There’s something magical about linking smooth powdery turns on a wide open run, especially when it’s a beautiful sunny day outside.

What can make that experience even more special is when it totally catches you by surprise.

We’ve had a couple inches of fresh snow this week but I didn’t expect anything like the blue bird bliss I found today.

Here’s why:

First of all, McCall was SOCKED IN this morning when I was driving up to the mountain. You could barely make out the top of Brundage Mountain, stretching into the blue above that patch of fog.

As I climbed in elevation toward the mountain, things started to look better.

The lake was still covered in fog, but the mountains were proudly overlooking the valley, drenched in sunlight.

I always love that feeling of being above the clouds. Still, I wasn’t expecting to experience the feeling of floating on one! (More on that, later).

I did expect it to be a great day on the groomed runs.

It only takes a couple inches each week to keep them in top condition here at Brundage thanks to our sparse crowds, overnight temperatures and amazing grooming crew.

Hard not to smile on a day like today.

This ‘Vertigal’ was clearly prepared for the sunshine!

Their group drove up out of the Treasure Valley fog to enjoy a brilliant day at Brundage Mountain.

It’s not really surprising to find views like this during an ‘inversion’.

Those are the Seven Devil’s Mountains peeking up behind Granite Mountain.

What WAS surprising today was the powder. DID YOU SAY POWDER???

That’s exactly what I mean. I didn’t really expect to find enjoyable turns off-trail, but they were definitely out there. Nothing deep, of course, but that nice soft top cover that still makes you feel like you’re floating on a cloud.

Gliding under the sunshine…out of the fog…on top of the world…in the clear.

– April