Crystal - 12/23

Another windy cold feeling day, another to short of a ski day, lots of folks waiting for CHex to start loading this morning (one of the biggest crowds this season – mainly cause the Bucket was on wind hold). Crowd at REX since it was also running slowly and seemed to have those sequencer problems at the bottom again today. Easy lines at FQex early and nice groomed smooth with a few inches new…no real lift lines until the 10:30 glut arrived, early lunch before CB lodge was packed to the rafters with folks spending a lot of quarters on food. HC was also on hold most of the morning, but looked to be loading around noon. Heard good things mostly about NW and the groomed run outs to the base of the lift. Snowing kinda wet early, with almost blue sky breaks late morning. #1 said she had fun on her “special” day, but she seems to be unlucky about getting the big cold windy days this season.

Other – CB lodge had the Triple C soup (left over from yesterday?) with rumors of Chicken Noodle later in the day. Didn’t check out the base soup, but from what we saw for crowds around it must have been packed. Pay lot was the new normal massive, but only half full at most of widely spaced rows, B and C lots full up with cars in D and E…so it was a pretty good sized crowd…this week it was almost a every other day on the crowds. Next week should be a zoo.

The word for today was variable. Variable crowds, variable snow, and variable weather. Except for the wind which was a constant. Misty rain at the bottom when Chinook opened and freezing fog on top with howling winds. The first semi-blind run down GV revealed wind crusted snow. Because REX was running slow and we feared it would close, we took another run down GV, then headed for Northway where we stayed all morning. Good snow to be found and more protected from the wind except the top. Started to get some sun breaks, so decided to go check out the rest of the mountain. Went out Kelly's Gap, Sluiceway, Berry Patch, and Lower E. Quite a bit of fun and while it was clearing on top, it was snowing heavily at the bottom. Did a repeat trip. Also had a couple runs in Bear Pits where it was...variable. The one trip down the front side of REX was a no repeater. With the off and on clearing up top, took a couple more down GV, then a top to bottom to end the day out the Gap.

Crowds were weird. One run would reveal a 5 minute line. The next run, no line. When we left, all lots full (except the stupid pay lot) with some RVs parked in F lot. A very busy day for the mountain and a tough one to have chairs wind impacted and sequencer problems on REX.

And, just for Scottsman, the traffic sucked heading down the mountain. Although I have to give the driver of the Chevy pick-up props. After driving 30 MPH from above Greenwater all the way to 5 minutes out of Enumclaw, he finally pulled over and let the long string of cars backed up on the wet pavement go by.

My word for the day is crusty. Wind crust, rain crust, sun crust. But with enough pockets of goodness linked together and getting out of the wind that wasn’t forecast, the morning on Northway turned an “I hope we last till 10” day into some big fun. Linked soft spots on T2Bs and some wild Beat Pits runs lasted till the legs gave out.

And thankfully, some kind pickup drivers added 30 minutes to the CM to The Claw commute and saved us from untold mayhem driving the speed limit on wet roads.

Ken
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And, just for Scottsman, the traffic sucked heading down the mountain.  Although I have to give the driver of the Chevy pick-up props.  After driving 30 MPH from above Greenwater all the way to 5 minutes out of Enumclaw, he finally pulled over and let the long string of cars backed up on the wet pavement go by. 

Speed limit to the hill for me this morning although I did have some road rage with a snowboarder in a clunker at the the Ranch exit. Gave him the bird and an absolutely beautifully executed death stare. Mrs Scotsman took her own car because she was leaving earlier and had a fright from some aggressive looney trying to overtake everybody on the boulevard. She's a sweetie but can swear like a sailor. My ears turned red and I blushed at what she called him. I think there's some Italian in her DNA.
We safely met up in Upper Lot C with the Backcountry Elite and went for a tour into FF Forest with a friend. After they left I roamed the hill looking for good snow and found some in some more remote and unpopulated areas.
Speed limit home..... Your timing must be off CD!