Crystal - 03/20

Late report and definitely not as good as the Alply report......Pretty nice day all in all – did you’all expect a different opinion? Arrived extra late even for me….Bucket was already loading when I walked up! Parking in A lot was pretty much a disaster??? Nobody helping folks decide how much space to leave between rows – they where big (could have parked another row in between). Jumped onto an empty CHex chair at 9:15 – dang I missed First Tracks! – kind of a sucker hole down low, pretty grey mid mountain on REX early, snowing early and randomly during the day. Vis got better and better during the day. Groomers were pretty perfect especially with good vis. GV bowl was nice especially skier right towards Pro Course. Got lucky when John dragged me into one of the last doors! It was relatively smooth and untracked – pretty sweet! Worth a couple of runs….So if you see a relatively untracked line – do it. Best visuals where around noon when the clouds parted and the big untracked views of the King and Campbell Basin where pretty perfectly smooth and untracked sweet! PB looked the same a little later when I was riding up REX, would have been sweet. Skied K2 (?) it skied nicely, but I hope they don’t pull my pass since there is not a legal gate to get to it currently!!! Why not? Gonna have to complain. Did a few runs in M-World and the GullyGully area, nice with good vis and easy to dodge the bigger lumps. Bottom half of REX area was actually soft enough to go anywhere. Would have done more if I had the time. I was one of the colder days I’ve had this season…First day of Spring?

Other – Soups were pretty much the same thing – Ched Brocc and Calif Medley. No crowds today and if not for bad parking in the A lot everyone could have parked there. Lot of grey early, very nice broken clouds sun late. Pretty good day if I hadn’t had to do some chores.

Skied K2 (?) it skied nicely, but I hope they don’t pull my pass since there is not a legal gate to get to it currently!!! Why not?

Has the lowest Bear Pits gate been closed since the carnage? Typically, one just traverses over from Forest Queen, enters the gate, turns right, hugs the rope and skis over to K2. I always enjoyed going around the big rock in the chute, through some tight trees and finding my way back into the chute. If not, not sure if I would advertise a rope duck.

ddk, it's a great suggestion, there are no dumb questions only dumb answers.
b

Has the lowest Bear Pits gate been closed since the carnage?  Typically, one just traverses over from Forest Queen, enters the gate, turns right, hugs the rope and skis over to K2.  I always enjoyed going around the big rock in the chute, through some tight trees and finding my way back into the chute.  If not, not sure if I would advertise a rope duck.

Guess I'm advertising bad ethics...K2 does not really exist anymore, normally I never would consider crossing a line, and the ski patrol would probably not be pleasant about it depending on the individual, but...Yes the BP's gate is closed, it would be nice to discuss that with the Ski Patrol...I did not have much success with that option when they took out the low gate off the Throne a few years back...based on recent events that gate is probably parked on top of the bottom of Chair 6....Dont get me wrong, I "normally" am very good person, but.....K2 access? Ski Patrol opinions? I know some read my rants and posts.....would be nice to get a K2 gate marked triple diamond bad! Crossbones and Skulls would be nice also, kinda like Kirkwood.

maybe have people get the sacred and sometimes necessary back country pass, cuz that might not save lives but sure helps with liability.
b