In The Deep – 4.1.10 & 4.2.10
So I guess you could look at our April first snow storm and powder days in two ways. April fools on all the summer lovers who can’t wait to put their short and sun dresses on is one way to see it. But I like to think it was all of us powder hounds who fooled Mother Nature into thinking we had had enough snow and were ready for Spring. Well the joke is on her because the mountain reported 14 inches in 48 hours but it was way more than that. I skied over a foot of fresh in places yesterday and today was almost as good. The fact that we have great conditions (some of the best all season) and there are no people in town makes for the perfect local’s playground.
So yesterday was perfect snow with terrible visibility but that kept people off the mountain and my lines fresh. So I hooked up with Joey and Jason and McCarthy and headed for the snow. First run took us into Sideburns and over to Lights Out and were not disappointed. Deep and light with a few inches of heavy underneath and we couldn’t even hear the ice lurking below. After that we headed for Pioneer Ridge and Middle Rib. The deeper into the trees we got the deeper the powder got and the better the face shots. After hitting a few of the regular stashes, I finished the day by breaking off from the group to take the Daze down and called it a day to save some fuel for the next day.
APRIL 2:
So knowing there were very few people on the mountain the day before, I arose very early to get first chair on Christie. This time with Pat and Shelby in tow. The first stash I shoed them was T-Head liftline. Now you can only do this when the Poma lift isn’t running but it is worth it! Next we headed for Storm Peak and my favorite warm up run down Storm Peak Face to Sunset Trees (right side) to Moonlight Trees. Next we hit Rolex for 6 inches on top of groomer heaven! Keith’s Ridge, West Side, Black Powder, RamRod, and 12:30 trees all made the list today and then I cut it short a bit to get home for some work before work. Either way it was a glorious two days and more snow is in the forecast so we will see you…In The Deep
So even though it’s a little late, I just had to brag about how incredible the mountain was on Sunday. Saturday was obviously a tremendous day for the end of March and the fun continued into Sunday. With warm temperatures in the forecast and Butch Butler, monoskier extraordinaire, in town from South Carolina, we decided to hit the mountain early in search of freshies. After a quite cold ride up the mountain (yep, temperatures stayed pretty chilly until late morning) we headed directly to Storm Peak to check out the fresh snow still waiting on the Face. So we skied the deep carpet of Storm Peak Face, veered right into the storm face meadow (a.k.a. Mustache) and shot over to Sunset to access Moonlight Trees which was still fresh and down to Sundown Express. Our net run took us to the top of the Wally World Cornice to skiers right and down through Black Powder and all the way out to Ramrod. If you haven’t skied ramrod on a 5 inch day you are missing out. Right side or left side you really can’t go wrong. Craig’s ridge was next and didn’t disappoint, especially when I cut into the trees at the bottom of wristband. This is a hard to find stash that is often missed and I had first tracks the day after a powder day! We skied Billy Kidd Trees, and High Noon, and all the regulars until I realized that it was my acciversary (14th anniversary of breaking my back on the mountain). So with the infamous Dougie Fresh in tow we headed up BC and over to the scene of the crime, Vertigo. It took me 5 years to be good enough to even ski Vertigo again and I ski it every year on that day. Today the bumps were huge and soft and I conquered my foe once again. It was a great was to end the day and as I skied up to my wheelchair I shouted, “I win!” See you next time…In The Deep
(Saturday March 27th, posted by Craig Kennedy)
It’s the end of March and there are no brown spots on the mountain. And despite what the report said this morning the mountain was in beautiful mid winter shape. The five inches that fell two nights ago and into yesterday morning with the 6 on the report this morning (and it snowed all morning too) made for over a foot of fresh (and more in spots) and barely a notice of the treacherous conditions lurking beneath.
After a buttery run down Rudy’s we loaded Four Points in the 15th position and headed directly for my favorite warm up run consisting of Sunset (right side of course) to Moonlight Trees. Riding with my BFF Keith we had to head next to Keith’s Ridge. Then we skied the top of Sunshine Lift line and cut back out towards one o’clock and onto Billy Kid Trees (it’s a secret, can’t tell you). After that we headed to my new favorite tree shot off of Sundial and finished with an untracked run down RamRod. So besides all the face shots (I am nice and low to the ground) the mountain was also empty.
Devoid of locals and tourists alike so tomorrow should be SWEEEEEEET! While the skiing was great, it had been a while since skiing a powder day and I felt a little off my game the first couple of runs. Then my armpit zipper on my jacket blew out so it was a cold morning but it was all worth it. There’s nothing better than end of the season powder days after you’ve already convinced yourself there won’t be any more. And hopefully we get one more for my lovely, but slightly injured wife.
See you In The Deep!