Groomer Day on Feb 12

Bob Conlon of Chicago came to town and we went to Crystal.  I'd give it a 5 with hard pack and fog the main features.  Oh we went fast, and we had one run in Paradise Bowl which indicated there was nice snow on north slopes, but overall, it was good to get to lunch and then the Elk.  Hope he comes back for the good stuff some day.  It's a nice way to spend time with work colleagues.

The Kids for the weekend of Jan 21.

Awesome time with the kids.  Julia, Drew and Alice.  Really good day of sun and powder and all that makes us love at Crystal.
Julia and I had a good one at Alpental too the following day.  Julia's 35th birthday celebration weekend was one to remember.

FEBRUARY 7, Enough Powder on Crust makes for a big day.

Jeff Fiorini and I planned on taking advantage of the old cold snow day for over a week and were happily surprised to have Dan Ogborn and Hershal Pharms join us.  When we found long time friend Peter Giese in line, we were set.
High 20's, 7" in 2 days, but we found far more than that when we went looking.  Intermittent clouds and fog.  Reasonable, not great light.
Surprisingly we found good snow on the eastern and northern aspects.  A few runs in the main area, and then on to Northway which turned out to be very good.  We made or normal runs , headed down Sally's Meadow and down. I got stuck on a cliff face and had to walk out just to the right of the Northway chair.  Had the sense, or the lack of balls, and turned around to find a way that didn't read and look say "Cliff".  Last run down the Niagaras to Lunch at the Elk was really good.  A few after lunch in the building fog, with the last run down the shoulder off of 6, which was CRUNCHY.  We were happy to end it and gave it a 7 to an 8 .  There were some 9's in there, but too many 4's to get a big rating, but man, it was still good.

Beautiful Powder Day January 10,2013

Stuart Silk, Jeff and Sally Fiorini and I got on it and it worked very, very well.
Cold, good visibility,and in some place up to 15" of powder.  We started right down the front side of Sunnyside, and just kept looking for the goods.  When North Back opened, we go there pretty quick, and the video is testimony to how good it was.

 

We didn't last long, just after lunch, but a beautiful day.  2012/ 13 continues to be a very memorable year.

December 21 @ Crystal. EPIC day.

Often overused, the term is true for this day.  It was cold, in the low 20's and the snow was falling intermitently. Stuart and Michael Silk and Mark Callahan got up there @8:15. Parked at the Silver Skies where Mark has a place.  We were on the gondola and started on West Face, untracked.  It just kept building all day.  Lot's of new snow, somewhere between 1' and 2". Chair 6 closed the day before, as was Northway.  We made laps on 6 until lunch, then skied Powder Bowl and Bear Pits.  As we got to the top, at 2, and the Northway Light came on.  We went to the traverse and got into the Meadow only to find untracked.  A virgin slope all the way to the bottom with everyone in whoop mode.  Long line at the chair, late move to Gate 8, came down the left side on the Niagra's side .  Here is the video from that. An incredible day.
By the sounds of my voice, you'd think I was scared of the deep snow.  Nahhhh, not me.

1-1-13 at Alpental

All by my lonesome, got up at 9 and it was deep in fog on the bottom of the mountain, but the fog layer was only on the lower mountain and it was beautiful up top.  No new snow, but plenty of cold snow bumps.

Alpental is very steep early in the year.  They need another 5' to really get the holes covered, but what a December.  Over 150" fell up there.

DECEMBER To REMEMBER

From the Crystal Post:  Dec 17, BEST DAY ever sort of day.
It's snowing and snowing and snowing and cold.
Stuart and I went Sunday the 15th, fantastic day.  Ended down Gate 8 to the bottom and it was exceptional. Photo's to follow.

Overnight	6"
24 Hour	8"
48 Hour	30"	and  59" in 72 hours.
72 Ho		We've picked up almost 6 feet of snow in the past 7 days! It began snowing heavily Sunday and it hasn't let up since. High winds kept upper mountain closed on Monday but it was an epic powder feast on Tuesday with the best conditions many of us have ever skied. It was deep, light and bottomless. Upper mountain was open along with High Campbell and short-Northway even opened towards the end of the day. Smiles were large, high fives were in abundance and the words "best day ever" were heard as skiers and boarders gathered at the end of the day. We woke up to more new snow Wednesday but the winds were gusting into the high 60's forcing us to close upper mountain.