Today was one of my best days of the year at the ski hill. Being chased by a moose and watching my friends get trampled added another dimension of experience, one both entertaining and sad.

Snake Ridge opened today after a 8 day avalanche hazard closure. During that time the local 4 year old bull moose moved onto the ski out trail from Fish Bowl. With a whopping 120 cm’s in 7 days the moose preferred the trail over swimming in the bottomless powder. As the first skiers down Fish Bowl we met the moose head on and he did not want to share the trail for passage back to the lift. Our encouraging the moose to move ended with a full on change. My friend Richard, who has just confirmed not ever having been stomped by a moose, had his first stomping! We continued.

AT the bottom of Red Tree my friend John danced with moose like a matador. He survived. The moose was getting closer to the lift and a crowd. Skiers and boarders screamed and ran for cover as the moose thundered down toward them. A few were either pushed over or fell in fear as the moose crashed the line.

We make the lift and returned to Snake Ridge and Fish Bowl for more great powder skiing. Richard went home to change his underwear.

The ski hill will be grooming trails in the park tonight for the moose to enjoy his own space and not be pestered by powder skiers.