The jetstream has finally dropped and Utah is squarely in the sights of the storm machine. Nearly a week of snowfall has prompted our team to make a push to open more terrain. “It’s snowing out there and it is time to get in the game,” says our Winter Operations Director. His sentiment is well received and we are happy to be branching into our periphery.
The western bowls and back basin are ripe for skiing and our efforts are now directed from training to set up. Control work and evaluation have dominated our thoughts and we are ready to give the people what they want. Our resort has a proud history of getting acreage open in a timely fashion and getting it skied. “Moguls from the ground up” is a common phrase used by our snow safety department. For you see, stabilization by use, or “skier compaction”, is the single best method for making the slopes safer. Grinding up all those weak layers and chopping up the wind slabs is exactly what the resort needs.
Each day has afforded us the opportunity to get materials into these areas and adequately mark the hazards that exist. Creek beds and cliff bands are still prevalent and keeping riders aware of what is down slope is very important. Miles of rope lines are spooled with care and various signage comes popping up. I agree that it does detract from the scenery, but people simply can’t be left to their own devices. They need rules.
At this point, the snow pack is complex and spatial variability is at an all time high. Depths range from twelve inches to four feet depending on where you are standing. Various layers of unconsolidated, faceted, wind-affected, graupled, and crusted snow keep things interesting. Another foot or so over the weekend has added more weight to the exiting weak layers and complicated our situation. Winds gusting to the sixties have upped the ante even further.
However difficult things may seem, this is still my favorite time of year. The entire ski patrol comes together in a unified front to make things happen and access the goods. More lifts and more powder are in the forecast, so be sure to get up and see for yourselves what we have to offer. Go to the mountains and they will give you their good tidings.