Best Weekend Snow This Season

Following Thursday’s snowfall and a mix of windblown, Friday was an interesting morning. I had a beautiful run of first tracks down Little Merritts, however I made real mistake deciding to go from here onto World Cup – ungroomed from Thursdays tracks in the fresh snow that had now set hard. As soon as I could I was into the Basin and traversing out from under Karels into lovely fresh dry snow on the steep face, followed by a real surprise of breakable crust on the flatter sections. Off Karels was pretty poor with a lot of sastrugi and some ice patches but the high rim into the Basin was fun (unless you were on skinny skis).

Saturday arrived with a dry snow base. Almost everyone initially went for the Bluff while I found my untracked powder under the chair. Everyone pulled out onto World Cup while I had three runs down Little Beauty before anyone else tasted the wind blown pockets between the bumps. It was a little technical and disciplined as I jumped from one powder hollow to the next. Meanwhile the Milk Run was just like it was the previous Saturday morning during the Top To Bottom race – fast and fun. The snow on the upper slopes was drier than on Friday.

Next it was into the Basin and the fresh windblown around Karels into the Basin. The breakable was gone and the T-bars were definitely the place to hang out. Sponars and Antons also provided access to some lovely wind drifts. The natural half pipe, Merritts Falls, Wiamea were all fun.

The wind blew all day without affecting lifts and the air temp kept the snow in good condition from above Kareela. It was the best quality snow of any weekend of the season.

Saturday night was a big snowmaking night and the slopes were fun again today. There were still wind blown areas to be found and the groomed slopes had a nice layer of manmade snow, if not a little slow on the lower slopes.

No names mentioned – ski patroller popping a ski under Kosi Express
in front of the first 4 chairs of the morning

Basin on a windy overcast Friday morning

Little Beauty Saturday morning

Wazza on Wiamea

Paul on Wiamea

Ray on Wiamea

Big crowd on Antons

Lower Super Trail on Saturday afternoon

Sugar on Milk Run

Sugar on all lower runs – just above the cat sheds, Lovers Leap station

According to the official snow depth at Spencers Creek, we still have a snow base below the worst ever season but with more snow forecast this week, it will be interesting to see how this season ends up. Due to the cold temperatures, snowmaking and lack of wind and rain, the base we have is holding well and is much more skiable than that dreaded 1982.

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