First up the Lemmon, as in Mt. Lemmon Arizona, our photo above. