Crystal - 03/18 Spring and East Winds

Big sunny, big views, big east ridge top winds slowed or put on hold some lifts up top, light crowd - except for folks riding slow REX, lot less wind from what I heard on FQex runs, big warm in lots of places made for big happy spring slush. Both MIFB and LS softened early as did the front side of REX (below the very ridge top). #1 had a great long day, we almost made it from start to end. Lots of snow and the east winds probably kept the total slush out from happening. Didn't seem to sticky most places, but noticed a little on the end of day ski out. Not long left this season and it will be sad when they close with a big snow pack, oh well there will be other places to go.

Other - CB lodge had Chicken Noodle and very nice combo specially big pizza (thanks Miranda and Alex!). Pay lot nice and small, rest of A full and I spaced on what was in the other lots. Drive up was at speed and pleasant, and it is very warm where we live.

It's 2-Report Monday. Opening to 10:30 I would label F$%%#@ East Wind. With not a cloud in the sky, everything was frozen junk or firm groomers and not a thaw in sight.

At 10:30 the sheltered areas, well 2 of them, softened. Valley to Lower E was in prime soft-bump shape and Gully-Gully below the wind level was next. That was enough to keep the stoke till Sunnyside and Showtime went off. Stray far from the skied-out line, however, and you entered the No-Go Zone. With almost no one skiing the upper mountain it was ski on the lift. A very slow REX, and the Gondy was closed till mid-afternoon, F$%%#@ East Wind. After a 15-minute REX stoppage, they finally bumped the speed back up. ((Six was closed all day and Northway till mid afternoon - not sure anything there would be good given the frozenness)(Rockface slide huge yesterday and some big booms in Bear Pits showed they're worried about the warm wet sliding on the underlying ice layer).

All in all, a late arrival would be good if you can judge the east wind and thaw time. The background music of the day, all Dick Dale, RIP.

Ken

Only Southern Resorters would complain about a stout easterly flow. Maybe if you had a bigger umbrella it would protect the hill better ???