Happy New Year from Mt. Baldy, which has had more snow so far this season than Aspen, Whistler or Jay Peak.
I arrived at 7:30AM to take advantage of the half-price ticket offer from Thursday. The Thunder lift that was open only one hour Thursday did not open Friday either, when it snowed another 6-8 inches. I loaded chair 1 before 8 AM. Thunder was ready to go, but the lift ops didn't show up on time so it opened at 9:30AM.
I skied one run on chair 1 waiting for Thunder, and the snow was more stiff and irregular than Thursday after 2 days of skier traffic with other lifts not open. Thunder today was a replay of the lower runs Thursday: dense new snow that skied like soft packed powder. Some exposures had hardpack or glazed patches but usually those could be avoided. Sheltered exposures in the trees were ego skiing. Chair 4 opened midday. Weather was like Thursday: clear morning with the fog coming up in the afternoon.
After Garry Klassen left at 2PM, I went back up for a few more runs and finished with a backcountry excursion I have done only once before in Feb. 1998. Snow was of good quality, but the base was not as deep so there were a couple of sketchy chokepoints to negotiate. I finished with 23,500 vertical of very high quality skiing.
I got up before 5AM and went to the Rose Parade formation area before skiing.
Garry in South Bowl
I'm probably dropping into South Bowl here.
Goldridge with Baldy peak in background
Robin's trees, where Garry hit an ice patch in the fog
Patrol attending to Garry's cut lip
Garry in Eric's
Top of chair 4 above the fog
I arrived at 7:30AM to take advantage of the half-price ticket offer from Thursday. The Thunder lift that was open only one hour Thursday did not open Friday either, when it snowed another 6-8 inches. I loaded chair 1 before 8 AM. Thunder was ready to go, but the lift ops didn't show up on time so it opened at 9:30AM.
I skied one run on chair 1 waiting for Thunder, and the snow was more stiff and irregular than Thursday after 2 days of skier traffic with other lifts not open. Thunder today was a replay of the lower runs Thursday: dense new snow that skied like soft packed powder. Some exposures had hardpack or glazed patches but usually those could be avoided. Sheltered exposures in the trees were ego skiing. Chair 4 opened midday. Weather was like Thursday: clear morning with the fog coming up in the afternoon.
After Garry Klassen left at 2PM, I went back up for a few more runs and finished with a backcountry excursion I have done only once before in Feb. 1998. Snow was of good quality, but the base was not as deep so there were a couple of sketchy chokepoints to negotiate. I finished with 23,500 vertical of very high quality skiing.
I got up before 5AM and went to the Rose Parade formation area before skiing.
Garry in South Bowl
I'm probably dropping into South Bowl here.
Goldridge with Baldy peak in background
Robin's trees, where Garry hit an ice patch in the fog
Patrol attending to Garry's cut lip
Garry in Eric's
Top of chair 4 above the fog
Last edited: