Crystal Visions: Anatomy of a Storm Chase

nepa....as long as you'll be skiing this shit it's all good.  Another time!

Of course the QPF for Mission looks like an inch less.

Ha.  Precisely why I picked up a weekday pass at Stevens.

Yup... that's the typical pattern... we're in the shadow.  We get the crumbs over here in the Far East at the edge of the desert.... the crumbs are often very dry, but not too deep (typically we get most of our snow in small bursts [2 to 4 here... 3 to 6 there, and so on]).  Although, we do get the occasional freakish meso-events, people are generally ecstatic when it goes boot deep over here.  It's colder on the East side, so you can find good snow in the BC for long periods after a cycle dries out.  

When it's all said and done we'll probably see about 2ft in the upper basin, a bit less below Midway.  

I'm not complaining.  As long as we all end up on top of the snow it's all good regardless of how deep it gets.(Obviously, unexpected burials anywhere can put a damper on a good storm cycle.)

Check out @meaghanngaffney -s instagram post from today. Crystal is blower right now, face shots!

GTV, it sounds like your a logistics expert. Good luck on your cross country storm chase.
Two pieces of advise, stay clear of tree wells and keep expectations in check,and have a great time.

Thanks 2000!  Hopefully execution goes as well as the planning.  Packed and ready, showing on time.  The last 30 miles of the drive from SEA/TAC to Crystal, once I get above the freezing line, should be the worst part.  I've got the SUV and can take it slow!

Get stoked JTG... The cycle is materializing pretty well on the East side... about 6 inches in the past 24 hours... SWE was about .25... temperature hasn't made it out of the teens since Tuesday.

I was just out at Mission... I can confirm... it's Cold Smoke... Wasatch Magic has paid a visit to the PNW... it doesn't get much better than this.

Be safe, stay warm (it's abnormally cold out here) & Enjoy!!

 

Thanks nepa!  Cold I can deal with, I'm used to the Northern Daks in Feb when single digits are balmy!!!  Now 2+ feet of powder....

Any deep pow advice is welcomed!

Headed for the airport now.....

Wheels on the ground!

The good fortune continues.  An on time arrival when coming in late and skiing the next morning is yooooge!

So, in the midst of the travel is a good time to talk about the insanity of the storm chase!  My wife is of the opinion that flying across the country to ski for a weekend is not normal.  Know what?  She may be right!

And there are the skis!  One bonus, it seems, is that oversize baggage goes on last.  Last on, first off....everyone else is still waiting for their bags!

A word about ski bags.  I have a decent one, good interior room and will hold skis up to 210 cm.  I'll never put skis that long in it, but I can fit my clothes, helmet, skins, BC gear (transceivers stay in the backpack with me), medical kit and other stuff in the ski bag.  Checking only one bag really helps.  The ski boots go carry on.

If you ever are in the market for a ski bag......spend the extra dough and get one with wheels!!!

Puking snow for the last 20 miles of the drive.  Don't cha feel bad for me!

Main roads were good.  The 5 mile Crystal access road?  Not so much!  Not sure when they plowed it last, but there was a foot of unplowed!  My luck continued, here safe.

The guys sitting on the down side of the access road in their car whose front wheel broke off?  Not so lucky.....

The hardest part about the west coast chase is that my body is telling me it's 5:30 am and I've only had two hours of fitful plane sleep in the last 24.  Poor me!  I'll check in tomorrow....g'night.

Glad you made it - looking for some nice pics.

Fricken earth movers and other heavy equipment they use to move the snow in the lots woke me up!  Boo!!   Body says it's 9:30, time to get up, too excited to go back to sleep as well.  10 inches overnight on top of the 6 they had when they opened yesterday.  Snow seems to be taking a break right now, but we should see another foot before tomorrow morning for my backcountry day....

Hit with the Hein!!!!!

We need pics to verify if this real...Something with a date stamp !!!

FKNA!

Knee deep to waist deep untracked all morning.  At the Elk now, got some drinking to do.  Will try to post some pics, but the wifi sucks!

Video will take a bit....

Those pictures are amazing. Looks like you timed it just right, man. Good job.

YES! I'm so stoke for you JTG, get some. KAW! KAW!

If you run into Brett Lotz at the bar tell him I said hi.

Tell me who the fuck Brett L is and I'll for him!!

I'm a dick for saying this prolly, but perfect storm chase.  Great day today, foot of snow tonight, BC tomorrow.  It's gonna bet tits.  Not offense intended!

*look

Jackpot!