is a lot to get your stoke up.  See you for the next session.  IBBY!!

It was customer appreciation day again this morning, with the hospitality representatives handing out sweet cookies and hot beverages.  That was a very nice start to the day.  Here is a shot of the cookie buffet where they were dishing out the goods.  Up on the hill, clouds were moving in and out rapidly as a stiff North wind was blowing.  It was quite cold, but Mineral Basin was clear and sunny, which called for some fast laps on the Groomers.  The high North is stillholding the smooth cold lines after all this warm weather.  On the front of the hill, fresh machine treatment had been done on those big lower mountain drops that kept me lapping that line to take advantage of the big mountain smooth.   It took Regulator until after Noon to break, however, tenderizing efforts had been employed to give that pitch tooth.  Nice touch.  While there was high traffic, the lines were short or non existent, making the big vertical easy to get.  Here is a shot of the clouds moving across the Canyon in a very interesting manner, with the Valley bathed in morning Sun.  Tomorrow, look for partly cloudy skies with a brisk North wind blowing, and be sure to dress for the cold.  I dressed up today, and I am very glad that I did.  The High North will continue to hold the cold, and those dry chalky lines can be counted on the be right were you left them.  Look for the Groomers to be nicely prepared for a full on hard driving pace.  There is plenty of room to move on those first morning runs, so get them early for the best of the day.  The off trail aspects that face West and South should be given consideration as they will be very crispy and difficult to negotiate early on.  They may soften later, but keep that in mind for your planning.  See you for the fast laps.  Peace Out!!

The Sun came out from behind the clouds just as the day got started, but there continued to be a high cloud deck off and on all day long.  The day warmed up as it has in the past couple of days, with the timing of the break right on time if you followed the Sun.  Mineral Basin was offering those smooth lines, as was the front of the hill with some of the lower sections getting the nod  with a fresh till.  It is good to check the Grooming report for those fresh treatments that you can really sink your edges into.  Yesterday, I had to keep lapping the front of the hill to get that one piece of freshness, as it had not been tilled this season. Regulator finally broke, offering some very nice corn, especially on the right side of the Grooming work.  That gets the best Sun angle.  I had today off and was working on the Cosmic Array here at the Trailer, when the horses in the coral came by for a chat.  I never really know what they are saying, but you can see it in their eyes.   Good folks.   Here is a shot taken from the Trailer of a high point up the Canyon,  showing how excited this tree is about the early spring.  I think this tree is a bit too excited about the nice weather.  Get ready.  Tomorrow, look for some overcast to start things off as a brush by brings some clouds, however, those clouds should move off quickly with Sun coming out after Noon.  The smooth lines will be the place to be, but if the clouds flatten the light, the front of the hill might be favored with the tree reflected light.  It is dark on the front Sun or clouds, but those reference points help out a lot.  I will be up on the hill for a first hand look, and I will be looking for the smooth.  Be sure to avoid those aspects that saw all that Sun today and wait for the softening to occur.   IBBY!!!

The temps were warm enough this morning for me to slide with the top down, though there was still a nip in the air.  The Sun was going to raise the temps slowly as the day progressed.  Fresh tills of the big drops in Mineral Basin had been prepared with the first hour a treat with light traffic.  It was going to take a bit for those crusty aspects to fully thaw out, and when they did, the pay off was worth the wait. On the front of the hill, Regulator  needed a few hours to soften, but it too finally became a soft corn sensation.  This spring feel will be continuing for the weekend, and you can count on more of the great preparations to be on tap for those morning laps.  The High North was still holding the cold with Mark Malu offering a huge line that begged for deep carving turns.  Here is a shot of that section that illustrates how big and smooth that line can be.  You can tell by the dust the folks are leaving in the air how good it is.  Tomorrow, look for more of the same as the temps., though they were warm, did not saturate the pack like it would when the Sun is higher later in the season.  You can expect the High North to still be holding the cold, with those lines well worth the time to get out to them and get the smooth.  Those aspects that did see those direct rays will be crispy in the AM, so give them time to soften.  Usually, by 10:30 or 11:00 AM, the break is beginning to happen, but there is plenty to charge while you wait for the break.  I had to get this shot of a most unusual suit  Donut Man was wearing as he headed to the Tram.  This is a very bold fashion statement for sure, and he wears it well.    I needed a bit more coffee after taking this shot. I will be taking the day off tomorrow, so make those turns for me, and do not forget to savor those aspects that get all corned up after Noon.  They felt line Spring, but we know it is not here yet.  Stay Frosty!!

