Today’s wind and sun offered a variety of conditions around the mountain. At the base, temps and winds were mild. At the top, temps were cold and winds howling at +50 mph. When the east wind is here, it’s time to find the zones with wind-transported snow. It was also time to check the newly built terrain park.
This report was written by Ryan Williams.
KT22 to Headwall
It was a surprise to see Headwall open today with the winds. The winds were howling so much that Siberia, Granite, and many other lifts were closed. From the base, you could see huge plumes of snow flying off the ridges of the peaks, the wind moving the snow looking like giant waves in the air over the mountain tops. We decided to venture up KT to get to Headwall for some of the windbuff before the winds kicked up too much, potentially closing the lift.
At the top of KT, the snow was looking great. The cold nights have been preserving the snow super well. Off-piste, the snow was soft and chalky in spots not affected by the wind. The snow was hammered with a few hard spots in the open spots affected by the wind, but fortunately not icy and still edgable. The groomers on The Saddle were smooth and fast, with soft snow.
Headwall
This zone can hold some great snow when the east wind is ripping. This area can also be hardpack and icy when the east wind is here. Today on the lift up, we could scope out some spots filled in with the wind-transported snow. The snow off piste was amazing windbuff – fast, smooth and rippable, sinking in about 2-4 inches of windpack pow. Our favorite mini-shred wave in this zone was a blast today. From the top, we headed to Chicken Bowl and the empty terrain around Siberia with its lift closed today.
After the fun windbuff, we made it to the groomers around Siberia. This zone was a blast today, with the Siberia lift closed. The run was quiet with no one around, fast open turns, and ripping groomers.
The snow was so good around Chicken Bowl on Headwall. We continued to lap the lift and get wind-filled run after wind filled, laughing, slashing that wave, and zipping the smooth groomers.
The Wind
Taking the Big Blue Lift over to Belmont Park, it was wild to see the huge plumes of snow flying off the top of Emigrant and Granite. The winds were cranking.
Belmont Terrain Park
We were stoked to get some laps in Belmont’s newly built terrain park today. With all the great storms and pow days, the mountain has been one giant natural terrain park. With the sun shining and all the new snow, it’s fantastic to see Park Crew’s creations. The slope on Belmont is mellow, offering an excellent area for them to build a progression park from beginner to intermediate. And this year, they nailed it for the space they have.
There are 4 progression zones:
- Far left (first timers) – small ride on tube and boxes and mini tabletop jumps
- Left (beginner) – 3 small tabletop jumps and mini rail line
- Middle (beginner/intermediate) – progressive rail line with multiple features and builds
- Right (intermediate) – 3 medium step-down jumps, wallride, and hip
The jumps and rails are all built really well. The grooming is spot on, and the lines flow. Kudos to the Park Crew. Too funny – when stopping to check out one of the rails, I grabbed a quick conditions clip of another rider. At the top, we met, and I shared the clip with him. Then find out he is one of the Groomers on Belmont and built the Terrain Park. Cheers Alex Schaffrick, great to meet you today. Thanks to him and all the groomers on the mountain.
Hyped to see the Park Crew build the Gold Coast terrain park, getting the big rails and jumps firing. The new snow is amazing for building.
The School Yard
Taking the mountain run down from the Belmont Terrain Park, we headed to the School Yard to explore the gullies and groomers. With all the new snow, it is cool to see the new groomed runs they have built out, and this zone has a bunch of them. The snow here was amazing today, full sun, protected from the wind, and fast velvety groomers. This zone is such a fun way to wind the day down the mountain, through its rolling terrain, making it down to Sunnyside.
From Sunnyside, we zipped down toward the Headwall lift, enjoying more soft snow, both on the groomer and off-piste. Arriving at the base, it was wild to feel the warm spring-like air, looking back up at the peaks, seeing full-on winter winds and blowing snow.
What a fun day – windbuff to park laps.
