What a gorgeous day to ski.
Arrived around 10 after a slowish drive up the last hill to snow falling and anywhere from four to fourteen inches of fresh. It was interesting to ski the effects of the warm precip of the last couple of days combined with the cold precip of the last 18 hours. Pretty much everywhere there was good coverage of new snow, but if you slowed or hit an area that had been slipped you found very hard rain crust. The best conditions were found on lower 'nash beneath the cliffs where there wasn't any of the slide debris apparent that is often the base there and face shots were the rule. Groomers were nice too. Very nice, light, cold weather freshies. Snow fell all morning and was falling when we departed.
Elevator gate was opened early, knoll 0 and knoll 1 gates opened around noon, but the high traverse was still closed by the time we headed down to kids and work around 1. This didn't stop the rope-duckers who were numerous, and to no apparent consequence. Of course, the signs read, "BC passholders only" (we have had them for years) but most of the skiers and boarders I saw heading out that way were not even wearing packs. There were, of course, several pairs of skis lined up outside the patrol shack atop chair 2. With the NWAC reporting considerable danger, I hope no one got caught. It was pretty easy to propogate small slides inbounds.
The turns were great if you could stay off or above the rain crust, and it was very possible to do this with minimal effort in many areas. Tree skiing was hit and miss due to the crust again, but perhaps I was unwilling to ski fast enough to float atop it sufficiently. All in all a very nice morning.
