November 2, 2005, Artists Point

What a contrast to last thursday when I hiked up Goat Mtn. with 1 inch of snow. Snow today started, for the most part, at the lower ski hill lodge where there was 5-6". At the upper lodge, it looks like things have settled out to 18-22". (thats being generous) Skinned up to the bottom of Austin ski run where there was a solid 2'. At the top of Austin, I probed down to 3'6", and at the top of Blueberry Ridge(near Artist Point), I found a maximum of 5'. So, with elevation gain, depth grew consiterably. There was pea soup for visability on BB Ridge, whoomphing when skinning, and dense, wet snow with a temp. of about 32-33. Skied back to Austin, where vis. was better and took a couple laps on that run. Good times! The groomers were out compacting and I see why they are not opening the ski hill yet. Marginal coverage on all but Austin and, in places, Pan Face. Table looked OK from what I could(n't) see, but no tracks. Be careful this weekend after multiple feet gets deposited on top of this.