Crystal - 01/24

The winds from yesterday were gone today and the temperatures warmer from the start. Only one run and we had to shed the coats. By mid-morning, the rack at the bottom of REX was full of clothes. Both Lucky Shot and Iceberg were groomed today and Green Valley was skiing it's usual good self, so lots of nice runs until the front side softened sometime before 11am. The more consolidated lines down Sunnyside were the best, but chair line and Memorial Forest skied well early afternoon, just a little trickier to get through the rocks and brush in places. Once again, C6 was closed and Northway open. I don't get that as a venture over to Paradise Bowl revealed frozen cut-up snow while the bottom of Powderbowl felt like carvable chalk. Oh well, lots of other stuff to ski today. Also of note, the cold temperatures Wednesday night really helped the snow as it softened today with nice soft snow and none of the stickiness that can sometimes accompany it when temperatures hit 50.

And more other repetitive info - Very nice day, arrived extra late, jumped onto the first CHex chair and REX – started down sizing what I was wearing on the first ride up, it was very warm and no wind – nice. Spent the early morning in hyper hamster mode, treadmilling GV/MiddleFerk and Lucky, both very nice and smooth and soft from the start. As the temps kept getting warmer, more clothes came off and the real treadmill part of the day kicked into gear – few nice runs down BP’s, Showtime, many many Sunnysides, with a few IceFerkBergs thrown in. Spent the afternoon pretty much still in hyper hamster mode and finished with who knows how many GV/MiddleFerk and SunnySide runs…plus the final easy lazy run out StumpFarm and what ever they call Skid Road now. Would have been a big 40K day, since HC was not running again today, but I had to run up FQex once for the soup report – the pressure of reports.

Other – Soup at CB lodge (just for Mr. Eskinmo) was still California Medley (how many more days?), base had Ched Broc when I left (plus they were open and had lots of other food). Lots of sun on the base patio, with music and happy people. Pay lot got close to full, the kids buses where filling up the bus lot when I left, rest of A full, with cars in C and B lots. Rocks are popping out more, not bad most places.

When up to ride the lifts for, hopefully, some decent skiing compared to the ratty BC conditions. Gotta say, save your money and wait for some real snow. Definitely not worth the $ or time. Going for a mountain bike ride tomorrow. Just not that desperate to try this any time soon.

When up to ride the lifts for, hopefully, some decent skiing compared to the ratty BC conditions.  Gotta say, save your money and wait for some real snow.  Definitely not worth the $ or time.   Going for a mountain bike ride tomorrow.  Just not that desperate to try this any time soon.

Gotta say having a pass thats pretty much already paid for itself makes life easier, otherwise I'd agree - maybe, maybe not...Bike ride would be nice based on current weather...was thinking about it for tomorrow also, see lots of cars at the trailheads around Blackdiamond.

Can't add much to CD's report. A great day of soft snow. But the mountain is getting smaller as every day there is less skiable snow. We weren't kind to future skiers today, digging deep into the soft snow. Other than Green Valley, coverage is diminishing rapidly. Had an awesome day, but by the end, skiable lines through the rock were getting harder to find. (Too tired to talk about rodents and soup.)

Ken

Addendum: Yes, it's definitely not pay-for-a-ticket worthy snow right now.

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While I too have a seasons pass, I definitely got a lift ticket's worth of enjoyment out of skiing on Friday. Maybe I'm making lemonade out of lemons, but its easier than making lemonade out of kumquats.