Was today one of those days that you cannot wait to write about after experiencing all of it’s super conditions? I cannot say conditions today were high on the scale of memorable ski days.
The morning started with a very stiff wind at the top of Summit Chair blowing from the west. Happily it was a warm wind, because I was wearing light spring clothing. I was excited to see the High Traverse open first run this morning. We headed over to side step up to the Upper Saddle thinking Sun Bowl or CB Chute would be just right. The hike took more energy this morning than normal do to the high wind blowing at us as we climbed to the saddle. Once at the saddle, there was no standing and waiting for the rest of the group. It was just too windy to stand around so we ski down Sun Bowl and waited at the bottom. Sun Bowl was pretty good. There were some soft spots, but generally it offered nice spring snow. Lower down the slope surface conditions had not set up enough making turns more difficult and somewhat sticky. I doubt the High T was open very long this morning.
We had one nice run down the main groomed trail at Sherwood, but the second round told us it was softening too much and would not be good for a third try. Off piste, on a scale of 0 to 10, we voted to give the surface a zero. The surface was too deep and sticky to consider it spiritually uplifting.
Basically, unless a slope had been groomed overnight, it was not very good. We did think Reily’s Run to Lakeview Chair was very good, and we found Outer Limits more firm than some of the other south or east facing slopes.
Heading to Scott Chair both Bobby’s and Standard were not groomed, thus they were given very low scores. Zero was given to Standard and perhaps 1.5 to Bobby’s. They offered a rough firm ride for those that tried them. However, Ridge Run had been groomed and was found to be enjoyable.
It would not have been a perfect day if something mechanical would not have gone wrong. We sat enjoying the wind and views on Lakeview for a good 15 minutes while a mechanical issue was (thankfully) resolved.
I had to leave early, so I cannot report on conditions available on trails accessed by lifts that I did not ride. I left around 11am. My guess is that they were not all that great. Perhaps some were acceptable, but none of them could have been higher than 5 on my snow condition scale.
As I left, clouds were moving in with the coming storm. It did rain a little this afternoon, but I do not think much precipitation fell during the day.
Clouds moving indicating a storm is on the way
Tomorrow should be interesting as the forecast does not sound like we will be getting anything like dry snow from the skies above. Perhaps music late in the afternoon in the lodge will be something worth attending.
By the way, the Ice Bar appeared to be open today. At least the chair were all lined up for sitting comfortable in the sun (should the sun shine). I think this might have been the first day the Ice Bar was open all season.
One other note: The wi-fi in locker room 3 was relocated to a new spot in the ceiling that is supposed increase reception for all locker room patrons.
Enjoy you day,
Andy
The Lakeview runs were the best on the mountain for a second day in a row.
There’s a theory out there that if enough rain falls and then we get a freeze that it will consolidate some of the manky stuff that’s currently haunting the off piste terrain.
Tomorrow is another day…