Crystal - 12/21

Aaahhh – repeat – repeat almost - another long report. Another big sunny day (I’ve had almost as many as a normal full ski season already), but with the added bonus of some new smoke – anywhere from micro thin (based on winds) to 4 or 5 inches. Firm under the new – especially on the sunny slopes and when CD suggested a funny run down Sunnyside, it was pretty entertaining… We bounced around a lot (especially cause REX had a big screw up late morning today – three chairs butt to butt on top – it must have taken 45+ to fix the problem based on what we could see). Allowed us to suffer a run out NW – some nice places to be found, but the very bottom paths to the lift didn’t convince us to do a repeat run. Most of the day was PB runs – especially nice after Michelle (ski patrol hot lady) showed us the rock free entry skier’s left into the deep and fun on the left side of the bowl – could tell where the winds blew in from over night and late yesterday. Another great day in the sun having fun doing GV bowl (!!!) and PB runs – had a season full of those already. Groomers are holding up pretty nice. Crowds light again today. Pay lot did a great job of getting about ¾ full – maybe, cars in B lot and C looked pretty full. No lift lines – other than a few to full bucket rides on the Gondy. Great to get a dustin of new today – in the sun. Only negative I could say was the snow gun at the top of REX that was blowin some nice wet stuff onto my goggles and laying a ice layer on my fav entry into GV bowl….plus the gun at the base that blows straight down the center stairs leaving a cloud of rain and ice on the pavers – oh well…should be great next summer. ddk

I'll pile on with most of Ddk's post. The whole mountain slowly continues to firm up. Yes, the groomers are holding up, but mostly because the underling snow is rock hard. Sunny slopes were to be avoided. Even the shady aspects are slowly becoming harder. All in all, a good day in the sun (have I skied in the clouds or snow this year? Don't think so). Lots of easy groomers at silly speed added vert today in-between round trips to Powder Bowl, Elk Snort Bowl, and Valley Bowl. Best move of the day was avoiding, by sheer luck, the Rex sequencer mess. Some lucky skiers got free Gondy rides out of that. Will be tough without today's 3" dusting.

Ken ( A little more )