January 28, 2000

Gray Again

Yesterday's sun fled to be replaced today by overcast skies and low clouds slipping about in the morning. A few token flakes fell, but these clouds, like so many recent ones, did not seem to want to pay the price of admission.

The skiing was pretty good though and in some places you could even find a few centimetres of nice soft stuff to turn in. I only did one run in Currie, down the Concussion Chutes beyond the Saddles, and it was fine, but pretty well used. Over on Snake I found some surprisingly good snow on the first roll beyond the extreme hazard signs, but one must watch for the growing crack when entering the area below the cliff bands. I also took my first run of the season down Steep and Deep and found the alder situation quite manageable, at least until you get to the flatter parts down below.

By the way, I have run into some confusion about just where Steep and Deep is. Many folks now seem to think that if you stay up on the ridge and follow the right hand side of it down alongside Red Tree and into the run cut into the trees (with a small group of tall trees right in the middle), you are skiing Steep and Deep. This is not where I understand Steep and Deep to be, but rather I consider it to be the straight shot down off of the ridge from the top of Red Tree and coming down right beside the extreme hazard area. I am sure someone knowledgeable will correct me if I am wrong. :-)

Enough soft snow remains in the mogul areas to make for pretty tolerable bump skiing and the groomers continue to be just fine.

At just a little past seven this evening, the porch thermometer is claiming -5 C and the sky shows no sign of stars.



The view from the top of Puff as some low clouds float by.

Looking back up into Currie from the Concussion Chute traverse.

Looking down Snake Ridge from just inside the extreme hazard sign line.

The crack that often form beneath the cliff band in the extreme hazard area requires some careful navigating.

Looking down Steep & Deep

Finally a shot from near the top of Stag Leap