Well after several weeks of ski camps, drop-ins by college buddies, and family visits (and TONS of snow, we are up to 250 inches so far), the sun is out and the groomers are fast. I spent the last three days enjoying the sunshine and blue skies, and taking advantage of warmer temperatures and soft snow. While the mountain honestly is still in great condition, we are approaching that moment when we need more snow too. Maybe I am just spoiled by all the snow the last couple of seasons (489 inches and 60 powder days last season and 100 inches each in December and January this season) or maybe it’s the “hard pack” I have been hearing under my ski. Either way I think we are all ready for some more freshies.
Today was the best of the last three with temperatures in the 40’s and lots of blue sky. We (my BFF and me) started on the lower mountain carving up the big wide slopes of Vagabond and then headed up Burgess Creek to check out the sun soaked Sunnyside. It did not disappoint with small hero bumps of soft slushy snow. After that, we headed over to High Noon and Two O’clock (hey didn’t two o’clock used to be a black run???) and finished with Daybreak. Both a little scraped off, but still holding a good edge. Next we traversed to Storm Peak, which was also a little scraped up, and down to rainbow. And I must say that lower Rainbow was the run of the day. I got incredible turns down through the shadows on the left side and didn’t hear that east coast scraping sound the entire way. The last two runs of the day consisted of the “Lap of Love” (Buddy’s run to Calf Roper to Rainbow to Moonlight) followed by a trip up Elkhead, and a surprisingly great run down the freshly groomed Upper Valley View. To finish the day we arrived at the top of the Bashor race course just as they were breaking down for the day and took advantage of the still fresh cord that had been waiting for us all day. Now it’s time to take a couple of days off and wait for this weekend’s snow. See you in the deep!
We didn't get up early today, and instead watched the snow fall in piles of snowflakes the size of pancakes from our offices until we could take it no more. The 2" and 5° on the 5am report kept building and building, and by the noon report there was a foot. So sometime after lunch we both started putting our gear on for some late day turns and made it to the top by 2.
The wind, snow, and cold were relentless all day apparently; Storm Peak was such a blizzard we couldn't even get across the plain to drop off onto the Face and had to cut across the track to Sideburns, where we dove into thigh-deep powder, blind as bats. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face; even the top of Sundown, which is sometimes milder than Storm, reminded me of Eric Weihenmeyer's ascent up Everest- blowing sideways, bundled mountaineers huddling together deciding which line to take, and visibility nil. Needless to say it was not a day for the camera folks; apologies.
We headed for the favorite stashes as usual, and if there were tracks in 1:30 trees at any point today, they were already covered. Craig buried himself in a treewell, luckily landing upright, because he just plainly couldn't see! Faceshots and fog combined, we were both as blind as Weihenmeyer. By the second lap up Sundown my goggles were toast, and I had to nip into the Patrol shack for a quick clear up.
From there we dropped down Sundown liftline, enticed by skiers below our previous ride, and despite a few screeching halts, Craig bombed those knee deep bumps like a porpoise, getting hoots from the riders above, while I surfed behind to make sure he didn't find another hole to hide in. By the time we hit the bottom of Moonlight we were already spent.
We headed to the top for a frosted-goggle top-to-bottom through the meadow below Storm and the untracked left side of Hurricane. The blizzard was just as bad at the bottom, six inches of fresh lay waiting at the bottom. It's gotta be snowing several inches an hour.
Tomorrow is going to be ridiculous! WOOT!
"See you in the deep" is an understatement.
Another gorgeous day in the Boa, people... a perfect condition kind of day. With 11 new inches today on top of yesterday's foot, and however many before that (how long has it been snowing?), the groomers were covered, the bumps were filled in, and the trees were like butter. The snow was exponentially lighter today than it has been, the temps cooperated, and we're back to our Champagne!
A little wind blown from the dropping jet flow at the top, we ducked into the trees immediately, hitting 3:00, 1:30, and 12:30 right off the bat. A lap through Sunset to Moonlight, cutting into the trees above Moonlight yielded some of the most deep stuff out there.
The place was deserted as well, so seconds and third helpings were a-plenty. Likely the crazy inversion valley fog and clear peak is what kept the peeps at bay; their loss, it was a gorgeous bluebird powder day indeed, you just had to get above the Gondy to see it.
No equipment failure today, just tired bodies from several days of riding in the heavy powder. We had to cash ourselves in at only 10:30, just when the clouds rolled back in for some more dumpage.