March 27, 2010 Crystal Mountain

Saturday - Wow! 

I would call it a bluebird day, except there was a thin cloud layer.  But the sky was sorta blue, the sun was bright. And it was cold!  Didn't have to vent much.

They must have groomed on Friday.  Everything was fresh-packed smooth and cold. Nice snow!   Off groom was a little thick, but might have actually been fluffy higher up.

Last Thursday, my boots were punching through the slush in the base area.  Today it was totally different.  Good packed snow.  What a difference a couple of degrees makes.  My skiing was a little limited today as I was herding grandkids around.  But just skiing around was so fun!

GV Bowl and Snorting Elk Bowl were very nice.  I didn't get down Ice Berg, but looking up.... I have never seen it so infested, lots and lots of skiers.

Actually,  a good crowd, but not the big weekend crowd.  Lots full down to C and beyond, but I don't think there was much in lower lot B.  So we barely needed the weekend lift line fencing.

Today was everything that spring skiing should be.... Nice!

Sat. at Crystal "cold"? Well, I guess that's relative. Didn't see any shorts or bare chests like I did at Stevens on Tue. And the snow did hold up well on N facing slopes - S back country, Powder Bowl, north aspects in GV and Snort Elk.
But even with the wind picking up a bit in the afternoon, it was not cold.
Our end of day runs down Ice Berg and Lower Bull were fun slush but definitely slush.

A "good crowd" in that crowds were never an issue. Longest "line" I experienced was around 1 pm bottom of GV. Waited maybe 30 seconds. At C6, a lot of empty chairs.

Mtns were all out. Made me wish I'd brought a camera but parka pockets were overloaded already.

Warm: Unzipping everything. Snow softening up. Sluff up high, Slush below. Sucky on the flats, snow brakes engaging when you don't want.

Cold: Wind bites my tender cheeks. Snow is firm and fresh. No sluffing. No brakes. Great skiing.

Sometimes there is a fine difference between cold and not cold. Below 32 degrees F, Cold and good. Above freezing and things change dramatically. This can be a big difference in your skiing experience.

I use cold to describe the snow condition, to indicate that it is firm.

Now if we are talking effing cold... then I would suggest going bullet proof and don't forget you mittens.

Saturday was a great and beautiful ski day. Hope you all enjoyed it!

It's pretty subjective matter. I call it Springter.
I think it was both, but I was touring and skiing boot deep powder the whole day; seemed pretty cool.
There was a bite in air with the steady wind keeping the upper slopes and shaded areas pretty cold.
To me it felt colder than the telemetry showed.

The sun did effect most slopes eventually, even subtly, so when the new snow hits with wind loading there should be a pretty active bed surface, initially but things seem to settle quicker this time of year. But I would do many tests if going outside controlled terrain or keep avy eyes in wind loaded terrain. I did notice a slight Q3 layer 6 inches down in protected areas that would release when I dropped my pack on it.

But I would do many tests if going outside controlled terrain or keep avy eyes in wind loaded terrain. I did notice a slight Q3 layer 6 inches down in protected areas that would release when I dropped my pack on it.

It was releasing REALLY easy on Friday, as well. I rode a quick half-day before darting back to Tacoma to pick my work off of the back-burner. : Looked great everywhere, wish I could have stayed longer. Minimal crowd but many comments on the booming-volume of the 4" of fresh- think I may call it VO5...

It's pretty subjective matter. I call it Springter.
I think it was both, but I was touring and skiing boot deep powder the whole day; seemed pretty cool.

What a day Joe, thanks for some of the best skiing I've had all year and helping me ski one of my goals. Untracked pow all day, you just can't beat that. Crystal BC rocks!