Winter is back with a vengeance in the PNW! While Seattle and most schools are shut down due to snow, its going off in the mountains. While some other areas had to shut down for the storms the bullwheels turned at Crystal, everyone and their cousin came out to shred.  But serious: Traction tires and chains people.

Lots of people all caught the White Lung and couldn’t risk going to work and spread the awful illness. Lines were typical of a normal Saturday on Monday but it was a “Top 10 day at Crystal”  The mountain was open wall to wall with Northway opening a little after noon. Plenty of space for everyone to spread out.  I trully don’t understand using a light touring set up on a 2′ powder day with high avy danger, Gotta have that 120mm underfoot.  Pretty sure the entire 2015 inventory of K2 Hellbent skis were out in Northway.

Top to bottom was the name of the game all day til gates opened. So much snow! Bear Pits was deeper than I’d ever seen it! The steeper the better, runs like Deer Fly and Middle Ferks which are amazing groomed slopes have never been funner than with a foot of fresh powder on top of them! Turning was option as the “pow brakes” would slow ya down enough. I snowboarded bell to bell with some of the best runs of the year down Employee Housing and Paradise bowl. Not enough high fives to go around!

Presistant cold and a few more inches after closing made for excellent conditions today. It was a blast riding lifts and trying lines that haven’t been in for years. South Back opened and our legs still have enough in them for a King lap, the rewards were worth it for some deep turns
Stay safe out there,  lots of natural avalanche activity, that snow needs to settle.  Avalanche forecast here.
Chains and traction tires…

Snow Report:

Forecast:

Photo Tour: