Surface Hoar

Check out these surface hoar crystals I found this morning outside of the ski area. These crystals are particularly well developed and look almost like feathers. Some say this is a fancy name for frost. Surface hoar commonly forms on clear, calm, cold nights. If the crystals remain intact and are followed by new snow, they can form a weak layer in the snowpack.

West Zuma

West Zuma is open. The skiing in Schauffler was superb. This is the time of year when The Basin gets big. We still have the Steep Gullies (not too far away) and the East Wall to open. There is such a broad range of skiing with cruisers on the Front Side and East Zuma to the glades in The Beavers and to the steeps of the North Side and West Zuma. The place is just too much fun...... and we still have a couple of my favorites, hiking the East Wall and the Steep Gullies, to go.

Snowing and Skiing Digger

What a great afternoon. The skiing got better by the hour. The big, big wind that was forecast for the afternoon did not really happen. While breezy, it just kept snowing. I had a phenomenal run skiing Digger in The Beavers. The tree spacing and the snow surface were perfect. I also found great snow in Black Bear and Lenawee Parks. And it is still snowing. During a 4:45 PM walk through in the 6th Alley, I found a lot of smiling faces.

Saturday looks good. We should have gusty west winds which are good for The Basin. Unfortunately for the Ikon Base pass holders, their passes are blacked out Saturday and Sunday. It is a bummer they won't be here. This will be a relatively quiet holiday weekend with some beautiful skiing.

She's Buffed

So sweet.

From The Bottom Up - Steep Gullies

The Steep Gullies are starting to fill in. Unlike many places, their best skiing starts at the bottom. During all the avalanche work, snows sloughs off the upper entries and fills in down low. Storm after storm, the snow continues to get deeper and deeper filling the bottom up first. At times, the entries may be scratchy, but once in the chute, the snow is deep and the skiing is great. Today the entries are not quite ready, but you can tell, the skiing is pretty darn good once in the chute.

Bald Spot

The Bald Spot is open. This area is a really cool little treat. It is about the size of the Lower Alleys and just about as steep. The skiing is excellent. It is a great diversion. Skiers are usually alone when there. It doesn't get skied very much and it requires a 10 minute steep-ish hike back to the bottom of The Beavers Lift. It is a special place to do something different.

Those Darn Skinners

Always out there having fun !!!

Treeline and High Divide Terrain Parks

One of the last acts of the Snowmakers was to make snow for the High Divide and Treeline Terrain Parks. The Cat Drivers and Park Crew put a lot of sweat equity shaping the snow. Riders will find some cool features including a down rail, whale tail step down, barrel bonk, tube spine, hourglass, quarter pipe / pole kick and down flat down rail. Sounds cool to me.