Crystal - 12/25

This long winded report is for those that don’t check the Crystal or Avie web sites everyday their not on the mountain….it was very windy across the ridge tops, upper mountain lifts remained closed all day, high bright overcast and some almost sun made for very nice vis, fairly light crowd (fortunately) kept the FQex line very okay, boot top new Cascade pow – that was pretty light in places, very light crowd (oh I said that) – which allowed us to find lots of nice new (for me) and also old places with nice untracked. Meet some TAY folks – Keith_Henson, TeamWalley (got some nice pics with him in his nice Santa outfit from Thomas of Smiley's Mountain Photo ). Skied some new pow stashes off FQex and took the woods trail over to Boondoggle - hadn’t been there in years – nice untracked. Went up Gold Hills for the first time in even more years, great views of the whole area, could see the top of all the upper mountain lifts (that sadly were not running). Low vert day due to the lack of big lifts and having to leave early. Lots of folks complaining about the upper mt being closed – including some ski patrol folks on their day off. Checked the Avie site telemetry for today and it looked big, but it was also very similar on Tuesday the 21’st when we skied REX most of the day - hhhmmm. Thanks to SMS and JD for another nice day on the mountain. Should be big tomorrow if the winds slow down. Today was the first time I've ever gotten to ski on Xmas day. ddk

Dan, it was very nice meeting you and John. Very disappointing about the upper mountain but the mid-mountain snow sure was nice. A long Conga line, my son included, booted up Campbell Basin for some awesome upper mountain powder. Here's a picture of my son, home for the holidays from Montana State. A Kool Yule for sure.

Wind gusts of 80 mph+ at the top of Crystal. Upper mountain on wind hold...

Look what's coming!

Tonight: Snow showers. Low around 20. West southwest wind between 13 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Monday: Snow. High near 29. West southwest wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Monday Night: Snow. Low around 25. South southwest wind between 14 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 16 inches possible.


Going up to the slope
Let all hang out
Where soulful people knows what it's about-ah
Going up to the slope
And let it all hang out-ah
Where soulful people knows what it's about-ah
Get on the good foot. Come on over.
Good god y'all, let it snow.

The year of the blowdown. Hopefully the warming will be like the last warming forecast and save us from rain.

NWAC says at 5000ft Monday.
Monday morning:
SW 20-30
W-SW 20-30
W 20-30
Monday afternoon and night:
SW 50-70
SW 50-70
SW 45-60

50 to 70MPH at 5000 ft...looks like it will be a good year for getting firewood. Better gas up the generator.

Heres the latest Keith

Today: Snow showers. Temperature falling to around 21 by 5pm. South southwest wind between 14 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Tonight: Snow showers. Low around 17. West southwest wind between 14 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Monday: Snow. High near 25. West southwest wind between 13 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Monday Night: Snow. Low around 21. Southwest wind between 16 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 16 to 22 inches possible.

Stevens report isnt as good but heck hopefully the crowds go to Crystal and leave the 3-5 inches of new for me

I see Crystal managed to get Rex open today with just as much wind as Christmas Day.  It's real hard to give them the benefit of the doubt anymore.  I think this is my last year for a season pass.  Going to spread my recreation dollars around  a bit more.