Richard's Report

Park Life

Snow conditions have swung from very firm to very spring-like. The off piste is now softening by mid morning whilst much of the groomers has turned to sugar-like consistency.

On Friday morning the corduroy was fast and frozen. Traktorman found out on his first run that his noodle touring skis and bindings weren't ideal on the fast and firm corduroy. At high speed he had a traktor-splat when the vibration transferring through from the cord pushed the eject button on his touring gear. Luckily he was able to walk back from the trees on the side of the Supertrail to his gear parked nicely on the Meadows.

Saturday morning was still firm and I found the terrain parks a pleasant escape from the crowds. When I mentioned to friends that I spent most of Saturday morning in the parks they were dubious, so on Sunday I pulled out my camera to highlight the well groomed and well pitched slopes that are unused by most.

There hasn't been a real freeze over the past two nights and conditions last night meant that Little Merritts was not groomed. Nor was the last half of Eagle Way. This meant that Eagle Way was groomed to Little Merritts where upon you could ski the bumps or ride the off piste to Conrod Straight.

Indeed it was fortunate that the off piste softened early as the 'Groomers Surprise' off Karels was nicely groomed to the Rim and then ungroomed down to Ramshead top station. I enjoyed it but others weren't so pleased.

Marion and I did a run to Dead Horse Gap, via the dead horses. The upper Golf Course was very nice. The remainder of the trip was firm yet carve-able. Not nasty ruts or breakable crust. It wasn't the best conditions that I have experienced but nor was it anywhere near the worst. It was fast and the cover is still good, although we were both surprised to see how much snow has disappeared since our last respective trips.

Cats grooming Sponars and over the Rim on Saturday morning under a pink sky