Archive for February, 2022

CUTTING WIND

2-08-22

It was noticeably warmer this morning but the wind was cutting like a knife and that made it feel really cold. The wind was stout enough to be transporting what loose snow there was and depositing it on the lee sides of knolls and filling the hollows. That made for some really sweet turning after a couple hours of accumulation. Silver Dipper was offering naturally smoothed lines that let me dial in some deep feeling turns that just felt great. On the front of the hill, the Groomers were offering the dry chalk and some accumulated granular sections that kept the ground pounding party going.

Standing against the wind on the top of a Lewis and Clark extravaganza with great folks who have known my family back East for years. Great meeting up.

Traffic was light, and walk on Trams were going off, letting you pump up the vertical without much in the way of rest. Tomorrow, look for more ground pounding fun to be on tap, with still cold temps, but I am hoping for a bit more of a warm up. I will be looking for some of the filled in lines from overnight wind accumulation and wide open big mountain smooth. That wind and wear does wonders and is very rare. Got to take advantage of perfect where you find it.

Remembering my good friend John, AKA Leopard Man, who left us last year. I know he is always close by and keeping an eye on us all.

See you dark and early tomorrow for more simply sizzling fun. Keep it tight!!!

WARMING UP

2-07-22

The temps have been warming up and this morning it felt just right. While many of the off trail sections are developing high amplitude interference patterns, the wind and wear has been smoothing out some amazing pitches all over the hill. It just takes a bit of looking, but most of the prime lines are easy access and good for hot laps. The Grooming has really kept things in fine shape and having trustworthy surfaces really pays off when the light is flat in the morning shade.

The Sun is getting a lot higher in the sky and that makes for some interesting lighting on the high country!

The pack began to soften up quite a bit in the afternoon, but the dry chalk was holding up all day on the North facing aspects. Tomorrow, look for another day of ground pounding fun. I will be looking for more naturally occurring smooth on the hill.

It was great to see these fashion forward suits on the hill today. Perfect for a Sunny Day!!

Don’t Forget To SIZZLE!!!

FRESH CORDUROY

2-06-22

The wind was still blowing and there was a nip in the air, but the Groomers were offering fresh corduroy that let you dial in your Inner Ligety. Those due South aspects were fairly crispy after yesterday’s Sun warmed up those aspects. The Grooming crew did a great job on all sides of the hill with those big drops offering smooth cruising top to bottom. As the Sun rose higher in the sky, the temps did warm up and those South faces started to soften up.

This is Annabelle and she told me that she is a Ski Bunny. She was so excited to be getting on The Tram.

After breakfast the hill began to fill up with folks and after a couple of lines on the front of the hill, I bailed. Tomorrow, look for more smooth lines from which to shave the nap off the corduroy. I still think there will be quite a nip in the air so dress for cold. I expect fairly light traffic. IBBY!!!

NICE WARMING

2-05-22

Slowly the temps are warming up as the High Pressure persists. The Sun was shining and the wide open lines were offering ground pounding fun all day on all sides of the hill. The consistency on the hill is remaining excellent on all aspects, and you can do some exploration and find some of those out of the way wind slab sections that are well worth the effort to get just to break things up a bit.

The Chef down in Brazil finding the fishing and the temps delightful indeed. He sends his best to us all and wishes he was here with us.

Tomorrow, look for more high pressure, but there may be some high thin clouds as a storm passes to the North. Look for great lines of corduroy for the morning session and a fast start to get your motor running. I’ll be working the hill to get the most out of the vertical options as my stamina continues to build up. It takes longer as I get older. Doh!!! See you there for that big mountain smooth. Stay Frosty!!

SLOW WARMING

2-04-22

The temps were a bit warmer this morning, however, there was still quite a nip in the air. The Sun was shining and the Groomers were offering great lines on all sides of the hill that featured untracked corduroy which was sweet and granular. Shaving the nap of the mat was effortless, and made every turn feel special. Lewis and Clark was offering those wide open lines that let you dial in your Inner Ligety.

Solveig was enjoying the Sun on the peak this afternoon as the day warmed up. She was sporting an amazing suit.

The Sun is getting higher in the sky and is beginning to affect the pack a bit now. That later softening was a real treat after Noon, when the lines became much more silky and sweet. Traffic was light, but a one Tram wait was happening, however, it gave me a rest from the high vertical pace of recent days.

Regulator looking bright and sunny with a large assortment of textures to explore.

Neil sent this great shot of the Peak taken from the top of Gad 2. This perspective really gives you an scale of the vertical on this one pitch. Tomorrow, look for more smooth cruisin’ fun on all sides of the hill. The corduroy will be epic with fresh nap to shave off. Coverage remains excellent despite the long dry spell. The High North is still offering that dry calk that lets you get full traction. I’ll be taking the day off tomorrow, so dial it up and soak up the goodness. Syrup Won’t Stop ‘EM!!!

COLD FLOW

2-03-22

Cold air flowed out of the North which was moving any loose product around and getting deposited in interesting places. White Diamonds was fresh and fast with the carpets gathering some of that light dust. A light skiff covered the sheltered areas and was offering a bit of a soft feel on those smooth areas.

Rick The Jazz Man got Great Scott untracked first thing this morning and took advantage of the smooth carpet.

Clouds were still pouring over the hill from the North and the Sun and visibility went in and out as the clouds moved through. The front of the hill was really feeling good with some of the big drops prepared for the occasion. Traffic was very light and walk on Trams was happening all morning long. I took refuge from the cold at The Forklift to warm up my fingers which were very cold. Tomorrow, look for more cold wind as the flow continues, however, they are predicting warmer temps in the next few days. We’ll see. IBBY!!!

DUST ON CRUST

2-02-22

Uber light Lake effect snow fell on the hill, leaving it coated with a skiff of dust on crust. The air was very cold and the residual clouds were making the visibility quite variable. Still, that little bit of freshness went along way toward making the ride just that much smoother and delightful. Traffic was very light and walk on Trams were going off again today.

Getting to the goods takes care and commitment. But the pay off is legendary!

Tomorrow, look for more very cold temps with more Sun as the impulse moves East. I expect some wind to be part of the equation, so dress for the chill factor. I was using my Darth Vadar mask and it helped keep my nose from freezing. Smooth lines still are happening all over the hill, so look for those lines as you scan the playing field. See you there for the cold start!! Dial it up, Dial it IN!!

LIGHT FLURRIES

2-01-22

A clear cold morning greeted the sliding enthusiasts for the start of another great day of smooth cruisin’. The wind was stout and the temps were low, so staying moving and warm was key. The Groomers were amazing, with plenty of dry dust to get an edge and keep it dialed in. Traffic was quite light and hot laps were the order of the day. I just love days like this.

Some cool sights as I came down on my first run of the day. The ships were live and spinning. Very cool sight.

Clouds moved up the canyon around 1PM. so the visibility became variable. The hill is very well covered and remains good to go. Off trail is offering building interference patterns, but there are still nice dry pockets of smooth to enjoy. Tomorrow, look for some residual snow flurries, perhaps a little accumulation, and slow traffic. There may well be some wind so check the Bird site for updates on that front. See you for the smooth sliding. See the Line, BE the Line!!