Jan 9, 2012, Summit Waste

After watching the snow stack up all day on the web I couldn't resist the lure of 4-6in of fresh and bolted out of the office as the sun set to get some turns in under the lights at Summit West.

Conditions were interesting to say the least. I'd say Alpy patrol and TNT hit it head on this morning with their report of "challenging". 4-6" of good quality new snow on top of a thick but breakable rain crust, on top of 12+ inches of gloppy mank. Despite hitting the slopes less than 2 hours after the chairs started spinning for the first time since Sunday, the main groomed runs were already all chopped-up. We took a lap straight into the far rider's left of 360 Bowl and immediately began battling the crust. No amount of pointing it was going to get us out of the situation we'd put ourselves in and we had to break trail from the water towers to Julie's without a single track in front of us.

Thinking that some choppiness to the surface might be beneficial, we headed over to Wildside only to discover it was like a game of human plinko. You went where the frozen chop dictated, whether you liked it or not. Thinking even more tracks would improve the conditions, we popped over to Central. Parachute was downright treacherous with bumps skied down to the hard rain crust between them and a crusty trap on top of each to get you when you needed to slow down the most. Finally deciding that groomed runs were going to be the name of the game we headed up Central Express for a few laps. Sure things were better, but the grooming job done made Baker look like Whistler. I guess thick rain crusts are hard to groom elegantly.

Realizing our best run of the night had been our first, we made our way back over to Pacific Crest and put a few more leg burners through 360 Bowl while keeping ourselves entertained on the chair watching the folks race on one of the least fun looking courses I've seen up there in a long time.(read: icy and lumpy). All said and done, it was a lot better than working late and/or sitting around town. I'd think up top at Alpental tomorrow AM could be decent, but down low's gonna be tough for the next few days.

Interesting report. Wow glad I did not go there, but instead rode nice smooth groomers on PC and Dodge Ridge.

Our experience wasn't quite so grim. Challenging yes, but not unfun. One guy parked next to us said, "That was great, man!"  

Steeper bumps were demanding and caught us by surprise often.

Untracked skied well when fast fat skis could float the crust in the new snow. BC skiing will be a hunt for crustless snow this week, if it's anywhere.

XC skiiing this morning was fun and sunny.

My friend who's been living at the pass this winter and working full time as an instructor told me that earlier in the day he double ejected not once, but twice descending Parachute in the afternoon.

He was at Xtal on Tues. and said that the rain was very light, esp. up top and that might be the best bet for lift-served this weekend. Considering using my 2nd of five days down there this Sunday when the sun is forecasted to re-appear and the hike-to and sidecountry terrain should be more stable than it is now. Hopefully w/ the Hawks playing at brunchtime the crowds will be light.

Hopefully w/ the Hawks playing at brunchtime the crowds will be light.

Go Seahawks!