Winter’s arrival brought us a storm. Of actual snow this time!
I woke up Friday to a couple inches of new snow and motivated to make it to Sugar early. I hadn’t been since Monday, which was sunny and nice but not the best snow conditions.
Given the modest crowds last weekend, I expected the day to be busier, but it was surprisingly empty. The storm conditions must heave kept everyone away. Morning wasn’t the deepest powder day ever, but a couple inches were amazing to lap on the groomed after so much questionable weather.
Afternoon brought more interesting possibilities. Patrol didn’t open anything new (and even closed off Steilhang by moving Lincoln’s closed line lower), but the snow piled up and made for enjoyable lines and free refills all over. I hadn’t been on Judah chair all season and had many fresh laps there in the last couple hours of the day.
Like other “slightly restricted” passholders, your humble editor is blacked out until next year. Sugar usually gives us up to and including Christmas day, but this year they were a grinch and thought the weekend more important than their loyal passholders. Bah humbug!
I’ll see if any of my contributors with unrestricted passes can write about things for the rest of 2016. Until then I’ll still write the occasional article about things other than current mountain conditions, and look forward to seeing you all on the mountain on Monday the 2nd. 😉
– John S
