Month: January 2015

I must apologize, it has been a while since I’ve posted.  It has been hard to keep my stoke level topped up properly.

As predicted it has been mostly sunny the last few weeks.  A storm looked like it was going to materialize over MLK weekend and then broke up at the last minute.

Judah side lodge has been closed weekdays the past few weeks.  This week Jerome Hill isn’t even spinning, and Crow’s has closed as well.  Coverage over at Crow’s was getting really thin and they did run it mid-week well past the point of reasonable snow, especially at the top.  So yeah, we’re down to Disney and (hard drinkin’) Lincoln, plus access lifts (gondola, Nob, Christmas tree).

Snow wise, well, I admit I was impressed at how well coverage was holding up and how much fun I was having, until the MLK holiday Monday.  The warm temps, crowded slopes and a little bit of rain from the storm-that-wasn’t really took their toll on the mountain.  Coverage at the top of Lakeview on Monday reminded me of last Juneuary, rocks everywhere.

This week, well, let’s say I’m pretty impressed how much better things look after getting some snow pushed back on them.  Without the crowds the snow still lasts nicely all day, softening up in the afternoon sun.

I’ll get some pictures up soon.  For now, I’m going to go out and get my Friday on and make some turns.

– J. Snow

More ice on Friday, but this time with holiday crowds.  I can’t remember the last time I saw Sugar so busy.  Still, somehow the chock-full parking lot and people everywhere didn’t translate into much in the way of lift lines.  It took longer to get a drink at the Belt Room than it did to get on the lift!

And then.. poof!  Just like that, everybody went home and the mountain was quiet as could be Sunday.  I pulled into the parking lot and couldn’t believe it was a weekend.  The warmer temps mellowed out the ice and lots more terrain was suddenly fun again.  Monday was much of the same, but even warmer, starting to get a little springtime sticky in the afternoon even.

I was a little surprised Mt. Judah was on money hold Monday and presumably weekdays through the rest of the season.  That explains the recent terrain park relocation (so it can still be accessed from Jerome lift).

Nothing in the forecast but days of sunshine, which is nice for a little while, but we definitely need some snow out there soon.  Juneuary is thinning things out quickly.

-JS

Back on the mountain for the new year!

Conditions are definitely super-firm, otherwise known to native West Coast skiers as “ice”.  Those of us who grew up skiing in the East know what real ice is.  😉  Despite the firm conditions, it was sunny, cold and great to be outside making turns again.  Word on the mountain is that this was the past few days had been colder and windier.

The sunshine did soften things up as bit towards the end of the day.  I was tipped off to some surprisingly good proto-corn out at the far end of Judah bowl, and Summit was open to get there.

Unfortunately the weather outlook is sunny and dry for the next week at least.  Temps will warm up a little.  I’m planning on refining my follow-the-sun strategy, getting a good goggle tan, and in general enjoying the January spring.

-JS