March 16, 2012 Crystal

AM very good. PM not so much. A good workout and technique check!

The rest of the report (at least my version – others to follow). Expected a frenzy for the first upper mt. opening since Tuesday and yes it was a frenzy, lots of folks standing around extra early to upload and what I would call a very big Gondy line, seems like I remember a fairly late CHex opening and we got the extra bonus of standing close to the front of the REX line for even longer – finally started the real frenzy around 9:20, a couple of really fun smooth fast runs down the Doors in the big sun and then the slow down till other lifts opened. GV was very late opening, looked like a lot of digging was needed top and bottom when we finally saw it during the afternoon. Missed the timing on HC – to big a line when we showed up to suffer it, so back to the empty REX lift. To much hot sun to early today pretty much mucked up everything early, best places ended up being north facing slopes in the early afternoon. Watched all the folks standing at all the NW gates till sometime during the afternoon and at that time we were cycling PB/BP’s – PB great packed pow with deep fluff skier right. Ended the day with GV runs the best being in SnortElk bowl. We lasted longer than expected, a lot of sunny slopes will be pretty challenging tomorrow, groomers will be good if they are groomed. Lots of sun, no lift lines after the first hour or so, no soup report today – sorry, no buses in the A lot today and not many pay folks either (lots of empty space), but C lot full and B lot had cars from one end to the other, so there must have been a pretty good crowd today, must have been a good time in the lodges during lunch.

Ditto ddk report.

As to SOD question, chicken curry (surprisingly good ), and loaded? potato, and regarding CB lodge crowds, weekend busy during noon hour.

Hopefully some new over groomed tomorrow, and south opening will be epic.

The morning was spectacular on the Frontside. Sun, untracked, smooth… for 4 runs before the it was tracked out, as Rex was the only open area. Hit the C-6 opening perfect; a short line lasted one run, but was it was worth the next 13-minute wait for another. 40 minutes after the ski patrol said Northway would open in 15 minutes, the crowd at the Northway gates meant a huge line at the chair, so we bailed. I second Kyle M's lament as he pulled in, "Don't you people have jobs?" Elk Chutes were great, and our bailing cinched the opening of the Northway gate. After noon, everything except Powder Bowl was getting heavy, thick, and/or packing hard. Some tough off-piste (sunny aspects) till it's chewed up some more. Lots of waiting today but well worth it.

Ken
+

Super gonzo good from my limited perspective. Looked out the window at the wave of high dollar BMWs, Tahoes, Subarus stuffed with Red Bull chuggun occupants pulling into B-lot (my front yard from my perspective) and thought to myself "these are not my people". Particularly impressed with the fellow decked out in NorthFace's finest, rockin a plastic shovel, still showing the price tag who was fumbling with his beacon strap. Asked him if he had put batteries in it yet. Got a deer in the headlights response. At least he's gettin equipped. Some very nice laps off the top waiting for North to open. Excellent quality however diminished in quantity due to over population. I second Kyle's job comment. Midweek days are no longer pluckin the low hanging fruit. In spite of the heaviness I observed several mid range sluffs. Patrol has reported a good deal of unanticipated instability which makes me reluctant to venture too far off the beaten path. Think I'll leave the skins in the bag this weekend. South hasn't been touched since last Sunday... and reports from the Throne were highly favorable today. Be careful out there, and do put the batteries in.

Midweek days are no longer pluckin the low hanging fruit.

I think the number of wind closure days, rain days, etc. is concentrating all the powder hunters onto the same day. In the last 7 days, one day of rain, 3 days of wind closure, and then today freezing the sun bake from yesterday afternoon.

Added some video from friday.

Ken