Daily Archives: March 11, 2009

3/11/2009 A few more reports

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Report from Golden Eagle: 

Conditions:  Good to Excellent Skiing for both Classic and Freestyle

Comments:  March skiing at its best!    We received lots of new snow which increased the base by about 3 inches.  We are grooming with double tracks to pack the snow in and with the cold temperatures the trails should set up very nice.  There is some drifting happening today so we will be out re-grooming tomorrow which will put the trails in excellent shape for the weekend.   

There is indeed some drifting.  Our groomers reported seeing drifts alongside trails that were close to 4 feet high.  Quinn did the Lake Trail between Bearskin and the Campground Loop this morning and honestly, by 3 PM this afternoon there was virtually no sign anymore that the trail had ever been groomed. Bob hopes to go out in the pisten bully again in the morning and redo trails.  If you plan to ski on Thursday, be prepared for occasional spots of “back country” challenge in open areas until the winds die down.

3/11/2009 Yes, it really, really snowed

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stick-after-snow

Snow measuring stick in front of the Main Lodge this morning, after the snowstorm

It started to snow lightly around noon on Tuesday.  By 2 PM we were encouraging our employees who had to drive a distance to head home.  Those of us who remained had a very quiet afternoon in the lodge, watching the big snowflakes tumbling and blowing all afternoon.  By dinner time it was snowing hard enough that it was difficult to see the lake.  Late in the night the moonglow started to light up East Bearskin Lake and we knew the snow must have stopped.

There has been a great deal of blowing and drifting, so there is no consistent new snow depth, but a good average would be about 12 inches of new snow.  In spite of some recent warmer temperatures, we still had a very solid base of snow but this new snow will freshen it up and eliminate the iciness that had developed.

Quinn is out in the pisten bully starting to groom trails.  Andy will also get out with the G2 as soon as all our cabins, roadways and paths are cleared out.  Today is windy and quite cold, but the forecast is for the wind to die down, the temperatures to go up and the ski conditions to be gorgeous over the next few days.  The pine tree boughs are coated with sparkling snow and the new snow on the trails is a brilliant white, so be sure to bring your camera if you come skiing.

ADDENDUM 2:30 PM :  Grooming is going very, very slowly today as there is so much new snow.  Today’s windy conditions aren’t helping matters.  Attempts at packing down the North-South link across Aspen were futile. Consider that section essentially closed for the moment (as is often the case –use alternatives.)  Today’s grooming is necessary after so much snow, but it will probably all need to be done again.