Nordic Pulse

We are very sorry to report that our snowcat blew a tire during our grooming on Tuesday night, and with temperatures forecast to be in the 50s over the next days, we have decided to end our grooming a few days early. We have no snow in the foreseeable forecast, and we are in full spring conditions. Our snowcat is headed down the Mesa next week for its summer maintenance.

Here Comes CRUST SEASON! 
But don’t despair! We still have plenty of snowpack, and as the overnight temperatures get a little colder (Sunday and Monday nights) we should have good crust skiing. Video here.

What is crust skiing? In the spring when it gets warm during the day to create melting on the snow’s surface and cold enough to freeze overnight, a hard crust forms on top of the snowpack. The result is as if the entire snowpack had been packed down and groomed for skiing. It's possible to ski anywhere the crust has formed, making the whole Mesa a skiing playground.

Crust skiing depends on temperatures and timing. You need warm days and an overnight low that's cold enough for freezing. The ideal time to hit the crust is first thing in the morning. The crust will be icy, fast, and fun. As the air temperature rises, a layer of softer snow can form on top, making it glorious for skiing. The trick though is to finish your ski before it gets too warm, or else the crust can become soft enough for you to start punching through into the deep snow below. If you're caught out during this time, you'll have a slog back to the trailhead.

Check the forecast and temps before you go. For the most part, the best time for crust cruising is before 10am, but it can be great later in the morning too when the crust is very hard and the snow got cold enough overnight. Give it a try!