As anticipated, the wide spread Groomers were off the charts smooth and creamy this morning, with Winter Quality that made the turns dial-a-matic sweet.  The cool morning temps. kept the quality going, delaying the effects of the Sun for quite a while.  The left over areas of the hill opened, and while there were a lot of folks going for the goods, the light traffic let the goods last longer.  The untracked lines had been affected by the wind in places, but overall it was fun getting those fresh lines.  Here is a shot of Timp. looking large and massive in the far distance.  The Road To Provo opened later in the day, offering a variety of aspects that kept you on your toes.  On the front of the hill, buffed lines were the place to be for the ground pounding goodness top to bottom.  Lower Primrose Path was Hydro Velvet buffed that let you explore your Inner Ligety.  There were some off trail gems as well.  Here is a shot of Mikey M throwing up the dust. This is testament to the cold quality that was holding up this long after the storm.   Mikey and Brian Beck were working the outer perimeter to get the goods.  Here is a shot of Brian pulling a Wheelie on one of those out of the way lines.   It took until 2:00PM for the ambient temps to begin working the pack, but the High North was still holding the cold.  Tomorrow, look for more amazing buffed lines on all sides of the hill.  Look for those surprise lines that will offer the steep carpets that make it well worth getting there early.  Stay ahead of the Sun and hit those lines that will go South quickly.  The High North aspect should still be holding the cold, so check them out early as the temps. will be rising.  Here is a great shot of Bud and Mary Ellen, who have been coming for years and read the report daily.  They really enjoyed the day and were getting ready for another boat.  See you tomorrow for the shredtastic lines and no crowds.  Speed Safely!!

The Promise Of The Wastach servered up a deep dish of Essence for the faithful, who showed up in full effect.  After a long stretch between significant storms, this installment came as a long awaited frosting on the cake.  After a bit of a delayed opening, and the usual staggered area opening, the Faithful were treated to 2 feet of medium density product on top of some the high density accumulation yesterday.  This combination made the old layer a faint echo all over the hill.  Some high winds overnight worked a few aspects, building some wind waves that were a bit stiff, however, the quality was excellent.  When Mineral Basin opened later, the wind had scoured some of the higher elevation aspects, but lower down the product was feeling very nice indeed.   Here is a shot I took of the accumulation on the Plaza to give you and idea of the depth at the base.  There was much more up higher.  Tomorrow, should be cool and sunny as the storm has moved off.  Look for the Groomers to be off the charts buffed with all this product to work with.  Mineral Basin will be the place to start, as the Sun will make short work of the quality in those direct Sun absorbing aspects.  Get them quick as it will go fast.  There may be some areas still waiting in the wings that did not open today.  I left at Noon, so I don’t know if they opened it all. Here is a shot of Thunder Bowl that had the only Sun that I saw all morning.  It was looking fat and fun. I will be excited to see if there are still a few deep lines left.  See you there for the morning explorations.  Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!

The rain was pounding the skin of The Trailer this morning and continued until Noon, which signaled the arrival of a nice Spring Storm to add to the pack and give us a new coating.  Word had it that the density was high and was sticking  to the old surface and providing a better ride off trail.  Impulses move in and out all day and really began to fill in around 3 PM. With all that moisture in the product, the accumulation was much lower that it would have been with a colder storm. Still, it will be a good start as this next part of the storm drops the goods overnight.  Here is a great shot of Dan The Man checking out the opening of The Twins.  That is Germicide to the right of Pipeline, and Dan was one of the very first people to take it on in the early 80’s when it was open for just an hour.  As is his way, he charged that line with wild abandon, putting in a non stop line that still has not been duplicated.  He still rips in a very serious manner and it is great to have him join us for the Morning Crew fun.   Tomorrow, look for more accumulation overnight.  The hill is in great shape, and with today’s primer coat I am anticipating a very nice day.  Traffic will probably be stout with the new installment, so plan accordingly.  See you there for the freshness.  IBBY!!

The wind was really rockin’ The Trailer in the early morning hours, making me think twice about going up the hill.  The Big Wind out of the West kept the Tram parked for the day, and Little Cloud Chair was off line as well in the nuking winds.  Snow was being transported, but it did not seem to be piling up except in some of the low guts.  The Peruvian Trifecta had been buffed top to bottom, with the upper section offering Winter quality wind driven dust that felt perfect, making that line “dial a turn” fun and fast.  Anderson’s Hill was bullet proof and needed a very cautious approach in the very flat light.  The lower third of the hill was sorbet sweet and, with Lower Silver Fox getting the fresh retill, made an otherwise ho hum day a real treat.  Every turn was so consistent and precise that it made dialing in some extra high edge angle pay off with dividends.  You just had to be careful not to launch yourself out of the turn with all that Snap Crackle and Pop!!  Weather began to move in around Noon, so I took leave of the hill to begin my day off early.   We said goodbye to Tom and Betty, who are returning to their home planet. Tom materialized on an empty Tram in ’76 and asked me which way to go.  I told him the deal, and he returned the next year after telling Betty that there are people who just ski every day, and that this planet was the place to be.  They have returned every year since to spend 3 months living The Dream and have achieved full Adept status.  This is another lesson in creative manifestation, where you can make your dreams come true, you just have to show up.  Fair winds you two!!  Tomorrow, look for a significant storm to move in, delivering a significant installment of Spring Powder.  The hill is in great shape to accept this delivery, as most of the the off trail has smoothed out significantly.  The cushion of the new snow will be happening, but will get better with each additional inch.  Don’t Forget To Sizzle!!

