Squeaky Snow

Summit started the day on windhold. If anyone has ever wondered why Summit is on windhold on some days when there is not much wind at the base area, then all they had to do was look up to the ridge line. Plumes of snow rose high above Wolverine Bowl this morning, indicating winds were strong at the ridge line. Winds were gusting into the upper 40 per mile range with a cool temperature below 20 degrees. Winds were from the east which affects lift operation at Summit much more than similar winds coming from the west or south. (Editors Note: There’s some safety shutoffs that automatically kick in at about 50 mph from the east.)

I can tell when snow conditions should be very good by the sounds made as I walk up to the base of Roundhouse or Summit. This morning, each step produced a squeaky sound. A squeaky sound means good cold winter snow is waiting for my skis. A couple of turns on the nicely groomed slopes proved my theory to be correct. Excellent corduroy for setting an edge and making wide carving turns.

Off the groomed trails I quickly found a thin layer of new snow covering a fairly soft base. Sympathy, Rolls and Knolls, and Deer Camp were beautiful this morning. We rode Alpine Bowl Chair and skied small moguls under the chair and Lower Palisades, which were in good winter condition. High Yellow was also very good. We cruised over to Sherwood to do Expert Short Cut which was also soft and laced with larger moguls than some of us enjoy. A couple of turns off Scott and a tour through Gentian Gully proved that north facing slopes were in better condition then south facing slopes. The very bottom of Gentian softened yesterday and froze overnight so it was icy.

Summit opened later in the morning as winds diminished, but the line was pretty long around 11:30.
No matter what the conditions on the slopes were today the scenery was fantastic. Blue sky and trees overflowing with bundles of snow. They looked like they had been flocked at a Christmas Tree lot only a thousand percent better. I could have just sat all day taking in the beauty of our mountains.

Enjoy your day,

Andy