The Longest Day – End of Season

Friday arrived with dry snow. About 5cms on a snap-frozen base. The wind was strong from the Southwest and it kept snowing on and off all day. The Supertrail was glorious for the first run – untracked powder on top of a smooth firm groomed surface. Second run I was able to figure 8 my own tracks but by the third run the groomer was pretty well skied out. As I had just had my good boards tuned for summer I was not about to follow the more reckless onto the ungroomed slopes below Crackenback.

I skied the next 2 hours in the Basin getting freshies on every run. There was the odd frozen lump hiding beneath the new snow but generally conditions were great. Unfortunately I could not stay out all day and I heard later that night that Merritts was a treat.

On Saturday morning there was a lift line of about 40 locals awaiting first lift to get more freshies after overnight snowfalls dropped another 5cms or so. Crackenback was nice but it had either been groomed late or the new snow had not stuck. The off piste was good, a little slow in some areas but mostly deep and enjoyable. Wind drifts of boot deep snow were abundant and the brown icy looking patches were not all that firm.

The Basin was good but with many more people out than the 8 on Friday (official count by liftie) and no strong wind, the snow tracked out fairly quickly and did not fill back in.

I can’t tell you how good Central Spur was as it was closed. Merritts was devoid of snow riders and the trees had lovely untracked powder all over.

I spoke to people who did Bunny Walk and High Noon on Saturday and tey said the snow pack was still good.

Ray and I finished an 8 hour day (my longest on the slopes this season) with a climb to the top of Signature Hill and a pristine run back to the resort followed by a mostly untracked run back to the village.

Today was overcast and humid with low cloud sitting on the mountain. Overnight temperatures would have snap-frozen the snow but moisture from the cloud softened the snow to a carvable yet fast consistency that slowly softened further to become a little sticky in the afternoon. The off piste was generally slow and not worth the effort. The groomers on Supertrail and Merritts were best and I was surprised to see a good cover still existed on the Cat Track nack to Crackenback.

In all, a fantastic 3 days to end the 2003 season. This is the first time I have seen the resort close with good snow all the way to the village.

Freshies on Supertrail – Friday morning

Above mid station Kosi Express

Late Friday morning freshies beside Basin T-bar

Lynne in deep on Saturday

The Rat Rack do the Half Pipe

Another angle of the Half Pipe above Cruiser

Late Saturday afternoon run off Signature Hill

Last glimpse of Signature Hill

Ray still getting more freshies

Sunday afternoon - looking down the Supertrail from Bunny Walk

As a conclusion to the 2003 season I must congratulate the snow makers, groomers and all mountain staff in providing a brilliant season. I can’t remember a year of so much ‘top to bottom’ skiing. Even today the cover on the groomed snow making areas is still good to the bottom. If I were promised a season next year only as good as this one then I would be a very happy skier.

Thanks to KT for extending the season that extra week. I know they did not make many ticket sales but we on season passes really appreciated the extra time on great snow. I suppose asking for a further week’s extension is out of the question – who would have guessed that the snow would still be so good today and looks like it would hold up easily for another week.

There will be a few more reports over the next month.