Royal Mountain Conditions

[Jim]

It was another busy day at Royal. I arrived at 1, and fortunately the Sunday ski school staff was able to handle the workload so I was able to get right out on the main mountain. It was an excellent packed powder surface all around. Challenge was skiing the best so far for me this year (since I missed the powder part of yesterday's powder day). I decided it was time to try out Doc's Drop which was thin but fine, and also decided it was time to try a couple of glades. I started slow, with Maiden (thin in spots, still skiable) and Merchant (really nice, still some powder to be had). I made 10 really enjoyable runs and got to ride the lift with a few Royal first timers as well as some regulars. There were short lines at both lifts for the first hour I was there, I'd say up to about a 20 chair wait once or twice. Thinned right out after 2.

The light wasn't great for pictures but I'll attach a couple.

Royal will be closed tomorrow for the mess that's moving in, then planning to reopen for the rest of the week right through next Sunday.

 

[NYSkiBlog]

 

[Jim]

If the snow is anything like the 4-6" of fluff I just essentially brushed from my driveway here in Amsterdam, it's going to be great! Headed up now.

 

[tirolski]

If the snow is anything like the 4-6" of fluff I just essentially brushed from my driveway here in Amsterdam, it's going to be great! Headed up now.

Should be. it’s lake effect . Have fun.

 

[Jim]

Yes, it was good. 6-8" of fluff. Powder early then packed powder on all the main trails. The usual spots got skied off by mid morning but even so the skiing was surprisingly great when I went back out at almost 3:00 after teaching a couple lessons in the middle of the day. Knight/Prince/Queen were all a really nice packed powder late afternoon. And I have to say that the practice slope, where I spent a good chunk of the day, has some excellent packed powder right now. Off the groomers there's still too much of a slick crust underneath from Monday's unpleasantness for me so I didn't try much.

The forecast calls for the chance of a few more inches to refresh things overnight for what's looking like a chilly New Year's Day.

(Editing to post a few pictures)

 

[Jim]

Another 1-2" of fluff this morning after the groom and another nice powder to packed powder day. It was really nice to have sunny skies for a change. I made a few more tracks off the groomers today: off to the sides of Prince and the bottom half of Jacksland. Things there are improving with some traffic and with each new snowfall. I had two lessons again but one was an advanced on the main mountain, giving me a chance for a few more runs today.

 

[Jim]

Again a little fresh fluff and a mostly packed powder day. This lake effect cycle hasn't been epic by any means but it's made for a great holiday week after the you-know-what from Monday. The big change from yesterday is a lot of freshly made snow at the top of the Challenge, which is now really nice top to bottom. I'm not certain but I think some new snow was also made in a few other spots including the top of Prince and the top of the Practice Slope. I took Doc's Drop since it looked like they pushed some snow onto it, and it was a lot better than my first time down earlier in the season but still pretty skied off. The woods continue to look more tempting and I had a good run down through the Maiden Glades. A few easily avoidable rocks poking through in heavily traveled spots.

There are also lots of new whales since yesterday on Red Carpet both at the top and in the middle. Word is that they will be making some more in the next few days with a plan to push it out in a path 2 groomers wide, then to let traffic and natural snow do its thing the rest of the season if possible. It should be open next weekend at the latest. With the amount of traffic it's already getting you might as well call it open already. I'm guessing they can't open it officially while the moveable snow guns are still parked in the middle of it.

 

[Jim]

What a run of lake effect, with I'd say another 4" this morning. I was on the practice slope all morning with my first week of advanced Trailblaisers. (We'll be on the main mountain from here on, fortunately.). When I finally got up on the main mountain at almost 2, things were still nice on all the main trails. My favorite of the day was Prince.

It was a very busy day at the mountain and I'm guessing it was enough to have short lines at both lifts for a while. It was ski on to either one my mid- afternoon. The unfortunate part of the day was the number of sleds that came down, including one that was transferred directly from the sled to a waiting ambulance. Hopefully he's going to be ok.

 

[Country Gun]

My son and I caught a little dry Lake Effect today. I wish all the snow that fell was like today’s snow. We needed a change of scenery and Royal hit the spot.
Thanks Jim and Harv. You guys inspired us to check out this NY gem!
Have a couple vids and pics, to share when I download them.

 

[Harvey]

@Jim do you think Jake and Brooke have NYSB on their radar?

I spent the afternoon trying to convince my daughter to ski Royal tomorrow, but no she prefers the icy groomers at Gore