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Weekly Outlook

Sundown Bowl hides some of the best powder fields on the mountain. Wednesday morning first tracks

February came this year with an identity crisis; it thinks it’s April. All month we’ve  been receiving scattered snow showers, followed by balmy blue bird days.

On those days when there’s no new snow on the ground, just like in spring, it’s best to wait until mid-morning to ski the bowls, which have been turning into mashed potatoes by noon, which is not powder skiing, but it comes pretty close. Today, temperatures will hover in the high 30’s, so if you are planning an early start, stay off south facing runs, which are probably frozen until late morning, and stick to freshly groomed runs until they get tracked out. Here’s the daily grooming report in case you want to plan ahead. For Thursday morning, I’d recommend the seldom groomed, Roger’s Run in the frontside, in the Back Bowls head to Dealer’s Choice, below Teacup Express (#36) followed by a run in Poppyfields West on China Bowl. And in case you’ve been living in an icy cave this last week, this next weekend will host closing ceremonies for the 215 FIS World Championships. You can check this post for a detailed description and schedule of the final races, concerts, and closing ceremonies.

Groomed runs were quite soft this morning

Next week we have a solid chance of getting back on the winter storm track, and with just a little help from Ullr  looks like a week from today, next Wednesday and Thursday, we could be in the middle of a strong cold front, to remind this month, that no matter how nice April is, we prefer it when February is cold and snowy. Think snow!

No one lays carpet on black diamond runs like Vail’s dedicated snowcat operators

Roger’s Run is not groomed too often, probably due to its steep pitch