IN THE DEEP

Yesterday's 14 inches was an anomaly. The report said 6" mid, 14" summit, 5" mid since the mountain closed. What does one make of that, while lying in a very uncomfortable bed 2 hours from home at 5am? We had three options: 1. We could have stayed in Vail and skied, but purchasing lift tickets when you have a season pass just seems inane. 2. Stay in Vail and have breakfast with our buddies. 3. Drive home and expect the best. Needless to say if the report had been 1", we would have opted for choice #2. But 14" would get anyone up and going. So we blazed out of Vail (their report was 8"), and met the group of Denver friends waiting for us at home. A cloudless sunrise drive to a bluebird powder day awaiting...

First and second glances at the base and top of the Gondola struck the group of us with some wonder... Fourteen? Where?

Rudy's was a smoothed glade with about 2" max on top of it, a very tasty run to Four Points none the less. Sunset brought a few more inches to taste, maybe 5" on top of set bumps, bouncing us all the way down Lights Out. But certainly not the foot-plus that our front rangers were looking for. YET. So we went looking.

Still about only 5" on 1:00 and in the trees that surround, but 5 on top of a groomer was still worth driving from Vail for. Not that we have anything against Vail, however after several drinks, a fun concert at Dobson, and some interaction with our local buddy Kevin's x girlfriend, and a new Vail motto has been formed: Vail is full of bitches. Well, 'cuz, it is.

So back to the 'Boat (which might also need a new motto)... and the stashes.

Westside: none but what's on the right side hill as usual. Hill has been renamed: Craig's Ridge.
Top of Sunshine LiftLine/Keith's Ridge: definitely best first tracks as usual.
Sundial and trees between that and Tomohawk: actually almost knee deep in spots and untracked.
Ramrod: ridiculously nice as usual.
Huevos/"Kodak" (Morningside): knee deep and untracked.
Upper trees left of Hurricane: untracked and shin deep.

Verdict: Another lovely day on the mountain under blue skies, but still left us wondering, where's the beef?