It was another sweet day of Spring Crusin’ with wide open lines of Groomed goodness and bright Sun. More steep lines were prepared once again, which were smooth and consistent. Staying ahead of the Sun work was key for the best quality, but it took patience to wait for the break. Here is shot I got yesterday of the surface features as the Sun works the direct aspects.

Tomorrow, look for more Spring excellence, with groomed lines that will be wide open and fun. Stay with the Sun softened lines for the best ride, with Mineral Basin offering the best of the early morning offerings. I attended Kazoodi’s Pizza Tasting party last night and it was really amazing. Nothing like fresh pie right out of the Pizza Oven.

See you there for the morning session as the wide open lines will be rippen’ smooth. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!

A stiff, cold North wind was blowing this morning, keeping the pack from breaking even where the Sun was working the rays. Wide open carpets of grooming had been prepared on all sides of the hill with White Diamonds, Silver Dipper, Upper Primrose Path and Lower Lower offering steep long lines that kept you close to the fall line. It was not going to be till after 11 AM that Mineral Basin was going to break and much longer on the front of the hill. The coverage remains excellent all over the hill despite the Spring feel, and the cold fronts that have been moving through have helped minimize the melt off. The off trail remains difficult, but there are a few high North aspects that have some dry chalk if you look around.

Tomorrow, expect another cold morning with crispy lines to start the day. A later start will pay dividends as this morning was really firm and I stopped in at The Forklift early to let softening occur. Look for those great steep lines to still be on tap when things soften up later which are such rare treat as they need a lot of snow to get the treatment. I’ll be taking the day off, so dial in some smooth corduroy for me. Remain Standing!!

A cold North wind was blowing briskly this morning, making the temps cold and keeping the pack from breaking early. Great grooming efforts had been performed on all sides of the hill, but they all were very firm, including the shots that were seeing the early rays of the Sun. Traffic was light, and the lines were wide open. Lewis and Clark was offering some really nice lines that had plenty of tooth to get an edge, and, with few takers, made for country club turns. Here is a shot from yesterday’s grooming efforts that are still etched in my memory banks.

The front of the hill was offering nicely prepared lines, with some wind driven dust to cover the pack, making some of the sections soft and dialable. The off trail was still very difficult after the previous day’s thaw. Here is a shot of the sheen on Lower Primrose Path with some folks who had make a wrong turn.

The pack did thaw a bit as the Sun rose high in the sky, and there was much better traction with the break. Tomorrow, look for more groomed lines and still cold temps as the dry cold front has moved through. Expect mighty crispy lines, but work the Sun aspects for the first signs of a break in the freeze. The Grooming does provide ample tooth, even on those steep sections, but keep in mind the variations as they can arise quickly. I’ll be putting on an extra layer for the morning session. IBBY!!

It was a clear cold morning, but, with the Sun high in the sky it was going to warm up quickly. As anticipated, the Groomers were really sweet on all sides of the hill as the new product was tilled into the mat, providing dry chalky traction that made for hero turns. An amazing industrial smoothing of Upper Silver Dipper was the highlight of the morning, with a seamless carpet of corduroy that kept you close to the fall line as it dropped relentlessly and kept the smooth perfection top to bottom. Upper Primrose Path also go the treatment and was good to go when the other aspects were falling off with the Sun and traffic. Off trail was offering some really smooth lines on the North facing aspects, but the bottom layer was still in play, however, the general smoothness of the pack there made those turns easy and consistent. Here is a long shot of Upper Silver Dipper after the first run.

The temps warmed up really quickly, and by 11AM it was getting toasty, but I am glad that I put on that extra layer for the early session. Tomorrow, look for more great prepared lines on all sides of the hill, though there may be some crispy sections with the morning cold. The pack should thaw out quickly again, but expect some variation and follow the Sun for the best quality. Coverage remains excellent top to bottom on all sides of the hill, so you can work the lines with confidence. Remain Standing!!

A fair installment of fresh Essence covered the dance floor overnight and continued for most of the day. The new product cushioned the ride a bit, but the underlying substrate was fully in play. Most of the hill opened up, but there is still some sections of the hill that will be waiting in the wings for tomorrow. Here is a shot of Whiskey stoked to be on the peak and ready to hit the power powder pocket!

Tomorrow, look for some of those sections that were closed today to be opening, but expect the bottom layer to still be in play. The Groomers will be offering much improved softness with the addition of the new product tilled into the mat. The Sun will be shining, and temps will be warming up, so stay ahead of the Sun angles and work the dial on the hill for the best quality. Traffic will be much higher with the new snow, so work the chairs for the best uphill access. Stay Frosty!!

