Crystal - 3/13

4 out of 5 surprise powder day.

Got to the mountain and pay parking was 4 rows below the bridge reserving space for busses. Only 2 busses showed up. A and C lots with a few rows in B today, so more people on the mountain than deserted Monday. Bluebird skies all day and no wind. 2 out of 2 for weather.

A 2 out of 3 for snow today, although some places were close to a perfect 3. It quickly became apparent that the 6 - 8 inches advertised was understated. Lots of people ripped the front side for their first run only to discover the sun damaged base layer was hard. But, stick to the north facers and much better. However, there was very few places on the mountain that if you edged a little too hard you wouldn't hit the firm. Having said that, there were some very excellent lines. Some of the chutes on Campbell Basin were pretty good. Powder Bowl mainline chute excellent. Lower half of GV under the chair excellent and stayed that way all day. Runs out north were good to excellent. But, again, the big winner was Employee Housing. Besides ski patrol, we we're first tracks down and it was nice and deep and pretty bottomless in places. The farther down you got, the heavier the snow became, but best of the day for me.

Looks like were headed for some spring weather through the week-end, so the powder will be gone.

Change in the weather, definitely spring. Early Crystal spring in lot's of new over lot's of sun damage. Stay on north-facers or in the shade (and ahead of the light crowd) and it was really good. The Frontside went quickly by people willing to go fast enough to float over the unseen icy bumps, and willing to take the big hit when a bump was sharper than their compensating speed. We stuck to norther-facers where the underlayment wasn't a problem. A few runs in Campbell before it was skied out and then Powder Bowl. Wohoo. Quickly went to EH for first tracks most of the way. And Northway. Sphincterville was a hoot. Stashes full of pow, Chairline Bumps were huge, but responded nicely to a good line. And rejected you quickly if you missed a turn. Last run down EH best of the day.

A quick early crowd skied Rex Chairline (Showtime) and then disappeared. Ton's of skis at Campbell Lodge after noon as the pizza and beer crowd missed the last of the sun and waited for the thick massed potatoes that grew in the afternoon. Things were packing hard and we need some skier grooming to mix the snow and set it up for friday.

Ken