Drove through Enumclaw at 7:10 which was 5 minutes too late. By 7:15, we were in a line of 20 cars backed up behind a fully chained up roadgrater going 35mph. There wasn't enough snow on the road for him to put down his blade, but enough no one would pass him. He didn't turn off until Crystal Village. By then, there was another 30 cars behind me. So, 35mph-driving-chained-up-on-wet-roads-tearing-up-our-brand-new-pavement-roadgrater-guy, we salute you. Pulled into the very back of A-lot at 8:15. The pay lot was massive. From there, the day just got better. They started loading CHEX sometime around 8:30, even before there was a line. Walked out at 8:35 and got on the lift with no one else. Never waited in a line all day, although the mountain seemed busy with lot's of CMACers and other first timers for this season.
The mountain has definitely transitioned from the powder of the last several weeks to firm, fast groomers and packed snow moguls off-piste. Where we could find powder, it was a little funky and slightly set up requiring power and speed. Visibility was an issue at times with the fog rolling in and out most of the day. Headed out to Northway where we found it clear and the best snow of the day. The packed pow bumps were awesome. Took #1 out there for a run and we stayed for several.
I also forgot how fun it is to ski GV, then blast a perfectly groomed Iceberg and Deerfly to the bottom. Once there, the gondie line was always 20 minutes to a half hour while we could ski right onto CHEX, digging out our passes taking the longest part of the wait. Also, very fun runs down Kelley's gap (Sluiceway and Berry Patch to lower E). Lower E has turned into big, awesomely shaped moguls. A couple repeats including the last run of the day. A pretty big vert day.
When we left, pay parking was completely full and A, B, C, D, and E lots crammed full with a few stragglers in F lot. Where were all those people? Maybe Forest Queen? We never went over that way.
Looks like we'll have at least a week of these conditions with no significant snow forecast through next Monday. Coverage is excellent.