The pack had frozen firmly overnight, with Mineral Basin offering smooth lines, but only a very light break on the Sun facing aspects. Lewis and Clark was quite firm as well, however, there was plenty of traction to be had making it fast and fun. On the front of the hill, the pack was really bullet proof, though tenderizing efforts had been made on the easier lines down the hill. Here is a shot of the developing corn goodness out on Ski Patrol Gully.

The pack on the front of the hill began to break around 11:30AM, but still it depended on aspect and pitch. Clouds moved in later in the afternoon ahead of a front that is now rocking The Trailer with wind and rain. That will translate as snow up on the hill. Tomorrow, look for some overnight accumulation as this fast moving front delivers some product to the hill. Expect very firm conditions with the off trail being especially difficult and frozen solid. The Groomers will offer the smoothest lines, but they also will be very firm though consistent. Visibility will be an issue as well, and the temps will be markedly lower, so dress for cold. IBBY!!!

It was very warm this Easter day, with temps on the peak at 40 Degrees and the base at 41 Degrees to start out the day. Mineral Basin was the place to be, with the South and East aspects already soft and wonderful, featuring White Diamonds and Silver Dipper offering steep, smooth, freshly prepared lines for the early risers. The Lewis and Clark area had frozen and was crispy indeed, however, the smooth grooming made it fast and fun. On the front side of the hill, the warm temps did not overcome the deep freeze in the pack and the North, West, and lower aspects were really firm and needed until Noon to break. Here is a shot of me and the morning crew at the bottom of Lower Primrose Path after dealing with the firmness.

Coverage remains excellent top to bottom. The off trail is extremely challenging and should be avoided. Tomorrow, look for Mineral Basin to, again, be offering the the best start to the day. The residual cold in the North facing aspects will freeze the pack despite warm temps, so give it time, or plan a later start. Look for the Sun lines to soften first, but expect some variation as the pitch changes. See you there for the morning laps. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!

The temps were very warm today, with a temp of almost 89 here at The Trailer. Still, the morning pack was fairly crispy, which did not begin to break till 10AM. Mineral Basin was first to break, but it took a while, as it will, on the front of the hill. Great prepared lines were on tap on all sides of the hill, but following the Sun was key in getting the best quality from the word GO.

Tomorrow, look for warm temps to continue. With the cloud cover that has moved in and out all day, I expect the pack to not freeze up quite as firmly as last night, but still follow the Sun for the best quality. I will be looking for those steep prepared lines for the morning session, as they are so rare and really keep you paying attention top to bottom. Again, a later start will get you there just as the pack is breaking. See you there for the smooth tasty lines in the AM. IBBY!!!

It was a balmy morning, but the pack had frozen up and was quite crisp, especially on the West and North facing aspects. Mineral Basin was offering a fresh till on Upper Silver Dipper, which had plenty of traction, and, with the smooth surface, made that a amazing piece of big mountain smooth top to bottom. The Lewis and Clark lines were very nice as well with wide open vacant lines making it a get away place while the Faithful worked the main bowl. It was not till much later in the day that the North facing aspects began to break and Regulator and Big Emma were very slow to soften. Here is a shot of the Spring feel on The Plaza around Noon.

Tomorrow, look for still crisp lines in for the morning session, but Mineral Basin will be offering the earliest softening if you get there early. Choosing a later start time for you day will keep you from dealing with the firm conditions, but follow the Sun for the earliest softening. The groomers are offering very good traction despite the firmness and I had a lot of fun shaving the nap off the corduroy and getting first tracks on those vacant lines. You can dress down for these days and I was able to drive with the top down after Noon with no problem. Enjoy these Spring temps and dial in some of that softening snow that feels like corn goodness. See the Line, BE the Line!!!

There was smooth cruisin’ on tap for today’s festivities, with a fresh top to bottom treatment of Silver Dipper that let you dial in the wide open turns and work the aspects down the entire pitch. Lewis and Clark was offering the vacant lines with few takers that felt like a private resort. The Big Smooth, Upper Middle and Lower Primrose path, was offering amazing turns, with the upper section featuring dry chalk that felt delightful underfoot. Here is a long shot of Mark Malu which also was offering vacant smooth lines top to bottom.

Twins opened for touring this morning, which was tempting, but there was so much great big mountain smooth inbounds, it was well worth working the hill for the big vertical. I do, however, miss that big tour off the backside. With the Sun warming things up fast, the pack thawed the aspects that saw the full rays. Tomorrow, look for even more warming as the Sun works the pack on the back side, though I think the early runs will still be crispy, but will have good traction. Follow the Sun for the best quality as the pack breaks. The Front side will be taking longer to break and Regulator will be very firm till after Noon. Cover is excellent all over the hill and lines are moderate and fast moving. Stay Frosty!!