Sunshine came softly through my window today, bringing snow laden trees into view. Snow fell all afternoon yesterday, and into the evening, creating a winter fairyland that bloomed with first light.
The past couple of mornings were dedicated to checking equipment, testing knees and thighs, and wondering if the excitement for skiing still filled my soul. My equipment all appeared to be functioning properly. The knees and thighs did not fail me, but they were screaming at times. My soul was happy, but not ecstatic. We were skiing on a lift with moderate slope, limited terrain, and manmade snow. I have no complaints about the conditions. Early season with skis strapped to my feet make me happy.
Today the sun was shining out of a clear blue sky. The winds from yesterday were absent. Shadows from snow covered trees crossed the slope. A smile on my face grew wider as we rode to the TLC mid-station. It felt like winter. The groomed slope looked delicious, but as I departed from the chairlift seat my heart seemed to speed up. A thin layer of powder snow was visible just off the edge of the more firm packed snow. I took off threading my way through a couple of trees and then turned onto the untouched snow. Three turns down the slope and my soul screamed, “I remember!”. It was minimal in length, but it felt as though I was back at the top of the world with untouched, and unlimited light powder stretching for miles below.
Of course, we were not the only skiers excited to get on to the hill. The line grew rather quickly as skiers and boarders arrived via car and/or via gondola. We endured the lines for six runs on TLC and two runs on Subway. We timed the wait at TLC, clocking it at eighteen minutes. Just being happy and on the slope made it tolerable.
I wanted to get higher up the mountain because the slopes in Alpine Bowl and Wolverine Bowl looked so inviting. They looked well covered from the base area, but reality said coverage was still thin and dangerous. Let us hope that the storm predicted for Monday and Tuesday brings a foot or so of new snow to increase the depth of base on the upper slopes. A bird whispered in my ear that efforts are being made to open the upper slopes by Thanksgiving.
Snow was being made on the main run down from Roundhouse this morning in an effort to assist mother nature. The lower slopes visible from riding a chair on TLC, such as Yellow Trail, do not look ready for safe skiing yet without additional help from mother nature.
Fingers crossed for a nice storm over the next couple of days.
Andy
What if….they actually opened terrain over on the other side? It would have provided a better experience for everybody!
I agree.
What if it’s not quite ready on the other side? Do you think they are holding out or something? Way too early to be suggesting “money holds”.
TBT, I don’t know much about the other sides state of things. I do know that competition between two different places usually results in a better product.