April 20, 2009 Crystal

Another glorious day at Crystal, only problem, the chairs were not running and the parking lots were pretty near empty. Only folks there were clean up staff. None the less a great day for a walkabout up to the King. Skin in to Silver Basin was serene to say the least. The groomed track to the Party Knoll keg site was superb, from there on things got a wee bit mankey. My initial plan was to ascend lookers left of Three Way, then track around the Southern-Westerly exposure. Some kind soul had layed a Z track in yesterday which I'd eyeballed from the King. When I arrived at the knoll around 10am sun slough was in full swing with numerous releases on all of the usual Three Way slide paths and a couple moderate slides below Box Car Cornices. I wound up trying to avoid the slides and up tracked across lower Three Way, then booted up the saddle lookers right. While in the mist of the boot ( too soft and steep to skin ) a major chunk slid off Box Cars. The skin to the King was sweaty but non eventful. Top of the King was remarkably free of litter, no empty PBRs or bubbly bottles. Kudos to all those that packed it in and out yesterday. No brainier descent was Brain Damage, nice and firm and relatively free of slide debris. Was little spooky traveling alone and realizing Patrol was not right around the corner. All in all a great way to wrap the season.

Oh yeah, the obligatory Smiley Face !

Nice Vuarnets!

I still have mine too...exactly the same ones.

last year I did similar route and then went up yo the top of 6 and skied a great power bowl/deer fly...what a great way to end the season.This year I was spreading chicken manure on newly planted blueberries ...the landscape season,with this weather it really is off to a great start.