Still a little stubborn out there, not quite soft underfoot...

...the snow has been piling up and that's great, but it's still not
luxurious underneath, at least not in the places we've found. (I know, we're
never satisfied). Fer instance, Cone Dump has opened up this week, but it
still has hollow and shallow spots. But yes, at least it's finally open. And
flashbacks of romping with utter impunity through the cone zone last winter
came rushing back this morning. The soft snow should help the carpets
immensely and make cruising this weekend quite pleasant. Our call? Go.

Four fresh gets Cone Dump open but it is strictly adults-only skiiing.

Fresh snow coating downtown Aspen, tomorrow looking good...

Another aspen-eye view of the morning line.

Ajax gets five new, one of the bigger days of the season...

...No really. It's been that kind of winter. But all is forgotten with fresh light and dry snow and sunshine somewhere on the Upper West Side.

Misty cold day in Aspen, with snow falling steadily up high...

...there was snow falling on top of the mountain today, under gray and chill
skies. That's right, fresh snow, delivered daily. Another one to three
inches in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. Top base depth at Snowmass
now at 56 inches, Aspen Mountain at 36 inches. Highlands was skiing well
yesterday, with a couple of fresh in inches laid in down low. Town and slope
fairly busy this weekend, which is no longer automatically expected and is
good to see from a resort viability standpoint. Yes, still a good time to
come out and make some turns with the family...

Ski bums forever! SkiCo's PR dept. hosted its annual Senior Day at the Sundeck today...

...for local seniors at the Pitkin County Senior Center. The day included
free skiing, free breakfast, free snowcat rides and free NASTAR for 120
seniors. There was also with prizes from various local business including
Matsuhisa, The Sky Hotel, Aspen White Water Rafting, Jimmy¹s Restaurant,
KSPN, KSNO and the Aspen Historical Society, according to a SkiCo press
release. (Photo courtesy SkiCo).

Misty day in Aspen...

...two fresh inches of snow has fallen in the last 24 hours and the forecast
is calling for about an inch a day to fall over the weekend, at least in
town. Highlands Bowl forecast calling for more, maybe up to five inches by
the end of the weekend. Skiing should be as good or better this weekend as
it has been in the last week. Maybe not much sunshine, but fresh snow
delivered daily.

Tired of East Coast snow? Come west to the land of dry and sunny...

...I know, it's kind of twisted. But what other response do we have when it's a bigger powder day at the White House than we've seen in weeks?

Nice dry sunny day as a group of happy skiers take a mountain tour with an ambassador, diplomatically poised above Aspen.

Couple of fresh, light and dry ones. Sun's peeking in. It's hard complainin'.

Snowing, but scantily. Still frosty and misty, though. Not yet 2 to 4. Maybe later.

Cold. Snowing. Low ceiling. Bonnie's full for breakfast.

The griddle was overwhelmed....

Snow flurrying en route to the cookhouse, without hurrying...

Fine day for a sleigh ride together. While light snow was falling, it had not amounted to much.

Fresh snow in Northstar this morning. Maybe two inches with light snow still falling.

A quick coating of snow greeted the start of the ski day and the weather
service is calling for one to three inches this afternoon. Could be worth
sneaking out around 3 p.m. Or earlier.

Groms snow wrestling just below the summit, a sign that being in Aspen helps kids let go...

...and crush their little sister's face in the snowpack.

Gray and steely today with a hint of snow in the air...

...An inch or two called for on Thursday...

The late lap revealed the grim reality that is the top of Franklin Dump...

...Now it is true that it is usually a rock garden, but the tall grass is a tad rare. A general thinness and firmness prevails. That's a plus during apres ski but...

Critter track...signs of an early morning patrol...

Dry, crisp and clear with foamy, grippy and yes, fun, snow underfoot.

X Gamers appear to have exited the arena, leaving a few happy stragglers behind. Above, all quiet on Upper East Side.