Crystal - 12/20

Another different kinda day…#1 had limited options this week so had to go to check out the conditions…I didn’t expect much (if anything) based on my limited weather forecasting ability (unlike some of the ultra special forecasters)…raining hard, 35 degrees at the base of the Blvd…slippy black ice on parts of it…windy and snowing hard when we hit the parking lot…time to just bail?...Not!...temps kept dropping, snow kept falling, winds kept howling, but at least it was not wet. Started out on FQex – good top ¾’s, not so great from there to the base (bottom of the mountain is ice hard frozen – no real edging allowed when we finally left). #1 took a break at CB lodge and I went up to check out Green Valley….REX running slow – but moving…Skied GV bowl – very nice quality, as was Lucky Shot down to below the last steep pitch, from there down was the frozen solid line. Winds kept howling, snow kept falling, above 5k snow quality was pretty nice and getting better (and filling in on those wind protected areas). Even down low and FQex had the beginnings of noticeable improvement – if not for the winds that kept blowing the new to some where else. Planned on dressing light under the assumption of warm wet conditions, but glad I wore as much clothes as I did. No lift lines to speak of, other than maybe GV, but since that had the best snow. Heard parts of NW up high were nice, but down low was nasty – should be all good when the winds slow down and if the snow keeps falling.

Other – Soup at CB lodge was Tomato Basil (hows that different than bisque? Tomato three days in a row). Parking lots indicated more folks than yesterday, B maybe 2/3s, C full and folks using the shuttle stops down lower. Roads going up where nice and just wet, coming down was pretty much packed something down close to Greenwater. Another day, another two short a day

Really appreciate your report... I was thinking about skiing tomorrow on Wednesday... but I don't like it when it is too frozen. We seem to be under going some weather changes... when it thaws and then re-freezes... not good.

However, we have had some good skiing for December. Skied last Thursday. It was good.

DDK brings up a good point, the word bisque does not a new soup make. The situation at the soup counter has rapidly become a second national embarrassment .It appears Crystal Mnt has "rigged" the system,and pre chosen a soup for the masses to consume. I for one will not stand line line for hours on end only to be told the word bisque makes "huge" difference to my lunch.It is time as an American to choose where upon the land you stand "bisque" or 'Tomato" ,there cannot be a bipartisan soup . As we face these next 4 months to together as a people,we should put aside petty differences....cheddar broccoli or mulligatawny......we are all skiers ....happy holidays or maybe Merry Christmas would be better

I for one would be happy for a bowl of REAL Chili for $10 (up from $ with maybe real tomato parts, no gluten paste filler, maybe even onions ? At least a slice of pizza with out trudging to the day lodge. I am thrilled with the oatmeal rasin cookies. Coffee (no refill) +cookie= $4.35 On a happier note the groom squad has done an incredible job the last 10 days. Mario from the Park Crew makes a great team leader. That is all from b-Lot

My wife and I had two nights at Silver Skis, so for the first time we had freshies at Crystal with a cozy ad instead of a long drive. 5-6" on groomers Monday, heavier than the last couple weeks but still nice and cold. Soup for us was broccoli cheddar in the condo with boots off and gloves toasting on the heater
Monday night started clear, then snow, then temps rose and it rained to about 5500'. THEN temps dropped as noted above. There was rain crust on top of groomers down low, but it got snowier and windier higher up. Middle Ferks was groomed and had 2-3" windblown for a hero run. Snow on GV and upper Northway was lightest, and howling winds smoothed even lee chutes. I ran into Kneel Turner and a small posse, and Northway entrance and Paradise Bowl had great conditions.
Crystal must have sent out a powder alert that downplayed the rain; lines up to 5-7 minutes at times.
While at the top of the entrance from Snorting Elk to Northway (location? I'm relearning the place this winter) we saw the wind knock off a 30" icy tree bomb that bounded down the chute like a bowling ball with throwing stars attached to it. Coulda really clobbered someone.