It was another fairly cool morning, though there is a slow warming trend happening day by day.  This will continue though the weekend, after which, we will be moving back to a Winter Pattern.  The Groomers out in Mineral Basin had been re worked to provide some very nice laps for the morning fun fest.  As White Diamonds warmed up, it began to have that back country corn feel as the soft carving turns peeled off the kernels.  I had to go back many times to hit that shot that we used to dream about doing before there was a chair.  There is still soft snow out on the High North sections that are still feeling consistent and fresh.  Here is a shot from just the other day when we got the Ski Patrol Gulley opening on that very first lap on a Lewis and Clark sojourn.  This traverse offered some of the sweetest high density fluff of recent memory. On the front of the hill, fast and firm lines were happening top to bottom, with Lower Primrose Path still smooth but did not get a fresh till.  That made you really dig deep in the morning flat light, which was a feature before the Sun came up to illuminate the dance floor.  Tomorrow, expect an even warmer start, however, I still think it will still be a bit brisk to start things off.  It was not until after Noon that I was able to drive with the top down.  The High North aspects are still fun, though those remote wind lines, that had been offering some real sugar yesterday. were just not happening today.  It was worth the adventure, but I was glad to get back to the smooth.  The Sun did get those directly exposed aspects, so expect some crispiness there.  Let Regulator soften for a bit and let the Sun work the surface for best results.  See you for a morning session of fast fun.  Syrup won’t stop ‘EM!!

There was bright Sun, blue bird skies, and a much cooler temps. this morning with the wind chill around 9 Degrees to start out the day.  White Diamonds and Lower Silver Dipper had been given a righteous treatment of that big drop, making it feel like a Super G run top to bottom.  That was worth as many laps as you could get in before it was discovered.   Lewis and Clark offered some of the most velvety corduroy of the morning, with total consistency holding up as much turn as you dared to lay down.  You have to love perfect when you get it.  On the front of the hill, Lower Primrose Path was also given the total treatment with a smooth dry chalky feel with no static to deal with.  What a treat that was.   I was drawn onto the Road to Provo while I chased this shot of the Moon over Pipeline.  It took several tries, but I got it right where I wanted it.  The colder temps. helped preserve the quality all day long with not much in the way of deterioration happening, though those direct aspects were taking the heat.  Tomorrow, look for another great sunny day, with the Groomers offering the perfect corduroy out in Mineral Basin.  Soft snow is still to be found on most aspects, with some very nice quality holding up on the High North.  I was mining those smooth lines all day long and they were still holding the goods when I left.  I don’t think we will see much in the way of wind, but there are lots of lines that remain smooth and rippable all without machine assistance if you are looking for the off piste.  See you there for the morning fun.  Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

There was a clear window of sunshine greeting the faithful this morning before the clouds began to move in.   A few inches of medium density Essence covered the dance floor making it treat all over the hill.  The High North was really nice, offering smooth soft lines that begged for a return visit.  A Lewis and Clark sojourn was rewarded with some excellent lines out in the far reaches.  Here is a shot of Mr. Scott making some turns out in the perfect goodness. It was not all that deep, but it was all that good.  I had to make another lap out there just be sure it wasn’t a dream.  On the front of the hill great lines were to be found where the comp. had been held, with a dedicated crew working that little bit of the goods.  There was plenty for all, and everyone was having a great time.  The clouds moved in rapidly, obscuring the Sun, making for some challenging visibility.  Here is a shot of Timp. with the clouds washing up and over as the cloud deck moved in.  It was not very long after I took this shot before that it would not be seen again.  The temps were fairly cool, so the product was not taking much of a beating from the Sun, and will continue to be soft as we move forward.  Tomorrow, look for the Groomers to be off the charts rockin’ for the morning session, with the High North still holding the goods with smooth lines un marred by interference patterns.  There are still some lines that developed some real amplitude during the last stretch, and are still resident and obvious with just a visual check.  Go with what you know and what you see.  Still be wary of the West facing aspects as there is still quite a bit of crunch underneath the freshness.  It will be a great morning and I will be looking forward to that Hydrovelvet!! IBBY!!

The Valley was sunny and clear on the drive up, with a dark cloud hanging over the hill to start out the day.  High winds delayed the Tram opening as well as Mineral Basin for a bit, so alternative lines were chosen to keep the momentum going.  The Groomers were very nice, but the ones that saw all that Sun yesterday were very crispy and difficult, however, it was easy to find alternatives.  Mineral Basin opened in short order and I took advantage of the good visibility there to hit the buffed lines.  The snow on those main Groomers was still cold and chalky, making the laps there fun and empty.  I hit the Forklift Chair early where I was greeted by this beautiful girl from Ixtapa Mexico, who got the table ready for the crew who would be pulling in to compare notes on the recon routes.  Thanks for putting that together on such short notice Ruby!!After breakfast, the Tram opened up as the grauple began to fall with vigor.  The high density product was silky smooth and floaty, which covered the crunchy layer very quickly.  That enabled a much broader scope of line choice as the depth built up.  The High North was really the best on the the hill, though the visibility made it tough to see.   Here is a great shot of the perfect wind buff on the Upper Cirque taken by Neil the other day to give you and idea of the awesome quality that has been available despite the low snow fall.   It may get deeper, but it does NOT get better that this. There is always something great to find on the hill on any given day.  Tomorrow, look for some overnight precipitation to add to the goods on the hill, with additional weather during the day.  Despite the warmth in the valley, it is wise to dress for weather as it was surprisingly cold sitting on the chairs in the high wind.  There was a light rain falling on the bottom 500′ of the hill at 3:00PM and the pack down there was getting a bit pasty.  Watch out for the crunch down low in the AM.  The Groomers should still be holding the cold when it gets tilled up, but that off trail pack could be interesting.   See you for the fun!   Peace Out!!