The first of these dates seemed to not only make itself significant, but make the entire week leading up to it significant. This is the deepest, best storm cycle i have skied in December. Ever.
It started thursday, when a northerly shift of the California jet-stream put a storm over us that dropped 12 inches, then 8 inches, then 12 again, and then it lifted with blue skies. When it seemed all over, the arctic jetstream took an opposite shift, pushing mouisture in from Canada, and on the night of December 11th, it was poised. With the snowpack still soft and deep from the early weekend, the forecast called for one to three inches. When I awoke, there was six inches. By the time I left the house it was snowing an inch an hour, at the end of the day it would be 20+ inches. It Was On.
George, Andrew and I decided to forgo the pow rush at the resort, and instead stick to the original touring plan. We were rewarded on Yellow Mountain with a strong snowpack that despite over 40" of storm snow in five days was stable enough to allow for uninhibited skiing. This was officially the deepest December of my life, and at the end of this week, my quads are toast and my smile is wide. Cheers to everyone having a great season!!
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| Ever heard of cold smoke? Here's the Websters definition. |
