Dec 16> Warm, but deep

Rain in the parking lot usually means turn around and go home, but Jack Clennon was here from Chicago and Dave Carnahan from Portland had never skied Crystal, so up we went. Surprise! It started snowing at the chair and from the REX up, it was snowing and blowing and a full on powder day. A good day with limited vis. Great runs in North Back. Still needs another 5'.
Now, Saturday the 19th and it's warm and wet all the way to the top. Here's the report from Alpental.
ALPENTAL33° F
OVERNIGHT 24 HR 48 HR 72 HR BASE
0" 0" 0" 3" 45"

ALPENTAL SUMMIT36° F
OVERNIGHT 24 HR 48 HR 72 HR BASE
0" 0" 0" 4" 77"

I'll post the December totals when it's over, but it looks to be below the average for the past 4 Decembers.

Video of November 22nd.

2009 Season Begins

With the 5th earliest start ever, Crystal opened on November 11. Our first day was November 22. Fiorini's and I had a great powder day. See the Video's. Over 100 inches of snow so far. Whistler had over 209 inches in November. Now it's gone cold.
As of this morning, Dec 6, it was 1 below @ crystal. Alpental is open, but i don't think they have much cover. Limited skiing. Hope that changes soon.

Last Day, One of the best: April 15

Jeff Fiorini and I hit it big. I'll try and get the Video on here.
LOT's of snow, no reef, awesome day. Our last day up there and our last run, down the spine of what looks like upper E from the parking lot was sensational. It was short, but a wonderful year in the end.
Season snowfall total: 463" at Crystal. i think 2/3 was in March and April.
Alpental will be open for Cinco de Mayo. I'm doubtful

2007/ 2008 Snowfall stats from Alpental

2007/2008 Season statistics. 2009 yet to finalize.

Our December and January snowfall totals combined were the highest since 1971, and April's was the highest since 1984. Check out the stats below to see just how unbelievable this season was.

CURRENT AND HISTORIC SNOW TOTALS
Season December January February March April Season Total
2007-2008 173" 130.5" 101" 97" 67" 591"
2006-2007 96" 69" 62" 37" 11" 389"
2005-2006 61" 175" 71" 41" 9" 446"
1998-1999 146" 102" 164" 82" 19" 603"

Thanks to the WSDOT who provided this data. Measurements taken from the Snoqualmie Pass Telemetry Station, located across the street from Summit West. avid

Alpental-April 3: Another powder day.

Snuck up there for what they said was 15" of powder. Check out the video and still photo of the day.
If I'm lyin',I'm die'in. Back at the office @ 1 pm.

April 2, 2009......A Powder Day extrordinaire

They said it was only 7" of new, but it hasn't stopped snowing for some time. This was one of the best days of March/April, because it was deep and there was no reef, no hard bumps underneath. Yes, it get's skied out in places and sort of crunches a bit, but in the uncut it was good. And it's April 2 and it's still snowing. No good face shots today, but still, really good base and it was filling in all day. Beauty...

Both Fiorini's, Dan and Ken, whom I haven't really skied with all year, Sabella, whom I haven't skied with either. His son Toffer and girl friend/ ripper/beauty who's name escapes me. Good posse , but on a powder day, it's hard to stick together.

One run in Northback with Ken, Dan and I. Apres a sumptuous lunch@ the top, we headed out there and took the sneak around the far peak to the "far run". We stopped to find some missing equipment, and just standing in the deep, on the side of the hill, looking at the beauty of the place and the calm that is a powder day was the most enjoyment i had all day. Well, maybe the hundreds of good powder turns were pretty good too.
Why is that sensation of play and motion so wonderful, so desireable, so calming and peaceful? I'm going to continue my research on the topic. It's good work.

Crystal Statistics for March , 2009

Since March 1st we've received over 12 feet of snow, this is the most snow we've received in March in 15 years! And it's just not stopping, we're expecting even more snow as we head into April! "

Human recorded observations describe the conditions at Crystal Mountain as "soft machine groomed with powder and packed powder off piste. South Country is closed!
Overnight 24 Hr 48 Hr 72 Hr Total Depth
Summit 24° F 10" 10" 11" 24" 130" 21 mph
Base 30° F 8" 8" 9" 22" 90"

Season snowfall total: 425"

March 29 @ Alpental

13" of new..Snowing most of the day. Very good day. Skied solo as all my friends went to Crystal, but it worked out well.
One run down the Elevator Gate ,which was the only BC open for the day.
Crytsal said they got 13" and it was cold. March was the month that saved 2009 for us.

31" At Alpental. Tuesday, March 17.

31".  Tuesday.  Big day, but 20 minute + lines at the top.  No BC open, but what was available was fun.  Big Tuesdays are not a private deal.  I rode Pontoons which are a nice ride on deep days. There sems to be a lot of people with free time on their hands, and powder priority.  In the year of the 2nd depression, it seems that the poor and unemployed join the leisure class on the hill.  Good idea. 

Alpental : 12" new , 3-13-09

Incredible. 

Stan Barners & I went.  So did every bro with a soul patch and a fat ride.  20 to 25 minute waits at the top, and then we found a lot of avalanche patrol work , but the first few rides were good. This photo is the parking lot when we were leaving!  It just snowed all day.  

Crystal 3-16-09:

Crystal goes off again:  Monday the 16th:  6" on top of 12" from Sunday.

It wasn't perfect, it has some funny snow and it was actually very busy for a monday, but Sally, Jeff and I wore ourselves out. Favorite runs of the day were 2 down Exterminator, top to bottom. 

A few on 6, Great run in The Queen, Northway for 2 or 3...

Friday, March 7...Fantastic

Sally and Jeff Fiorini took me skiing to Crystal on Friday, March 7th. We left Mercer Island @ 7..drove fast, and still had a lot of people in front of us.  Everyone who could ski was there, including Warren Miller Films. It was a perfect day.   There was at least 25" this week.

Sunday.....  Made 3 Backcountry laps at Alpental , because it took an hour a lap.  Parking lots were full by 9am!!  It Snowed most of the day.

They had 12" yesterday, it snowed most of the night...Back to 2008 conditions. Great day again.

Feb 25:  It's finally snowing, some.  5" at the bottom and 8" at the top @Crystal Mt.  More coming. Report to come. 

Winter of 08-09...It didn't start, then it exploded, then died

February 5, 2009...

To my sking friends and partners, to my boon buddies that I share the downhill passion with, I invite you to participate in this blog to chronicle this winter, and those to come.  I've no idea how this works out long term, but it's supposed to last for a long time, so let's try it. 

THIS is what Crystal is supposed to look like  This is from March, 2008 , the year of the never ending snow.  As of today, February 5, we have the following:

Alpental:  Bottom base >61". Crystal,BB>48".

I seriously doubt those numbers.  

This , after one of the more active Decembers in History.  Snowfall over 150", I-90 closed for more than 5 days, Snow in Seattle for almost 2 weeks around Christmas and New Years with sking from my house in Leshi down to the Leshi Market and then a skin ride home .  COLD powder days at Crystal,  Send your Photo's and we'll up load them. 

It's supposed to start snowing again.  Son andrew , after just purchasing his first Alpine Touring setup has left for 4 to 5 months in India and Nepal.  Julia is stuck in Lubbock, wishing she had a boyfriend with a jet to get her to Taos on the weekends. I'm just waiting for my ski pards to call........

c