Every so often I make a mistake choosing the path to ski first run in the morning. Temperatures were a little lower overnight last night than they were the day before and a stiff wind was blowing at the top of Summit Chair this morning. It was obvious that the surface was firm and I should have chosen to take a run or two on the groomed areas, but my choice was to hike the High Traverse and catch some early corn in Sun Bowl or Big Bend Bowl.
It was a bad choice as the surface was firm on the first run this morning. It was not close to the best turns I have made on the backside. Not wanting to be defeated I went for a second tour to the backside, not long after returning to the front side from disaster number one. By the time I headed down from Upper Saddle, after carrying my skis over the large muddy bare batch, conditions had changed for the better. A thin layer of smooth corn accompanied me down Sun Bowl.
Riding up Sherwood and looking around at what is left of the main run and South Face is depressing for this time of year. Every day more earth and rock outcroppings are appearing. Sherwood was open for the High Traverse today, but we were unable to ski back down to make a run off the Sherwood Chair as the runs are closed for the season.
I did find some nice snow in the Sympathy Face, and what I call Pygmy Forest under ABC and in the lower area of High Yellow Face.
Conditions were getting very sloppy on the lower slopes by later morning. Scott Chair was closing today for the season so we thought a final run in Gentian Gully was mandatory. Of course, I enjoyed it, but conditions were not outstanding. The snow varied from a variation of corn, to sloppy we muck. with a little firm surface here and there. The base before getting to Subway Chair was slow and sticky.
Perhaps we will see a few inches of snow fall tomorrow.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
After the Gentian lap, I went on and did Bobby’s, Ridge and Standard Run – being the last day of Scott. Scott Chute was also busy, busy enough that I chose not to wait in the little queue at the only open entrance. It’s sad to see areas of the mountain closing relatively early this year. Hopefully we won’t see such an intense heat wave during April!