It’s been far too long since I’ve been able to hit the slopes here at Brundage Mountain.

Due to travel and work commitments, seven whole days went by since the last time I skied my beloved mountain.

I did get some runs in elsewhere, but it simply wasn’t the same.

So what was I expecting for my reunion tour? Our snow totals aren’t statistically impressive. Nearly a foot since I’ve been absent, but just a couple inches at a time.

But alas, I should know better. The mountain welcomed me home with a soft, comforting embrace.

It may have been a bit gray, but as the snow pelted my face on the first chairlift ride, I had high hopes for the slopes.

Snow clinging to the hard surfaces is always a good sign.

But that was the only ‘hard’ thing I could find. The runs were smooth and soft and welcomed my long-absent edges.

A couple inches of powdered-sugar love had  me dancing with delight.

Off-trail, there are even more incredible surprises. Check out this untracked run:

And even the little easy tree shots with tracks in them were skiing well. I was expecting to feel a bit of a crust under my feet here, but instead,  it was smooth sailing.

I may not have been gone long, but my homecoming was still a welcome relief.

And I didn’t even have to click my heels together.

– April