bigdaddyk

I checked the JF cam and saw it snowing, so I packed to go to BB (4:30pm). I couldn't really see anything on BB's cams. Went outside and it was raining already where I live, so I unpacked. Glad I didn't go.

FWIW, I left Blue today and it was cloudy and 44 degrees. I arrived at JF about a half hour later and the sun was out and it was 35 degrees.

Seems to be the way places are going .

Blue atomic skis?

lock it up.

I woke up at 6:30 and was exhausted and went back to bed, after hitting the snooze button for a couple of hours, I got up at 11:45 and made it to JF at 12:50. This by far was the biggest crowd of the year. All the main lots on the left looked full, so I didn't even try them....cars were circling around. I kept going and hit the first lot after the slopes, by the far west slope and got a spot. I assume that most people don't even know about the lots just past the slopes. I had slope side parking and hit ridge run. Getting to the bottom, there was a hellascious line at both double chairs, so I crossed over to the triples and there was also a line there. I didn't have to wait though, since I went up through and hit a group of two people and took the chair up. They said they usually go to Blue, but skipped it today because they thought it would be crowded and a friend told them about the quality of JF. I actually took a few chairs with people who said they normally go to Blue or CB. The slopes themselves didn't seem to be crowded, but the lifts were busy. Going single has it's advantage on crowded days...I kept hitting chairs with people who were trying to get on, without being at capacity. The attendants also started grouping people, which helped a lot. Exhibition had some nice snow on it, although it was ungroomed and kind of bumpy, especially at the bottom. I ended up lapping Challenge a bunch of times and stayed on the quad because it had the shortest line, before heading out. Overall, I thought that conditions were still pretty good, considering what time I arrived.

I've found the opposite helps. I usually turn the heat up, prior to putting on my final layers (coat, etc), so you are already warm, when you bundle up and trap the heat in.

I've seen that before and always thought it was Blue. From the pics, it looks windy / wind blown.

Did one of JF's groomers transfer?

. Plus excellent grooming and snow.

I slept in and went at 11. It was more windy than Tuesday, which ruined the snow that was falling .

Some of the smaller wooded areas at JF still have a hard crust, so new snow would help those areas. A few inches though is not enough for me to venture off trail. I would think that Elk should be in good shape. Lake Harmony is supposed to get less than Elk, but then again JF seems to be in its own mini climate, where the mountain gets snow and it doesn't do anything around it.

Either JF or Elk. Depends if Elk is getting enough more snow, to make it worth heading there instead of JF. Either way, it will be an early day.

Elk might be the place to go. They are expecting five inches of snow. I might end up there. It will be a last minute, early morning decision, depending on the snow.

The morning started off windy in the lots, but wind wasn't much of an issue on the trails. I did three runs down exhibition to start off. The snow was nicely groomed and they blew some snow on various trails. I hopped around a little bit and lapped thunderbolt and challenge. The snow on Thunderbolt was a little slow and there were a few ruts, mainly because the new snow seemed to be on the wet side. I hit east mt. a couple times, later on, and it was already getting scraped off. They regroomed demattes and exhibition around 10 am, so I lapped them a bunch of times. I saw A-Jeff early, but didn't meet up with him till close to leaving time and we did about four runs. He thought that the morning started off a little cold, which didn't bother me because my Wal Mart jacket did the job . Wednesday looks to be a good day, with cold temps and a few inches of snow expected.

Wow, I think this is the longest post that I started......even though 95% of it has nothing to do about the topic .

Hopefully the blow on challenge and leave a side ungroomed (hint).

Just checked the JF cam and they are blowing snow. Anybody going on Tuesday?

"SLOW" day.

It wasn't really crowded while I was there. People were starting to filter in, when I left.

Sno seems to really be affected by the weather. Last season, I also noticed that the top of the north face always had a lot of stones in the snow. It almost appeared that the stones were drug onto the snow by groomers or sleds.

JF was sweet this morning. Temps were just right for groomed solid cord. Around 10, some of the trails started to get scraped up, but conditions were excellent from 8 - 10. However, it wasn't soft in the secondary layer, at least while I was there. It might loosen up by afternoon.

Go early and it will be groomed solid cord. Go late and you will be on scraped off ice.

Facemasks don't bother me...cold air on my face does.

I've noticed that too. I usually put a face mask on, once it gets below 25 degrees, unless if it is sunny with no wind. I hate having a frozen face.