EMSC
Well-known member
Worked a YSL (Youth Ski League) race at "Breckenfridge" on Peak 9.
Despite the 2+ weeks of nearly continuous snow, surfaces were fairly firm on groomed areas. No big dumps, just anywhere from 2-8" every day kind of thing, according to my friends who live there. And not a scrape'y surface really, just not fluffy/soft like you might expect after all that snow. I chalk it up to the very cold temps affecting/consolidating the snow after being groomed (great for racing though!). Off groomed was soft.
Decent coverage for this time of year it seemed. I was able to sneak away for a couple fun runs (long story, but I didn't have to skip out on my duties for the day to do it). South facing Chair 6 looked pretty well covered; Imperial Bowl is somewhere between the first & 2nd year coverage (2 years ago, during first year open, had great snow; last year Imperial had mediocre snow - all blown out). So more rock clumps/areas than 2 years ago were showing, but at least not hidden land mines almost everywhere like it was last year either. The Lake Chutes are not yet open, though you can hike to the top of Peak 8 to ski down essentially the skiers right side of the bowl.
I didn't get there but, from snow fences that are set ,and can see from a distance, I assume that Horseshoe bowl is rather thin to get into at the top, but once in, probably very good skiing (that is very typical of that bowl - 100 feet of very sketchy windblown snow & rock followed by great snow in the rest of the bowl).
Weather was cold (about 0f in am, up to prob ~20f by pm), but little wind and mix of some sun amongst the clouds. Lots of Avi blasting went on over the course of the morning though not sure where exactly (Peak 8 or 7 direction...). Wish I had time to hit 7, but was happy to hit any of the better stuff given that I was there for a race.
Couple of cell phone pics... Admin & I need to have a contest on which full color pics look the most like Black & White... ;-)
Despite the 2+ weeks of nearly continuous snow, surfaces were fairly firm on groomed areas. No big dumps, just anywhere from 2-8" every day kind of thing, according to my friends who live there. And not a scrape'y surface really, just not fluffy/soft like you might expect after all that snow. I chalk it up to the very cold temps affecting/consolidating the snow after being groomed (great for racing though!). Off groomed was soft.
Decent coverage for this time of year it seemed. I was able to sneak away for a couple fun runs (long story, but I didn't have to skip out on my duties for the day to do it). South facing Chair 6 looked pretty well covered; Imperial Bowl is somewhere between the first & 2nd year coverage (2 years ago, during first year open, had great snow; last year Imperial had mediocre snow - all blown out). So more rock clumps/areas than 2 years ago were showing, but at least not hidden land mines almost everywhere like it was last year either. The Lake Chutes are not yet open, though you can hike to the top of Peak 8 to ski down essentially the skiers right side of the bowl.
I didn't get there but, from snow fences that are set ,and can see from a distance, I assume that Horseshoe bowl is rather thin to get into at the top, but once in, probably very good skiing (that is very typical of that bowl - 100 feet of very sketchy windblown snow & rock followed by great snow in the rest of the bowl).
Weather was cold (about 0f in am, up to prob ~20f by pm), but little wind and mix of some sun amongst the clouds. Lots of Avi blasting went on over the course of the morning though not sure where exactly (Peak 8 or 7 direction...). Wish I had time to hit 7, but was happy to hit any of the better stuff given that I was there for a race.
Couple of cell phone pics... Admin & I need to have a contest on which full color pics look the most like Black & White... ;-)
