2-02-26

The hill was wide open today with all areas available for exploration. The Baldy Chute into Alta opened today with a lot of excitement and interest focused on that development alone. I was scoping out the smooth lines out on the North East facing aspects, which look like they are becoming a bit more consistent. Temps were warm, but there was still a chill in the air that made my fingers cold. Smooth machine worked lines were fun fast and dialable on all sides of the hill, with the early laps offering the best feel. There was some nice reflected light coming back from Superior, making those North facing aspects much more detailed for those morning laps. Back to back Trams was a treat and kept pulling me back to the front of the hill.

Tomorrow, look for a carbon copy of today’s fun zone experience. The Baldy Chute will still be open and holding good snow with such low pressure for that line. Machine worked lines will be happening on all sides of the hill, offering that hot lap pace, and the exploration possibilities are open and interesting. Temps should be warm again, but that morning chill will still be happening. The hill is holding up nicely and these wide open days are really fun and stoke building. Straight Ahead!!!

2-01-26

It was much warmer this morning, with bright Sun, low wind, and a balmy feel to start the day. Mineral Basin was offering freshly prepared lines that were fast, fun, and wide open. There are some very nice wind slab sections to be worked on the North East aspects that are well worth the explorations for later intel. The front side of the hill was offering very light traffic with all the attention going to the back bowl. Back to back Trams were easy to make after the first push was delivered up the hill, leaving some slamming laps that had all the features of big mountain smooth one could want. I was working those dry chalky lines that had plenty of traction and consistency to let me lay over on the edges and dial in some juice.

Tomorrow, look for a repeat of today, with much lighter traffic. Prepared lines will be offering some sweet corduroy goodness that will hold up the quality even in these warmer temps. The coverage remains quite good, but look for some loose rock from time to time where the cats kick it up out of the mat. I am enjoying dressing for these warmer temps and wide open lines. Keep it tight!!

1-31-26

The hill was wide open and ready for some sunny fun, with clear skies, freshly tilled machine surfaces and a lot less wind. Mineral Basin was offering great groomed lines with super corduroy for the early risers. The front of the hill was offering excellent buffed lines top to bottom. The consistency has been amazing after such a long stretch between refreshments, but the traction and flow remains very dialable. Temps have been warming up and it is nice to get away from that morning bite.

Tomorrow, look for continued smooth cruisin’ on all sides of the hill, and more sunshine to illuminate the day. Those early morning lines will be extremely rewarding, and will give you the feed back from your turns you have been wantin’. Traffic should be moderate, but keep and eye on the lines and use the flow. Watch Your SIX!!

1-30-26

The sky was super blue this morning, with clear skies, Sun high up on it’s rise, and cold air to to keep it crisp. Mineral Basin was offering some great machine worked lines as well as some wind buffed threads that were worth chasing. The front side of the hill was offering top to bottom, back to back hot laps that made keeping the pace up lots of fun. Temps were a bit warmer, but the North wind was still blowing, transporting some dust to fill in the corduroy grooves. Adventure runs will provide just that, an adventure, though you will find some pockets of smooth and soft here and there.

Tomorrow, look for more really fun turning on the hill. Expect a bit more traffic, but I think the hill will get spread out quickly and waiting should not be too bad. Lots of freshly machine worked lines will be happening on all sides of the hill, so get the good corduroy smooth early before it gets worked. It has been stellar in the AM all week long. Temps should be warming up a bit as well, making the ambience much nicer.

Don’t Forget To SIZZLE!!!

1-29-26

There was an quick blast overnight that delivered a few inches of fresh dry Essence on the dance floor for the morning crew. The Sun was bright, the air was cold, and the snow was fast with no real cushion underfoot, but still gave the turns a bit more buffering. I was still going for the freshly prepared corduroy carpets that were insanely smooth, with just the right amount of nap to make the skis sing as they carved through it. Mineral Basin was offering excellent lines with those previously wind blown lines holding the best shot at some consistent off trail feel. There were a lot of folks out charging the off trail and they were doing a good job of dealing with the old substrate.

Tomorrow, look for more wide open cruisin’, with great cover, plenty of options for some adventure, and top to bottom, back to back laps going off. I expect the Sun to be keeping the visibility crisp and clear. The morning’s machine prepared offerings will be worth being first to leave some lacerations in the mat. These are some amazing days with light traffic on the hill, and a wide range of paths to follow with every run. Stay Frosty!!!

1-28-26

There was a high cloud deck this morning, with weather approaching later in the afternoon. The Sun burned through the deck and shed some light on the situation, but got covered again later. The prepared lines were holding up nicely, though the details were hard to discern from time to time. Top to bottom lines were fast and fun, but with the variable light, a certain cushion paid off.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sticking with the solid lines that have been holding up all week. They made so much snow and there are some great shaped sections that really add some fun interest. Perhaps the Sun will come back again, with maybe some added accumulation overnight. We’ll see. See you there for the fresh turns. Dial it up, Dial it in!!!

1-27-26

The wall to wall was calling with delightfully soft and creamy corduroy goodness that let you lock and load with full confidence in the consistency of the mat. Traffic was light and the Sun called most folks to Mineral Basin where the Sun really illuminated the details. On the front side of the hill, shaving the nap off the corduroy texture was perfectly consistent top to bottom. The snow guns had been working in a big way, providing some ultra Gun Powder that had wafted long down slope that felt like confectioners sugar underfoot. Sublime. With walk on trams and fast turnarounds, slamming out back to back Trams was a stoke building pace. Temps were a bit warmer this morning, making the comfort level much nicer.

I spent quite a bit of time today looking around at the pack now that it has been fully worked over and all the obvious features are visible. With some snow coming in tomorrow on a fast moving front, many of those surface features will get buried and it is good to know where the fat lines live. Traffic should be light once again, but with the front coming through, the temps might be heading South again. Dress for weather. The prepared lines will be offering ground pounding fun with walk on Trams going off once again. Conditions are fast and fun with plenty of lines to keep you working the fall line. IBBY!!!

1-26-26

After a couple of days of over cast and some insistent flurries, the Sun returned with full force illuminating the dance floor and revealing the subtle changes that that dusting brought to the hill. That little bit of fresh Essence had been tilled into the machine worked lines making those early runs amazing with corduroy that felt like flannel, which felt so good underfoot that it was worth throwing down hot laps to squeeze as much of the goodness before it was found. With the low Sun angle and still cold temps. the quality was holding up nicely and it wasn’t till after 1PM that the slick spots started working into the mix.

Tomorrow, look for more ground pounding fun from the first Tram onward. Freshly machine worked lines will be happening on all sides of the hill, so take your pick and throw down some arcing juicy turns. Coverage remains excellent on the main runs, however the traverses and approaches are thin. Use caution. Temps were cold this morning, but I think the warmth will be building with the High Pressure. See you there for the morning festivities. Stay Frosty!!!

1-25-26

It looked like the weather was moving off with clearing in the Valley, but up on the hill the clouds were hanging low on the peaks and an insistent snow fall was happening with high ridge top winds that were short of closing the Tram down. Between and one and three inches of fresh Essence was beginning to accumulate, with the wind piling up loose snow that, with the marginal visibility, made the variations hard to discern. The IFSA Junior National Regionals was taking place, so there was a lot of traffic, but they were all dealing with the comp, which left the lines wide open and fun with the new accumulation. As the pack got worked the old layer began to emerge making for some slick spots.

Tomorrow, look for the machine worked lines to have incorporated today’s accumulation into the mat, which will provide some amazing carving lines for the early risers. It was quite cold today and I expect the temps to remain fairly cold again, so dress with layers and an eye out for frost bite. Wind may also be in the mix, so we’ll have to see how that shakes out. Look for some wind accumulation around the hill for some sweet lines. See you there dark and early for the morning goods. Keep it tight!!!

1-24-26

There was sparkle dust floating in the air after the overnight flurry that was delivered with the cold front overnight. The air was still down at the base, and the Sun was shining through the flakes floating still in the air looking like sequence. It was magical. Traffic was moderate, but was spread out quickly leaving walk on Trams for most of the day. Those buffed machine worked lines were offering that fast, smooth consistency that let you stretch out and dial in those turns without inhibition. I’ve been groovin’ on that feel all last week. Mineral Basin was offering some very nice lines as well, with those North facing aspects looking smooth and dialable.

Sunshine will be on tap in the AM, with fully prepared lines to be waiting and ready for a full on smooth attack to the fall line. Look for those snow guns to have built up some sweet accumulation, and take advantage of the velvety feel with some extra articulated turns. Traffic should be light again, so take advantage of these days of wide open top to bottom fun. IBBY!!!