Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Recent snow makes Baldy ‘epic’

Frenchman’s and Greyhawk lifts now open


By BRENNAN REGO
Express Staff Writer

Skiers head to the River Run base of Bald Mountain Tuesday morning. Photo by Roland Lane

Bald Mountain has received about 12 inches of new snow since Sunday night, allowing the resort to open nearly the entire mountain, including the Frenchman’s and Greyhawk lifts and several runs in the Frenchman’s area.

“It’s fantastic skiing,” Ski Patrol Director Mike Loyd said Monday morning. “Epic skiing. Understand, epic skiing!”

Though a few runs remain closed, Director of Mountain Operations Peter Stearns said Tuesday that all major areas of the resort are open. Stearns also said the new snow is ideal for skiing.

“It’s great-quality snow,” he said. “This storm was a lot colder than the ones we’ve had up to this point and when it’s colder, you get cold, dry snow. It’s a really nice ski surface, just really good skiing when it’s like this. Plus it’s pretty. It looks like a winter wonderland.”

Stearns said weather reports indicate an upcoming cold spell, which he said will help maintain the quality of the new snow. He also said the snowfall “really helped” Dollar Mountain.

“It looks great over there,” he said.

Stearns added that even before the recent storm, the resort was “ecstatic” with how well the mountain was skiing.

“People were already saying it’s the best skiing in the Lower 48 states,” he said.

Resort spokesman Jack Sibbach said the resort will open the last few runs as soon as possible, as long as they’re safe. He also said the Roundhouse Restaurant, located midway up Bald Mountain on the River Run side, is scheduled to begin serving lunch today. He said the restaurant was open for dinner Saturday night and will be open for Friday and Saturday night dinners through the end of the ski season. Following a temporary opening over the weekend for lunch, the restaurant was closed Monday and Tuesday.

As of press deadline Tuesday, the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center reported a snow depth of almost 55 inches at the top of Bald Mountian. According to a resort mountain report, the middle of the mountain has 36 inches while the base has 24. The resort is reporting current snow conditions on Bald Mountain as packed powder and powder.

“It’s fantastic, don’t you think?” Stearns said.


Brennan Rego: brego@mtexpress.com




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