The Grooming Crew pushed all the big lines out double wide, making the morning session a corduroy extravaganza.  It was a bit cool, but the air was warming fast with the Sun out in full strength.  Mineral Basin was smoking fast, with light traffic keeping the lanes open and good to go.  On the front of the hill, amazing lines had been prepared with Lower Silver Fox getting a very rare smoothing.  Here is a shot of Lower Fox looking rare and ready.  Over  on Gad 2, the Gad Trifecta had been worked and was looking smooth and silky on the way up the chair.  The Morning Crew took full advantage of the vacant slopes and smooth cruising. The day warmed slowly and the pack took it’s time, but following the Sun was key in being in the right place at the right time.  1:30PM saw the sorbet window open on many of the big smooth Groomers and the off trail began to break, making some of those far afield lines worth a trip to check them out.  High clouds began to move in later in the day, making the light go flat and the sticky spots cropped up on the lower part of the hill.  I bailed when my knees started yappin’.   Today also saw the opening of the Twins for the first time in a while, and a super rare opening of Germicide, which got a lot of traffic today. In fact there was more traffic than I have ever seen.  Here is a shot of some folks working the super steep section off the top.  Here is a  shot of Brian Beck standing at the top of the real deal.  Tomorrow, look for more extensive Grooming to be the morning go to lines.  There is a storm moving in and I think the light could be a bit flat in the AM.  Temps. are predicted to remain warm in advance of the next system, and winds out of the South should be stout. We will have to see how the freeze goes and how deep and long it holds.  The next system is looking juicy, so keep your fingers crossed.  As Joe Man The Snow Man says, ” Don’t Skimp On The Groove Sauce”!!

It was rippin’ smooth on all sides of the hill this morning, as amazing industrial smoothing had been performed.  The Sun was out, but the air was still quite cold with a bit of a wind blowing out of the North.  The Twins opened, and the turns in Pipeline looked pretty consistent in the morning Sun.  Mineral Basin was offering the brightly Sun lit lines of White Diamonds, Lower Silver Dipper, and Lone Star, that were corduroy perfect.  My skis were whirring and Zizzing as I transited each turn across the nap.  Every turn was a treat.  Lewis and Clark was also offering the goods with a new line punched down the middle.  The High North was well worth the effort to check out, and the snow is still soft and easy.  The Forklift Breakfast Recon Meeting was well attended, however, we were able to all throw decorum to the wind and take calls at the Table. Missed you Tramrat!!Temps. were quite slow to warm, and the pack took a very long time to break, but only really broke on the lower aspects of the hill and the direct West faces.  The front of the hill was offering top to bottom Groomers that were ground pounding fun and fast and only got better as the day progressed.  Tomorrow, look for sunny skies, but there could be some clouds moving in and out all day.   The Groomers will be offering great lines on all sides of the hill, but Mineral Basin will be the place to get started.  Traffic is very light and max vertical can be racked up quickly.  Look for those High North aspects to still be holding the cold, and the fairly smooth off trail is easy to negotiate.   See you there for the morning thunder.  Speed Safely!!

It was fully Winter Cold this morning, with 4 degrees on the peak and a very stiff wind blowing out of the North making the wind chill well below Zero.  A light dusting covered the dance floor and a few furious flurries were delivering a bit more as we dipped into Mineral Basin, where White Diamonds – Lower Silver Dipper was buffed smooth.  The wind and flurries covered the buffage with a soft flannel feel that made a few laps there fun and fast.  On the front of the hill the wind seemed to be moving the new product around, so the consistency was a bit more erratic.  Lower Primrose Path had a fresh till, but with the very cold temps. and the wind work, a very deliberate approach was wise, especially with the very flat light that made surface details non existent.   Off trail, the High North aspects were feeling pretty good, with the interference patterns mellowing, and the new snow filling in the low spots.  All those other exposures needed to be avoided all day, as the temps. never rose but a few degrees.  Here is a fun with photography shot I took today.  See if you can guess what is going on with this image.  No Photoshop.Tomorrow, look for another very cold morning, but the forecast is for improving temps., so we may get some softening of the pack later in the day, however, after today’s very cold temps., that it going to be a very slow process.  Mineral Basin will be the place to be for the first couple of hours, as the big wide Groomers are good to go and have been standing up all day long.  The front of the hill will be offering tenderized lines as it was today, and getting sufficient traction was easy effective.  The light should be much better, so you will be able to see the details in sharp relief.  That will be a very nice feature.  See The Line, BE The Line!!

