3-25-26

With the unusually warm temps heating up the pack, the Bird Ops have scaled the opening time earlier to 8AM and closing at 2PM. While that had no impact on the actual time of the break, the frozen feel was going to take a bit to take hold. The Peruvian Gulch and Gad Valley were very firm and it was going to take till 11AM for the break to happen when there was a short window of the sorbet quality before the pack slushed out. I bailed as the sticky spots began to crop up on the flats, making the glide factor difficult to maintain. The melt off is beginning to become noticeable on many areas where the Sun has been working and where the grooming efforts have kicked up some rock pockets. Keep an eye out and approach the early morning lines with great care and respect for the frozen variations.

Tomorrow, look for another overnight freeze, but I expect the break to be fast and early. The same break pattern will likely be happening, with Mineral Basin offering the first break of the pack. Depending on the low temps overnight, expect the break to follow a similar rotation. While there are indications of the melt off, coverage remains quite good and predictable. Traffic is light and fast turnaround times are happening all day. Watch your SIX!!

3-24-26

With clear skies and cooler temps, there was a light freeze in the pack that put the spot light on choice of line something of a toss up for the opening bell. Mineral Basin was favored with the sunshine and excellent visibility, but the Peruvian Gulch was calling with machine worked lines that were going to need a bit of time to break. The Gad side of the hill was going to take even longer, but by 11 AM the break began to go off on most aspects with a short sweet window of Sorbet quality turns before morphing into a more soft deep consistency.

Traffic was light and back to back Trams and slide on chairs were happening all day, with lots of choices as the pack broke. The Gad side of the hill was fun with Big Emma feeling sweet with the soft turns happening. Tomorrow, look for another overnight freeze in the pack. Look for the machine prepared lines to offer the best ride, but note that firmness will be a matter of aspect so choose wisely and use caution on those early frozen side lines. Don’t get caught by the flat light. Remain Standing!!!!!

3-23-26

The overnight over cast extended well into the day, trapping in the warmth and preventing the pack from solidifying. Most aspects were soft already with no freeze to break. The light was quite flat but the prepared lines were offering smooth consistent carpets that were very dialable. Even the lines that are late to the party were already soft. Quite a change in the pattern of approach to the hill.

Tomorrow, I will be looking for there to be a bit more consolidation as the skies clear off, so there may well be some frozen aspects, but we’ll have to see when the party starts. The machine worked lines will be offering the best smooth consistent lines, but off trail should be offering some softness a lot earlier than last week. See you there for the early lines and explorations for the goods. IBBY!!

3-22-26

Slightly cooler temps overnight set the pack up a bit tighter for the morning’s offerings. Mineral Basin was the draw and broke first and fast, giving the early risers a head start on the Spring feel. The Peruvian Gulch was quite crispy, however, the machine worked lines were smooth and consistent, but took your full attention to keep things real. It was nice to have the wide open lines, which had enough traction to keep the pace quick but real. Gad Valley was last to break, with that sorbet window that felt great underfoot and worth waiting for the moment and getting it.

Traffic was light and back to back Trams were fast and fun, with plenty of variations to keep you on your toes. The break was fast when it went off and being on the right side of the brake brought extra lines while others were up coming. Tomorrow, look for another Spring like day, and we’ll have to see how the temps turn out as there is a cloud deck holding the heat in after the Sun set. Coverage remains excellent though there are some spots where some loose rock is cropping up in places. Keep a sharp eye out. The festivities on the Plaza were great and it’s fun to have music after a day on the hill. Stay Frosty!!!

3-21-26

These are some seriously warm days out of season as long as I can remember. Very strange indeed. Traffic was light today, with the draw of sunshine pulling most of the traffic to Mineral Basin to get the most out of the pack before the softening got too thick. Those aspects that hold the cold the longest were still holding the cold, but broke earlier than yesterday when that short window of sorbet quality opened. Hitting those breaks like that is, to me, as good as a powder line though just a different kind of perfect. Despite the heat, the pack is holding up nicely with only a couple of spots beginning to show some signs of the melt off.

Tomorrow, look for slightly cooler temps as this dry cold front moves through overnight. There may be some clouds in the morning and more moisture in the afternoon to create more clouds as the day heats up. I’ll be looking for the early residual freeze in the pack to stiffen up the surfaces on the North facing lines, but I expect very rapid softening on the lowest elevations. Expect continued moderate traffic, and lots of great Spring excitement for the day, with fun, music, and festivities on the Plaza Deck after Noon. Remain Standing!!!

3-20-26

This was a day of chasin’ the break as it was going off fast depending on aspect. Even though there is significant warmth, the pack is still holding the cold on a number of aspects that take a long time to hit. Of course, the lowest elevations go quickly as well as Mineral Basin, which is cookin’ from sunrise and breaks right away. I was sticking with the High North aspects and staying in the shade to take advantage of the firmer prepared surfaces that offer the corduroy that feels so good underfoot on those first runs. I was right on time for the Regulator and Big Emma breaks which offered that short moment of sorbet goodness as the pack becomes just right!!

