Conditions Report
This report is from Wednesday, February 19
I’ve spent the last 15 winter seasons in Winter Park, Colorado. That’s about 1,500 ski days.
Today was in the top five best. You know what? I’m trying to think of a better one, but I cannot. I skied in Japan last month for two weeks, and we did not get conditions like today.
Today was that good. Everything came together.
Colorado’s famous blower pow. Check. Blue skies? Check. Not cold? Check. No wind? Check. The holiday crowds finally gone? Check.
OpenSnow predicted 1″ for the previous two days. What we got was 16″ and 10″. Winter Park was the second snowiest resort in North America for two consecutive days.
We’ve had three feet of snow in the last three days. February has seen six feet.
I had a slow start this morning. OpenSnow predicted just an inch, and the lift lines the previous day were surprisingly long. I had planned to meet a buddy first thing, but he bailed, ill, so I was in no rush to get out. I prioritized work.
- Related: Winter Park Resort, CO, Offers Update on Masterplan That Includes Gondola Connecting Resort to Town
When I left my condo at 10:30 a.m., I knew that had been a mistake. I had to climb over the berm left by the plows.
Finally making the gondola just after 11, we headed straight for Eagle Wind. We’d been there the previous day, and it was ridiculously deep, over knee high, but the lift line forced us away.
The first ride up, we could hear the screams and shouts, hoots and hollers, of delight in stereo all around us.
Today, there were no lines, it was knee-to-waist-high, and we were finding untracked stashes across the territory. Thunderbird, Little Raven, and Medicine Man offered knee-to-waist deep Cham***ne Powder. Given the crowds over the last few days, I was surprised by how untracked it was. The powder was so deep yet light and fluffy that we blew right through it.
Today was the first time I wished my outer shell had a powder skirt. I had never understood what this was for, but today, as the snow blew up beneath my layers to chill my bare chest, I got it.
We headed up the Panoramic chairlift to Parsenn Bowl at 12,060 feet. The face was tracked out, although not skied off, as there were still huge piles of powder. We headed for the glades, doing Johnstone Junction and Kinnikinnic. Again, untracked powder over the boot provided plentiful face shots.
Feeling the need to ski some moguls, we did Phantom Bridge before cutting through to do the trees between Brakeman and Coupler. So good. Not a soul in there, and, yet again, untracked snow thigh deep.
Today was one of those days you’ll remember for a long time. I love skiing. I’m happy skiing groomers. I’m happy skiing two weeks into a dry and warm spell when dirt patches are beginning to show through. I love spring skiing when the snow melts and the drag almost dislocates your knees. I look forward all summer to early season when there’s only one run of man-made snow open, but at least I’m sliding downhill on skis.
But days like today; I live for these days. These are why I quit my corporate life. Why I sold my house and cars. Why I became a ski bum. For days like today.
Guess what? OpenSnow is predicting 2″ for tomorrow. If the previous two days are anything to go by then screw work. I’ll be in line for first chair.
Winter Park Conditions
Winter Park Forecast
Winter Park Trail Map
Stats by Slopes
Photos
