Winds at the top of the mountain dropped today to almost zero. Temperatures at the top of the mountain rose into the 40s by mid-afternoon. Given the moderate winds and warm temperatures we experienced today, I think I can say it was more pleasant on the mountain today than yesterday. We did experience a thin, moderate cloud cover most of the day, but I would not consider the result flat light.
The fact that it was also warm yesterday, creating spring snow in the afternoon, caused the morning surface to be firm. South-facing slopes were nicely frozen when lifts began to spin. Grooming was excellent again today, and the snow surface on many trails was better than it was yesterday. Alpine Bowl, Terry’s Return, D8, and Wolverine, although firm, held an edge. It was another day of smooth, firm, corduroy, begging skiers and boarders to move downhill at speeds exceeding a margin of safety (in my opinion). At least there were fewer people on the mountain today compared to the prior two days.
After making a number of runs on the various groomed trails off Summit Chair, I venture out beyond the corduroy. D7 skied well as the surface was still in winter snow condition. Packed powder with moguls that were not overly large. Pygmy Forest and Palisades, located under the Alpine Bowl Chair, offered a similar winter surface, but the moguls are definitely larger and not as rounded as I prefer. The lower section of High Yellow Face and High Yellow Gully was similar to D8 and Palisades. Moguls were slightly smaller in these two areas with a similarly packed powder topping.
I did make a fool of myself, not the first time, fighting my way down God’s Knob before it softened.
Before noon we rode TLC with the intention of testing Sherwood. Although there were a number of people skiing the main groomed run, it was still smooth and firm. The corduroy stripes were gone as they had been nicely shaved down to a smooth, firm surface. There were signs of melting, but it had not happened yet. We went back an hour later and found soft spring snow on both the main Sherwood Run and on the Sherwood Face. Off the originally groomed area, the surface was soft but a little rough. Sherwood Face was filled with smaller moguls topped, or spaced, with rubble spread from previous skiers’ turns. We thought about traversing out onto South Face but decided not to after watching a couple of skiers seemingly fighting their way down the slope.
We did ride Scott a couple of times, trying Ridge and Bobby’s Trails. The right side of Bobby’s was smooth, with a slightly softening surface when I skied it. A little later, Ridge skied well. It was not too soft nor too hard, allowing a person to set an edge and hold it.
It looks as if we will have sunny skies again tomorrow with temperatures into the 40s, but winds will be picking up. This may be the last day of spring skiing for at least a few days.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
We stayed out a bit longer than you, arriving at Sherwood just before noon and skiing the southern zones until 2-ish. The Sherwood Run and the recently groomed Robin Hood were excellent, especially with a bit bluer skies. Sherwood Face was okay where well skied in. South Face…no. We found great spring conditions at Lakeview as well. Here’s an updated Corn-O-Meter:
Spring skiing is the best. I/we Tina and I miss it so much.