Anybody been in East Vail recently?

[meatdrink9]

Avy danger is looking more reasonable below treeline. Did it get too warm up there? Any first hand reports are greatly appreciated.

And if it doesn't suck...anybody up for Friday?

[robokill1981]

I was going to ask the same question about East Vail. Can you make it on Saturday?

[Foggy_Goggles]

From Snotel, the high temps for the last week at the Vail Station (10300) have been:

1/20 44.4
1/21 51.2
1/23 48.7
1/24 44.1
1/25 49.9

I don't know the aspect of that reporting station (they are generally in meadows) but I do know that what I've seen at and above treeline and what I've head are that the top meter of the snowpack is very consoliated. If you're looking for pow pow, you'll need to find some very sheltered high elevation north facing action. Below tree line, I've seen rediculous amount of faceted garbage. I sank to my waist with my skis on at one point. I'm affraid that the impending cold front will leave DOC at best. I could be wrong, what say you Summit Eagle BC foos.

[meatdrink9]

robo, I'm afeared of the weekend traffic. mebbe, but I prefer friday. that way the mrs doesn't miss me and I don't sit in traffic.

[robokill1981]

I hear you on the traffic. I'm in for next Friday if you are.

[meatdrink9]

Let's hear a report. I'm skiing somewhere Friday regardless. Hopefully it'll be East Vail. If you weren't skiing East Vail Friday where would you be skiing?

[cmor]

I skied East Vail last friday with summit,blurred, and elsquidaor. It definitlly warmed up there, manky further down, but some decent stuff to be had further up. In no way was there blower pow though, just soft landings, velvety turns.

Good news is the snow pack should be super solid up in those parts. We only had trouble with the most recent hoar frost layer, and that should have consolidated somewhat by now.

It's been so warm I think almost everywhere has been affected. East Vail's aspect should be as good as anywhere. Unless you can find a sheltered norhteast facing slope above 12,000 ft. I don't think upper East Vail warmed up enough for it to turn into total death crust. A few inches of new should fall by friday as well.

Summit has pics somewhere.

[Ireallyliketoski2]

I've never skied east vail, that terrain has always frightened me. If I was going to ski something on Friday, it'd probably be Mount Toll.

[summit]

I was there last Friday. Watertower was goop. Waterfall was dangerous up high and goop at the bottom. The snow was mank. It can only have gotten mankier. I wouldn't waste a day right now.

[funkendrenchman]

I was there last Friday. Watertower was goop. Waterfall was dangerous up high and goop at the bottom. The snow was mank. It can only have gotten mankier. I wouldn't waste a day right now.

I've never wasted a day in East Vail... even in mid April when it was 50 degrees out.

My guess is that MD9 won't use up all 10 days anyway.

[robokill1981]

I'm working a split shift so I'll probably just be riding park at Breck for a few hours. All the x-gamers should be in Aspen by then which should mean the park will be empty on Friday. Not that riding park next to all th pros isn't fun, but it's a bit annoying when you have to wait for 10 of them to go so they can all be filmed.

Funken is right about E. Vail being amazing even when it's 50 degrees out, but I think I might save my days and wait a few weeks.

[elesquiador]

Its pretty variable in East Vail as of last friday, but still fun. Very heavy snow for the most part and very consolidated on top in many places. After skiing last week I said I would wait for a foot of snow to go back. I think I would choose someplace that I could get more laps in for friday though. The conditions probably are not worth all the lift riding and bus riding for the number of runs you would get. I would ski in bounds or do a longer tour or find somewhere to do spinny flippy shit unless it snows.

[meatdrink9]

thanks for the reports. it's starting to sound like friday will be a breck park day.

[The Dark Side]

I skied east Vail on Sunday and the upper half still had nice shallow faceted powder. The lower half had a nasty crust on it that made it interesting:-)

[summit]

If I wasn't going to use all 10 days, I'd spend every day I could safely spend in East Vail.

I agree with Funkendrenchedman. I had a blast Friday.

I'll use all 10 days and more which is why I said what I said.