Bernie's Report - March 18, 2003

The Start of Spring Sking

After a week off I headed back on the slopes once again. My expectations were not high and it�s a good thing they weren�t. The temperature dropped a few degrees below freezing last night and this morning, broken cloud shaded most of the ski hill. I stayed on the old side all morning. Where the sun managed to soften the south facing groomed runs, the skiing was passable. The shaded slopes remained hard and icy most of the morning and off piste areas were a mine field of death cookies.

In the afternoon we headed up into the White Pass. Snow conditions were much better at higher elevations. While the lower mountain had experienced period of rain over the past week, upper Timber Bowl had received snow. Rising temperatures and a bit more sunshine managed to soften the snow and there was some good spring skiing as long as you were satisfied to stay on, or close to, the groomed runs. Off piste was an uncomfortable mix of sun softened snow, hard ruts and basket ball size chunks of hard snow.

Apart from a few areas of ice and a couple of drainage ditches that have been dug by the ski hill folks, the ski hill is still in good shape as far as snow quantity is concerned. The snow quality leaves something to be desired, but the sunshine was glorious and I didn�t get any frostbite.

Bernie - bernie@far.redtree.com