December 9, 2003
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 3/10
Runs open: 50/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 3cm (1in)
48 Hour: 3cm (1in)
7 Day: 44cm (17in)
Year to date: 228cm (90in)
Snow Pack: 143cm (56in)
Photos and text by Gerry George
Let's get this out of the way right off the bat.
 We had another rain on snow event this weekend. Saturday was looking mighty sweet with serious snowfall all Friday and well into the evening. Unfortunately it did not make it to the morning before it turned to liquid. Snow line was pretty high as well making for some very sticking turns on Saturday. I'm taking everyone's word for that as I just stayed at home and did other things. Something about riding the lift when it is raining.
But.
The rain didn't last as long as the last time and the snow on Sunday was pretty darned fine. The groomers did a good job of smashing it up and it wasn't the boilerplate that I was expecting. Firm corduroy might be a better way to describe it.
The place to ski was Cedar bowl with some tricky dense powder that eventually crusted out near the bottom. Once again, the groomers got enough of the bowl to make it fun for everyone who didn't dare venture off the beaten track. You know, I just like cruising under the rocks at the top of Cedar. I've done it for almost thirty years and it still takes my breath away how beautiful it is.
 Alders are getting covered up everywhere you go and it is looking less and less like early season. Rumour has it that the timber bowl side opens up next weekend so even if it doesn't snow this week, there should be some nice soft snow off the White Pass quad. I think it was a good idea to keep that stuff closed for a while and let the base build up before opening it to the masses. There always seems to be little rocks popping up because of excessive scraping.
Long range weather forecast shows a lot of sun and maybe a bit of snow. Lets hope it is wrong and another systems pummels us soon. Hopefully when it arrives it will leave the warm temps in Hawaii where they belong.
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