The Big Bear areas have been about half open since mid-December, but 3 days of snowmaking this week have pushed them up to 80%.
In many respects today was a clone of the same Saturday a year ago http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=2574. Similar was the timing, first day over freezing for awhile, so the morning was uniformly packed powder. I noticed more firming up of the surfaces in the afternoon, but I was there at least an hour later than last year. Still nothing close to frozen granular though.
Everything was groomed, with just a few park features on Ego Trip. The early season priority continues to be opening more runs at Summit vs. building park features at Bear Mt. Unlike last year Bear Mt. did get the Geronimo run open, but I still didn't go over there given the Christmas week congestion.
I didn't get out there as early as last year, but with more runs open it was easy to stay away from the crowds and I managed 26,700 vertical.
In many respects today was a clone of the same Saturday a year ago http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=2574. Similar was the timing, first day over freezing for awhile, so the morning was uniformly packed powder. I noticed more firming up of the surfaces in the afternoon, but I was there at least an hour later than last year. Still nothing close to frozen granular though.
Everything was groomed, with just a few park features on Ego Trip. The early season priority continues to be opening more runs at Summit vs. building park features at Bear Mt. Unlike last year Bear Mt. did get the Geronimo run open, but I still didn't go over there given the Christmas week congestion.
I didn't get out there as early as last year, but with more runs open it was easy to stay away from the crowds and I managed 26,700 vertical.