March 11, Crystal Mountain

The mountain this morning, wind blown smooth, untracked, and sunny.  A very stoked crowd, big for a friday, tore up the Frontside in 3 runs of non-stop fun.  An run down Exterminator/Eagles Nest was awesome but we found the last 2 days rain level at Lower E.  Northway was great on the first half but getting heavy/chunky on the lower half.  Once tracked out, the Doors kept us busy with the best afternoon snow.  Some bombing in Southback but it didn't open before we left.  It looked incredible.
Skied out by the end of the day but a little new tonight will refresh it nicely.
More:
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Like CM said, good smooth skiing on top of the mountain, as the day wore on the snow seemed to gain a few calories, but the untouched skied pretty good still for the strong legged skiers, and not much of that was left as the crowd was pretty healthy today. More than I can remember for a midweek Mid-March.
The lower hill at about 5500 ft skied pretty rough. Even the groomed was dicey down on the lower hill. Like skiing new snow on an oyster laden beach. Lower E was treacherous in spots.
Top good, some sun effect, we took the last box up and it was setting a crust on the snow. South did open to the largest crowded lineup waiting a South opening maybe in the history of Crystal. Need a good shot, like 6 inches of snow to refresh it or it will ski rough in the sun exposed locations.

new snow on an oyster laden beach.

Most interesting ski visual, but somehow, accurate

Enjoyed my first gondola ride this afternoon after some backcountry skinning and skiing.  Then learned that Southback had just opened, and fortunately I made it to Chair 6 by 320PM, riding up with a guy headed for his second run off the King.   Clearing skies, nice views of Rainier enshrouded in cloud, a happy crowd on top at 4PM, untracked knee deep soft powder in SE Trees, and a beer with friends at Bullwheel made for a great finish to a fine in and outta bounds day.

Friday was awesome, despite waiting for south for 20 minutes and then jetting, only to have it open minutes later. Oh well, the upper mountain was superb and I am finally getting the nerve again to huck myself a little bit.

Here is the POV from friday:
wooot wooot