Crystal 12/18/12

Big Frenzy before and out of the gate.
Amazing well placed powder gave no resistance to the legs.
North Opened super late 2:15ish-Still more frenzy than I like. I looked like the start of a cross country ski race with 20 national teams all at the start.
Lift was not running so we had to exit the I-5 Trail.
Unfortunately  there was a gathering on the trail just after the Stump Patch cutoff and well before O-Meadows.
Freak avalanche occurred about 30 feet above the I-5 trail and swept a gal into a tree well.
SUPER BIG KUDOS to the team of skiers/boarders who helped extricate her after what I would have assumed at least 10 min to possibly 15 min burial!
When searchers spotted an appendage they still were moving 2+ feet of snow to get her cleared.
Way to carry the gear everyone! Probes and shovels everywhere! I don't think the victim had a beacon. But there was some fear that there was still one more burial in the mess. So the patrol arrived with the avy dogs to search. Everyone on the trail had to back up at least 50 to 100ft so the dogs could do their work. I think they were going to probe the area once after the dogs searched.
The crown was min 12" and what I would say 40 maybe 50 ft wide with propagating cracks extending wider. It ran down maybe 40 feet. Must have triggered sympathetically or from the weight loaded on the slope from traversing skiers on the single track out-This was NOT skier triggered from above. 
Once again I was impressed by those who had the gear and responded quickly, so many non-patrol searchers casing the area was impressive.
But super freaky in the benign location the avy occurred.
Ski safe out there! you never know!

Yeah, was a great day. Didn't get to stay long enough for a NW lap, but thoughts of LA trees will take place of counting sheep tonight.

Highlight of the day:
My buddy and I were loading REX on our first trip up the Mt.  Plopped down, and recognized a voice to my left. Hey, Joedabaker, "What's up?!" Hello's and powder pleasantries exchanged.
About halfway up REX my buddy and I start discussing our options for first run.  Bear pits?    Frontside?    Lazy entrance to exterminator? What to do? The powder frenzy had taken control of us.
I noticed Joe sitting pole position on the chair, slightly shaking his head side to side, eyes staring unfocused on the slope in front of us.  A short pause, and then he looks up.
"Ed.  You can do better than that"...
Thanks for the motivation, Joe. 

Off the hook going down, huge lines going up. Till Six opened and Rex line disappeared. Never felt the bottom of the pow, even on my 74mm waisted skis. Gave Six 2 hours for the horde to dissipate, but it was still a 20 minute line, still lots of untracked to be had. Best snow of the year and maybe many years. The snow was tracked out at the end but nice cut pow leftovers. A crowd that would make a saturday in january proud still left quantities of untracked nearly all day. We left just as Northway opened. Sounds like a scary scene on I5. There were lots of spooky tree wells everywhere, glad everything came out OK. Be more careful than I was when I briefly lost my buds in the billows of pow. See ya tomorrow.
+

Wow, great report with a great outcome.

I don’t know what more to add; this was one of those days you dream about. First run of the day was Door 1 with not a track in sight except for 2 Patrol cuts. Snow flying and sloughing around me, no firmness underneath, no bumps, it was heaven on earth.
Mistake of the day was to try Paradise Bowl when NW opened. I missed the word that the chair was closed and was stopped for the thankfully, successful rescue. Patrol, skiers, boarders and one avie dog were all doing what needed to be done to help or stay out of the way, so kudos to the whole CM community. My intention was to exit run on Employee Housing and when I looked up at it from the I5 trail, it would have been sweet. Am I just too greedy?
Reminder lesson for the day is, don’t put your gloves on the top of the car. I spotted 3 on the Boulevard and another on 410. Elk were at Buck Creek turnoff in the morning and evening.
No soup report. Are you kidding? Glad I was not forced to go to Maui for Christmas!

Yeah, what they said. Gonzo goodness to be had all over mountain. True the comments on crowds and pow fever, very unruly at times on approaches and particularly in lift ques. I wasn't aware of a Euro vibe taking hold at Crystal. Is there a vaccination ? I am beginning to think the Powder Clown Posse has the proper idea, now to get my hike on. Brok Cheddar soup again. I think the red stuff in the chili is wheat paste and red dye #2. I was told the buffalo chili at Rafters was gluten free, except for the beer they flavor it with. Crystal staff really performed well under pressure today, what with lots of snow, power issues and crowd control. I would encourage all of you to use all your sick days now to allow for uncrowded slopes in January. Looking forward to the next few days, storm cycle should provide free refills thru the weekend.