It was quite cold this morning, but the Sun was shining brightly.  The ambient air temps. did not really rise all that much, as the stout breeze held off the warming.  Super extensive Grooming had been performed on all sides of the mountain.  Mineral Basin lines had been pushed out double wide, and extra lines had been added to increase the usable area, as most of the off trail was difficult.  Only the High North aspects were consistent enough to push a line.  With the cold temps.,  all the directly exposed aspects were very slow to soften, though the fresh till work made the lines fun from the start.  Here is a shot of the West Twin with all of the highlights standing out in high contrast in the afternoon Sunlight.  On the front of the hill, top to bottom carpets were waiting, but the lower elevations would have to wait until after 2 PM to begin to break, and still they did not give up much, though it was great to get the extra traction on those steep long lines.  The High North on the front of the hill has been smoothing out with the recent accumulation and low traffic, and those off trail lines seemed to be the best call for the off the beaten path experience.   I have been staying dialed into the steep and smooth lines that keep my knees happy. I had to stop and get a shot of this fantastic Panda hat that this lovely lady was sporting.  It was just so whimsical and a perfect hat for such a cold morning.  Tomorrow, look for some early overcast with some light precipitation.  The visibility could be a touch compromised, however, there is clearing predicted for later in the day.  The Groomers will still be offering great early lines on all sides of the hill.  Those High North aspects will certainly be worth a look for the off trail seekers, but avoid those due South and East facing aspects that never softened at all today.  Stay Frosty!!

The visibility was challenging this morning, with very dense clouds covering most of the elevation.  Just for grins and giggles, The Morning Crew made the trek into the Abyss to explore Lewis and Clark just to see if we could see.  The answer to that was….. NO.  We lost the Groomed line at the boundary line and found ourselves bouncing over the frozen corral that was resident there.   Fortunately, we were able to re acquire the prepared line and found the smooth velvet a welcome relief.  On the front side of the hill, the visibility continued to be an issue, but the trees and vague reference points helped keep the focus going.  Here is a shot of Buzz and Bunny Skigrin amidst the tall pines were we stopped to regain center after I got vertigo.  I had to go sit down when I got to the bottom to get my balance stable again.  Later, the visibility improved markedly, making finding the sweet spot easier, and the prepared lines got softer and more consistent.  This storm did not really bring much in the way of accumulation, so the off trail remained difficult. Here is a shot of one of the fresh cut flowers at The Forklift.  I love the cosmic burst of color and geometry in these blossoms.  Julia does a great job arranging them in a simple yet stunning fashion.   Tomorrow, look for clearing skies, with great visibility. Look for the Groomers to be offering the best lines on the hill, and be wary of the off trail as it is still a tad problematic.  It may be more negotiable with better visibility, but tread lightly. With the Sun out, warming will help the pack get increasingly soft, and I am hoping for a solid sorbet window as we chase the Sun around the dial.  There is plenty of cover wall to wall, and the off trail will get softer with the warming.  See you there for the Spring conditions and light traffic.  IBBY!!

The Sun was shining brightly this April fools morning.  After the last few days of weather, the hill was finally seen with the fresh coat.  The Groomers were offering the deluxe ride on all sides of the hill.  The underlying rumble off trail was still a bit rasty, but the high density of the last installment did cushion the ride, but the folks I saw pushing the line yesterday were getting pretty worked by the Gnar underlying the freshness.  April fools day was always a fun day and the stoke continues even today.  Here is a shot from the early 80’s of good friends of mine in full regalia celebrating the day. April is often times a very stormy month and powder can be expected  this time of the season as we all know.  Here is a shot of my friend Chris T from a full on April day in the early 80’s.This is NOT an April Fools joke shot at all, I just included it as a testament to the amazing place LCC is and that this will be delivered. Chris is one of the chargers that were killing the Bird when I arrived. Tomorrow, look for the some weather to be moving in, so the visibility may be problematic.  Look for the Groomers to be offering the consistent smooth lines that will aid any visibility issues. I will be looking for Mineral Basin to start out the day, and get the most out of the big vertical that is offered out there for the early lines. Last night I attended another of the epic Kazoodi’s designer pizza tasting events that pushed the envelope of good and ripped all the edges.  This is one of Mikey M’s variations on a classic Barone’s Pizza of LA pan pizza.  The secret mods to this classic cannot be revealed, but needless to say this pan pie was amazing.  I just love the char and delicacy of this treat.  Kazoodi worked up some amazing Neopolitan pies that just killed me.  Don’t ask me which were the best as there is no real best in PERFECT, there are just different kinds of PERFECT.  Stay Frosty!!