Tomorrow will be another day of chasing the break around the hill. I expect a similar sequence that we had today, but don’t be surprised if the pack goes off a bit earlier. The prepared lines will be offering the smooth for those early runs, but the off trail will be challenging before softening occurs. I was out and around checking spots for drill and was glad I had options. There is quite a festive spirit happening on the Tram Deck with music, food, and lots of good vibes, so enjoy the Spring feel while it lasts. It ain’t over yet. Don’t forget to SIZZLE!!

3-19-26

It was in the low 40’s all night on the peak and 45 degrees in the parking lot this morning to start the day. The pack was going to break fast, with Mineral Basin already soft and happening, which drew the traffic as the day got started. Regulator was very firm even with the warm temps and The Peruvian Gulch was offering some dry chalky lines down to the middle elevations where the break was beginning on the lowest lines. Staying ahead of the break was key, but staying ahead of the traffic was important as well, with some vacant lines in the shade. The machine prepared lines were consistent, however, a cautious approach was wise to deal with the subtle Spring morning variations. By 11AM the break was on and you could find some very nice surfaces that were feeling like mid Spring corn. At 12:30 PM Big Emma was offering some sweet sorbet turns that made each arcing motion a rare treat.

Tomorrow, look for another very fast break as the temps are going to remain warm. Still, the usual aspects will freeze up from the residual cold in the pack, but it won’t take long at all for the pack to come alive. Mineral Basin will be offering the Sun and softest start to the day. The High North aspects back there are beginning to look mighty tempting as the pack softens. The front of the hill will be offering various levels of morph with elevation changes. Be aware of some of the variations that hide in the shadows early in the AM. IBBY!!

3-18-26

The pack froze overnight, but Mineral Basin had a head start on the break, where the Sun was working the pack giving it the first soft lines. The front of the hill was offering much firmer lines, however, the machine worked lines had plenty of traction that made the turning fast and fun. Traffic was quite light, making back to back Trams easy to make. Getting those first tracks on the fresh corduroy was such a treat. The wind had backed off, and it was not going to be long till the entire mountain was feeling the heat and breaking the pack. Around Noon was the time when the softness hit its stride, not too firm, not too soft….. just right.

The unusually warm temps really hit the pack, so I don’t think that there will be such a hard freeze overnight, so an earlier start will offer softer lines shortly after opening. I still expect some dry chalk on the High North aspects, but by the middle of the hill the effects of the warmth may be felt, and the lower elevations should break even faster than today. Coverage remains excellent, and the machine worked lines are consistent and trustworthy for top to bottom charging. See you there dark and early for the Spring extavaganza!! Remain Standing!!!

3-17-26

The temps were cool this morning, with brisk winds on the peak that made it feel like mid Winter, and the pack had a hard freeze top to bottom. Mineral Basin was calling with the Sun shining, pulling the majority of seekers back there to find the smooth lines that were happening on those Northern aspects that the wind had buffed. The machine worked lines were crispy, but the Sun was going to be working on the pack quickly. The Peruvian Gulch was offering nicely prepared lines that had a firm but tactile feel that let you dial in the turns that matter where they mattered. The lowest elevations were very firm and were going to wait until 11AM before any hint of a break in the mat appeared. By 1PM the lower elevation lines were breaking, which offered some very nice corn feeling turns as the pack began to morph.

The heat is in the forecast, but those early morning turns are going to be firm once again. Making a later start on the day is a great option while softening occurs on the hill. This Spring feel will demand a Spring like approach to the hill. Follow the Sun for the earliest break, but don’t forget the High North will still be resisting much of the softening and holding the dry chalk. Count on the lower elevations to be a lot longer in the softening department. Coverage remains excellent, with the lower elevations breaking well after Noon. See you there dark and early for the morning’s explorations. IBBY!!

3-16-26

The wind was still working the hill, with a delayed opening of the Tram, Mineral Basin closed, and deposited snow on some of the aspects. Visibility was fair, though the light was quite flat, however, the wind had blown some tree debris on the pack that added definition to the mat that really helped focus. The Peruvian side of the hill was favored today, with some sugary lines that let you stretch out a bit with the edge angles, but the slick substrate was still fully in play. Threading the difference between the two variations was key to keeping the flow line consistent. Traffic was fairly light and lift access was fast and easy.

Tomorrow, look for much better visibility as the clouds have moved off the peaks. I expect wind to still be in the mix, but I’ll be looking for some smooth lines that were not accessible today, but should be good to go with some good wind deposited lines. The Grooming Crew has been doing and amazing job of keeping the big lines buffed and smooth, which is a huge plus on these marginal visibility days. Temps may still be colder, but warming is in the forecast and big warming coming as the week unfolds. Dial it up, Dial it in!!!