I ❤️ Spring Skiing…A Lot!

This is the time of year I love. There’s consistent corn snow across the mountain, the crowds are dwindling, conditions are predictable, and you can ski in a tee shirt (or less) every day. Not everyone shares that passion. Quite a few of my friends just quit skiing as soon as there is not a good chance for powder skiing. It makes me sad that they miss out on so much fun.

I’m going to sound like a broken record here describing the ski conditions for today. I am proud to say that I did not do one run today completely on a groomed slope. That’s not to say that the groomed slopes are unimportant, as they are critical when it comes to getting back to a chairlift. If you have been reading my reports recently, you pretty much know my jam: Tower 19 laps, followed by Chute Zero laps, then onward to Scott laps.

There were some variations today. With Sherwood running a bit late and Scott opening a bit late, we had some time to throw in a few laps on Roundhouse. I had noticed yesterday that both Sunday School (or God’s Knob) and the routes out to Gunner’s Knob and Tiegel Chutes are both in danger of burning out, which meant we had to do some laps in that zone while we waited for Scott to open. Definitely some adventure to be had there, but I did nick a few rocks. Also noted today that Yellow Trail was groomed again and this is a good thing. Word on the street is that we should see more consistent grooming off of Summit and Roundhouse once they are done keeping Sherwood and Scott alive.

We finished off in the afternoon with a handful of runs through Gentian Gully, to the Upper Ice Cliffs and then over to the Promised Land. I am amazed how good the coverage is on May 27th. Gentian Gully is definitely adventure skiing due to moguls, huge tree wells and a lot of debris. But if you follow the previous skiers strips of white, the snow is slow, making the moguls fun. Once you exit the trees, the Ice Cliffs area has some of the best snow on the mountain due to very limited sun exposure. If you drop below the cliffs, be aware that there is a bergschrund (glide crack) that requires mandatory air, and a traverse back to Meadow is just about impossible. I recommend a left turn to the Promised Land just before the cliffs! This is also just about the last open route to get to the Promised Land.

This is the time to give a huge shoutout of thanks to Mountain Ops and Lift Ops. There’s been a huge amount of work being done to keep things going through the weekend at Scott and Sherwood. It’s pretty much a constant job of shoveling snow onto the ramps to keep them usable and safe. When it’s this warm out, the ramps seem to melt out as you’re watching them. Also, a huge thank you to Grant, the patroller that shoveled snow into the gap at the entry into Subdivision Bowl, which is now the only entry to Gentian Gully.

There’s a top secret, or not well advertised, closing party for The Chalet this weekend. I noted a few signs taped up at lifts yesterday. Brats and hot dogs are available for $8, which seems fairly reasonable. That said, I won’t eat either unless I am seeing them properly grilled on a BBQ. Coors Light is $5, with other beers and frozen beverages also available for $8. The Big Ass pretzels are $16 this weekend. A DJ was there bumping some tunes today, sadly drowning out the usual thrum of the grouse that live in the trees along Scott chute.

Lower on the mountain, we made the mistake of stopping for a water & snack break right at that awkward time when the Meadows Cafe is between breakfast and lunch. Fortunately, I had a Clif bar in my pocket to carry me over. Captain Dan mentioned that they are planning on pig roasts the next few Saturday’s, apparently in concert with the new Aloha Bar theming of the outdoor bar. As I left today, The Connor Party was playing on the Sun Deck. Lot 3 was less than half full, on Saturday, of a three day weekend. I ❤️ Spring Skiing.