Down the Haynes I went, first tracks on a clean canvas. Eight inches felt like eighty centimeters. My favorite snow condition, even harder to get than knee deep untracked in the woods.

Almost a foot of supportive, springy powder on top of groomed. Just enough to not bottom out, but not too much that you can’t rip huge, high-speed arcs. Effortless and amazing.

The energy transfers automatically from turn to turn. I don’t yell nor cry out in joy. I am speechless. It has been years since I’ve felt this perfect layering of powder over groomed.

After that, I went into the trees, where I skied untracked every run until I left. Lifts were ski on all morning and untracked lines stayed fresh all day.

December powder days are always amongst the best of the season. And day-before-Christmas powder days are always exceptionally notable for the lack of crowds.