From my vantage on the Sultan Express, the faded yellow lift towers against the cerulean sky present a study in calculated obsolescence. Mid-mountain temperatures, as the reports accurately state, hover uncomfortably near forty degrees. This, naturally, yields a surface texture more akin to damp velvet than the desired granular perfection. The snow, what little persists, is a muted gray beneath the mercury-colored clouds. It is, to put it mildly, insufficient.
Alta’s figures, though discouragingly low for February—eighty-one point two percent of normal—do offer a glimmer of hope. March, historically, is more amenable. The data suggests a potential shift. The forecasted six to seven inches for Deer Valley are… acceptable. Though one cannot help but anticipate the inevitable influx. The Ikon Pass crowd, predictably, will descend upon us. They will treat perfectly groomed runs as a personal proving ground.
Carpenter Express will be a bottleneck. Silver Lake will be overrun. Even the quieter slopes near Empire will not remain untouched for long. The extended forecast for Thursday, another foot of accumulation, is promising, though subject to the whims of model disagreement. One must, however, accept the compromise: snowfall invariably invites the uninvited. The current conditions demand a precise approach.
Upon resumption of operations, proceed directly to Daly Chutes. It’s a steep pitch, a slight deterrent to the more…enthusiastic sideways sliders, and the north-facing aspect may yet retain a vestige of pristine grooming. Prioritize solitude, and maintain a measured pace.