December 20, 2007 Crystal

Thursday: Lots of Snow!

As I was leaving Tacoma late this morning. I was surprised that it appeared as if we might have a sunny ski day after all the snow weather we  have gotten since last Thursday.  However when I hit Enumclaw ...there was the weather pushed up against the hills. 

Hey!  we are now in the holiday (Christmas) ski season.  I always forget and get surprised by the crowd.  Parked in the lower lot.  Late morning, saw  some sunlight showing through.... then strong wind gusts from the East picking up the snow.  Then regular wind and snow and fog.

Maybe there had been some grooming somewhere... but pretty much skied on a fresh layer with plenty of deep stuff.   The kids were out .. and lots of snowboarders sitting on their heads. I pretty much practiced my steep and deep techniques.  Didn't take long to get tired.

Started blasting above Gold Hills about 2:00.  I thought I heard a helicopter in the area but could not imagine someone flying around in the fog.   Then saw the Helo where it landed in one of the parking lots (maybe f) surrounded by what looked like ski patrollers.  As I drove away from Crystal I could see breaks of blue sky off to the North.   I think there was some kind of stormy micro-climate sitting right on top of Crystal.

Chair six was open and you could ski your brains out today.  I am scheduled to meet up with some friends next Thursday but am not looking forward to the Christmas crowd.

The copter was used for avy control. They opened Right Angle about 230. I heard the copter, looked over just as it dropped a charge in the Niagra area. Kaboom. I think I've only seen that one time before. Nice to see the area spending the money to keep their patrollers, and us, safe. Fantastic skiing in the glades.

Those blasts kind of creep me out....     I couldn't quite imagine they would drop charges from a helicopter in such low visibility.  What talent!   All to keep us little skiers safe.

Started blasting above Gold Hills about 2:00.  I thought I heard a helicopter in the area but could not imagine someone flying around in the fog.   Then saw the Helo where it landed in one of the parking lots (maybe f) surrounded by what looked like ski patrollers.  As I drove away from Crystal I could see breaks of blue sky off to the North.   I think there was some kind of stormy micro-climate sitting right on top of Crystal.

You got it right.  We were ripping laps down East Peak area and it was on and off bluebird for us...the weather moved right into silver and pickhandle basins.  Yeah, I'm guessing they were using the chopper to monitor the charges...we heard stuff going off in North all day, but nothing significant slid...even with the av dnger being so high...and we got back to the car at 4:00.

Fresh powder glade skiing, Crystal, the afternoon of Dec 20, 2007

Nice pic Keith... it would never occur to me to take a pic like that of some trees... but a nice pic....  looks inviting.

Sometime when I am in the base area and they start blasting... it's hard to tell just where they are.  The shock wave bounces back and forth between the hill sides.  Sometimes they just sound a little too close.  That stuff gets amazingly chunky. 

I wore my beacon in active mode inbounds... why not.  I wonder if they are going to make it a requirement in North Back.