Crystal - 03/23

Very nice day, looked a little iffy early with some clouds, but today was pretty much big sunny and blue. No real lift lines except for once late morning when passing by GV Chair. Even with all the sun and telemetry saying it was warm, I never could actually down size to Hawaii shirt and light gear. Early day was GV bowl and high speed Middle Ferk runs or Lucky Shot. Later morning was starting to poke around the sun baked edges – Lucky bumps, lower Ferk and once out Kellys gap to Lower E. Every thing down low that was sun baked was nice (if you like spring mush). Best sun baked runs on REX were chair line and the Gully between Sunnyside and Memorial Forest ( did that one way to many hamster times). Big thing today was when PB opened up for hikers – very pretty early for the first hour, congrates to all that did those pretty turns. Might post a before and after pic a little later today. Could also see lots of nice turns out south all over the King and farther out. Another fun day on the slopes, what else? Since the season is almost over (1 month of winter season left) even a weekend is no longer that crowded on the slopes or lifts. Heard it was not to busy yesterday either.

Other – Soups at CB lodge were Triple C and Ched Broc. (and no I did not eat either one of them). Nice pleasant social with Mrs Ferk at the base plaza at the end of the day. A lot full with cars, B lot maybe 2/3 full and C similar, cars in D and E. Tomorrow should be hopefully nicer – smaller crowd, more sun, more heat, more fun!

Icy speed runs were quickly doused by the small crowd concentrating on the few areas of groomed. When the lower mountain softened, Valley Bowl (only early ungroomed that skied well) throughout the Berg to Lower Bull was fast and fun. Later Sluiceway and Lower E softened for an alternative. When the Frontside softened (took a while) a couple of skied out lines were really good. The rest, chunky glop. Patrol ski cut Powder Bowl, and after starting just a few small sluffs, opened it to hiking. Too late for me, but the lines skied looked awesome.

Ken
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I spent most of the morning on FQ with the wife but after lunch headed solo. It took a while to figure out that PB was open for the hiking public. I should have done that. Very, very nice looking. But no I stayed to work on pounding a line into Showtime with some success, maybe 50% big slushy turns; the rest ok. I tried Outer Ferks new entry but was not impressed with the snow quality and the encroaching BP rope line. Grubstake ok, Elk snort pretty good. Iceberg good slushy bumps but crowded.
There was a ddk sighting but his quick detour to the soup line took him out of reasonable (for me) hailing range. The chicken coconut curry was very good by the way.
And now I see a CM Skier posting whom I thought I sighted in GV from the chair. Sorry to miss you guys. I am now sporting a white helmet with orange band goggles.

Powder Bowl

vimeo.com/89873045

Yes, a nice day. Only my second day at Crystal this year (pretty sad).

The opening of Powder Bowl to hiking made up for it.

I was in the right place at the right time and followed Brent Okida up the west ridge just after they opened it.

Crystal ski patrol rocks! They did a ski cut near the ridge, but left the bowl pristine for the skiing public. Here's a "before" picture showing the bowl in the morning and a picture after I made the first of my four runs.

Yes, a nice day. Only my second day at Crystal this year (pretty sad).

The opening of Powder Bowl to hiking made up for it.

I was in the right place at the right time and followed Brent Okida up the west ridge just after they opened it.

Crystal ski patrol rocks! They did a ski cut near the ridge, but left the bowl pristine for the skiing public. Here's a "before" picture showing the bowl in the morning and a picture after I made the first of my four runs.

Your line? Very nice, was gonna be part of my pic's!