Crystal - 02/19

I’m back! So sad. Quit way early today…probably to early..but…would have been interesting to listen to the Umbrella music..…Interesting day, seeing the results of the last week of weather at Crystal…Big fracture on skiers right side of PB – cleaned out a few more little trees as it slid into Little Porteo…Other slide activity main slots in BP...Big lumps in places to dodge….But the “real” ski report – arrived early parked to far back in the A lot…got the last open slot at the front of CHex (?) around 7:30. Big kid racer crowd in the base lodge early…light early crowd in line for CHex and no real line on REX for most of the day (all day?) Only line that I noticed was FQex when I was passing through to HC (not bad in the singles line). HC no lift line ever, PB had some nice deep snow in my fav line. Did BP’s once skiers hard left along the forest and it was very nice deep and totally untracked when I did it. One run in Lucky Shot Trees early was pleasant. Lucky Shot early was nice new deep on the groomer and got skied down to the “don’t turn in the icy spots where everybody else turns” conditions. Tried Memorial and the Gully – okay thanks to the Coombas, but not worth more than one. GV Bowl skied nicely skier right side. Heard about good things out in other areas – but you know this hamster. Skied PB like I was in a treadmill mostly. Got lucky and bumped into the Ferks for a nice run and chair rides…MS Ferk is skiing great with her “new” knees.

Other – Passed through CB lodge around noon and the soup was the Triple C (and it was busy). Parking lots were typical for a Sunday…Not full Pay lot and every thing full at least through B and C – space after that…not as good as the parking last week in the Canyons of Utah. Driving was good – till someone notice the icy roads around Camp Shepard this morning…and the drive down was high speed with the race car drivers passing everyone. Great day all in all and I quit early to save some muscle for the next few days.

DDK it is so sad.....if the top is closed tomorrow for the 7 th time this month . we at crystal will be enjoying ( because to complain or point out the obvious, is rude) the least new snow of any large resort since jan 1st ,.....the most rain ...the most alpine shut down this month.....I could not ski today,maybe it was O.K ......I will drive all the way up tomorrow,because I LOVE skiing......its been shit except for 4 great days this mouth...that ended in rain,to the top and one of 3 (so far) 2 day upper mnt closers .....I hope you enjoyed the greatest snow on earth in Utah........cuz it aint here.....p.s. December was the best....praying it will get better.....your obedient slave to snow james

Variable. As in each turn being different
Alternate 4-6” new and skidded ice from Avalanche Basin Left to Snorting Elk
Northway was best, just stay off the choke points
Huge crowd (Parked out A to F-Lot, which was half full of motor homes), but MANY of them were racer kids and lodge riders, so no lines.

Ken
+

arrived 8:00, parked up close, booted up in the locker room, got right on chinook...autobahn/northway was nice when we bumped in mrs smooth engaged in an 'advanced ski lesson' -- geez, sign up for group and be the only person in the class all day is a great deal for her!...

since it snowed pretty hard all day, and is forecast for all day Mon+Tues, Crystal will recover within 1 week of the big rain that caused an 8" dip in the resort's base...so we've had 2 big rains this season and i've managed to ski the day prior and after all of them --yikes!

CONS: leftover carnage from the big rain, viz, right angle 9 am fugly

PROS: the tranquil trees of elizabeth and silver creek beds and associated terrain got better as the day went on, especially OB under BearGap, boondoggle, outer boondoggle, fardoggle, enjoyed bumping into uphill friends...

Had a lot of fun skiing bad snow with totally inappropriate skis with Mrs Scotsman.
Exterminator and Right Angle where my choices for self- abuse.
Some of us enjoy suffering.... penance is good for the soul.
Better than not skiing... I may do it again tomorrow.