Most of the tram crew and some of the lift crew were present for the training.
Happy, inquisitive faces in the motor room.
And, oh yeah, spring has sprung around the hotel and the crocus are starting to bloom.
Weekend skiing is still on (at this point), but call the SKI-SNOW hotline for up-to-date info
Trail crew has been working hard this summer, and the trails look nice.
I saw this truck out on the mountain, and just thought it was funny. Not really sure what they were doing, but we definitely had plenty of deliveries this March.
Snow in July? No that's just cottonwood fluff. Friday was sunny and the trees just let loose.
There is still some snow on the upper North Face trail and at the top of the tram.
Click to enlarge and you might see a moose in the bottom center of the frame.
The himalayan blue poppies are blooming all over the resort.
I love the reflections in the courtyard pond when the fountain isn't on.
Some good reminders if you plan on spending time outdoors in Alaska in the summertime.
The Blueberry Pancake trail is now open. Remember, it is downhill and for experts only.
The Finnland magic carpet was dismantled, filled, leveled and re assembled already this summer. It looks really nice and should require less snowmaking in the winter.
They looked so happy, and I was delighted to be able to attend for such a joyous occasion.
There were a few (former) lifties in the crowd. Below, Phil and Erika, and their little guy Quinn, who just turned 1 a few weeks ago:
There is frost on the grass in the valley.
The weather has been fantastic today.
More frosty foliage.
Devil's Club - don't grab it.
A couple of paragliders enjoyed a rare October flight today; notice the fresh snow on Max's.
The fall colors are going off right now.
...FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE WINTER LIKELY AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA TONIGHT... COLDER AIR MOVING SOUTHWARD ACROSS WESTERN ALASKA TODAY WILL GRADUALLY FILTER INTO SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY. MEANWHILE...A STORM SYSTEM OVER THE NORTHERN GULF WILL MOVE INLAND ACROSS SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA TONIGHT PRODUCING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION. AS THE COLD AIR ARRIVES RAIN WILL MIX WITH AND THEN CHANGE TO SNOW ALONG THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHCENTRAL. LOCATIONS WITH THE MOST LIKELIHOOD OF SEEING SNOW INCLUDE THE UPPER HILLSIDE OF ANCHORAGE...HATCHER'S PASS...HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE GLENN HIGHWAY AROUND EUREKA...THE NORTHERN SUSITNA VALLEY...AND ALONG THE DENALI HIGHWAY. THE SNOW WILL BE VERY WET AND GROUND TEMPERATURES ARE VERY WARM...SO ACCUMULATION ACROSS THESE AREAS IS EXPECTED TO GENERALLY BE LIGHT. LOWER ELEVATIONS...INCLUDING ANCHORAGE AND THE MATANUSKA VALLEY WILL REMAIN PRIMARILY RAIN. HOWEVER...IF THE PRECIPITATION IS HEAVY ENOUGH THERE MAY BE SNOWFLAKES MIXED IN WITH THE RAIN DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
A bee was landing right as I took this photo:
The Devil's Club is turning yellow.
Chair 1, North Face Trail and a sunset over the Turnagain Arm.
From the sundeck:
Lift maintenance got a new tool this week. It is called a hit-trac and can assist in rigging and getting heavy items where they need to go. Below, they test it out with the weight of a four-wheeler. Thanks to Devon and Walt who sent this picture my way.
Cool clouds.
Devil's Club
Hikers on the ridge line (click to enlarge).
The Winner creek extension trail (not open to the public). This trail runs between the base area of the resort, and is not quite finished yet. It is very obvious where trail crew has completed sections.
