March 14, 2009 Crystal Mountain

Today wasn't super fun. Hard layer was unavoidable, but its dumping up here right now.

Crystal's website says 25/26, my thermometer is showing 32.

If it stays cold....tomorrow should be good.

Saturday - Lots of new snow!

Well... the previous Saturday was a blizzard, then Thursday was severe blue and sunny, now today.... almost a blizzard.  The winds kicked, but not too bad.  Snowed all day.

Skiing with the grandson.  His mother says that I have turned him into a "ski monster". 

So we did Gold Hills.  Yea, skiing on the freshies, felt like skiing over a coral reef, it was a little rough under there.  But it wasn't so bad on the lower groomers that were smoother underneath.  And..... the snow piled up during the day.  So, we felt like we were skiing the pow!    I could find areas of untracked pow in the base area!  The stuff was light and fluffy.

I think however, this fluff didn't adhere to the steeps very well, so you can be scraping boilerplate.

We really had fun in pow up to nine inches... smooth, silky, easy to ski.  We pressed the lifts right up to closing.

The dress code for the day was "bullet proof".   A weather day - sun tried to poke a hole at times.  I wondered if the peaks were in the blue.  Weather eased up after lunch and then came back in with heavy snowfall towards the end. 

I would call this a pow dump.

In addition.... leaving the parking lot this evening..... there appeared to be a police stop in progress about two miles down the boulevard from parking. Perhaps for speeding? I notice more police stops on the weekends than on weekdays.

Might as well mention the big bust I saw in progress on Canyon Rd. (Tacoma area) after dropping off my grandson. Tons of police cars, police vans, police.... and about 15 handcuffed people lined up against a fence. Well, something was going down.

In addition....   leaving the parking lot this evening.....  there appeared to be a police stop in progress about two miles down the boulevard from parking.  Perhaps for speeding?

Exactly, the speed limit on that straightaway is 35, lotsa folks are in a hurry and go faster.

Exactly, the speed limit on that straightaway is 35, lotsa folks are in a hurry and go faster.

.......and that guy's an _ _ _ _ _ _ _. He's there every weekend and then some.

Sorry, but it's one thing to ensure safety and smart travel. It's another to generate revenue on the backs of relaxed, happy skiers on their way home form a powder day who might be mildly exceeding a speed limit which is seeing mercenary enforcement for the first time in many years. Can't believe he doesn't have something better to do. Like maybe make a few turns?

.......and that guy's an _ _ _ _ _ _ _. He's there every weekend and then some.

Sorry, but it's one thing to ensure safety and smart travel. It's another to generate revenue on the backs of relaxed, happy skiers on their way home form a powder day who might be mildly exceeding a speed limit which is seeing mercenary enforcement for the first time in  many years. Can't believe he doesn't have something better to do. Like maybe make a few turns?

A week ago I left Crystal's lot, put it in intermediate gear, set the cruise to 35 and started down behind some other cars--careful not to speed because of the monitoring.

Within a few minutes some yahoos pulled out, crossing on a double yellow line, and sped past me and a number of other cars. It was unsafe and put others at risk. I was delighted when a couple minutes later both of the cars were getting a ticket.

I drive to Crystal alot. I drive the speed limit and will make no excuses for doing so.

Every time I drive to Crystal I am passed by people crossing double yellow lines to pass. If they choose to put themselves at risk so be it. But they are often passing on blind curves in treacherous conditions. I advocate for increased patrolling of the Crystal Road and for 410.

I think this is a "fine" way to generate revenue. I shudder to think of someone I love  being killed by some immature driver illegally passing and speeding so that he can arrive 5 minutes earlier at Crystal or home.