So Cal Snow Conditions

[snowtrekker]

Finally made it up to Baldy after classes today at 2pm. I was surprised by the great coverage in some areas (north facing slopes and South Bowl) and the lack of coverage in others (most groomed runs, particularly Robins). Snow was still very soft in places, and there were plenty of untracked lines left in South Bowl, but my board took a few big bruises (mostly on the lower sections where people are kicking up rocks). Overall, not a bad day for less than a 30 minute drive.

[Brdrski]

Did anyone (besides me) take advantage of the $20.12 lift tickets at Baldy? I'll be up on 3/25.

[Stephen]

Did anyone (besides me) take advantage of the $20.12 lift tickets at Baldy? I'll be up on 3/25.

Nope. The edges might separate from my rock board should I use it there on Sunday.

Some pics, mostly the same ol' boring "from-the-chair" shots.

[Freerider]

sun, mon, tue, and hopefully wed

[Stephen]

SS rocked the hizzouse today. (Gosh, I feel dumb for writing that.) Today's session made it the 10th straight season of 10 or more days for me -- whoops and hollers welcome, thanks. I'm gunning for Mr. K. Hospitality's total now.

Looked like the hill got a solid overnight freeze. Softening really got going around 10. I hit it hard till 3, figuring it might be my last time this season riding the Wall and some other runs. Mashed potatoes weren't too mashed, for the most part. (But I like that stuff more than most, so ...) Lots of high clouds and a bit of wind probably helped with that. Those Chair 6 trails were probably the best of the day, although I was having blast on the Westside Three - Ego Trip, East Why, and Westridge/Zzyzx - before lunch.

[Stephen]

Saturday was Snow Summit, where every run has its own lift!, and Monday was Snow Valley, where there are a whole bunch of lifts that might as well be vaporized.

Seemed the storm blew through by the early AM, cuz 330/18 were good to go. Yet peeps still pulled over before Running Springs to chain up. Traffic was stopped at the second entrance to Valley when I pulled in at 8:30. And it got longer. Man, that looked like fun. A mandatory chain-up, I reckon.

Anyhoo, the snow was denser -- pretty much good ol' SoCal powder -- than the previous week. "Oh, you should have been here last Monday, or Sunday," said the grizzled, gray-haired locals. Dudes, I'm a kook -- I have commitments to keep. Valley has to be the least competitive lift-served place 'round here for freshies, so even though the terrain doesn't rule, you don't have to worry about the place getting tracked out in five minutes. (But boy was it spring heavies ---- sllooww down low ---- in the afternoon.)

I mistimed the opening of Slide Peak, but didn't really matter. Snow was not wind-affected, thank goodness, but technical skiing required to really shred -- kinda like Thunder and 4 last week. Lots of manzanitas and trees taking up space. And logs. And rocks. Unfortunately, I am not much of a technical studmaster, so I struggled with some spots -- like the area under Chair 11, but I did drop a rock (no, boulder!), albeit at slow speed, but I landed it! And in the same area, I did a sweet forward flip thanks to one of those marvelous unseen obstacles. I made at least 15 trips on the SP chair (it takes six seconds). SV is at least a little underrated. I was reminded of this when I landed like a doofus into a pillow of snow after coming upon some natural rollers by accident.

My camera is acting up, so pictures may or may not be forthcoming. My handi-shake cam vid didn't really turn out as hoped, so nada there too.

[cheapski]

Valley has to be the least competitive lift-served place 'round here for freshies, so even though the terrain doesn't rule, you don't have to worry about the place getting tracked out in five minutes.

Thats what I found last year. I prefer going to SV now right after a storm.

[onegoodturn]

Valley has to be the least competitive lift-served place 'round here for freshies, so even though the terrain doesn't rule, you don't have to worry about the place getting tracked out in five minutes.

Thats what I found last year. I prefer going to SV now right before a grill fest.

[cheapski]

True. Pow & Chow.

[0LI]

this past week has not been bad at baldy. spring conditions. a couple days ago there was a problem with the cat, so if ur into corduroy breakfast, call ahead, see what is groomed and go for it. yesterday it was on. you dont have long. robns is great before the turn then its thin and narrow. around 11 it begins to get heavy.
took some pics over the last few days.

[Snowave]

WOW... is all I can say after hearing the rumblings going on at Stevens Pass with Karl (from MH) as the new owner. The general manager is out, as are alot of other top people...and low people... as jobs are being eliminated permanently across the board, among operations changes rumors that are making people pretty upset, too.

Thre are VERY close ties with Leavenworth and the ski area. Needless to say, there are alot of very unhappy people in the area with the changes going on.

SO ironic this is the closest ski area to me.

[SkierBob]

Those poor sob's...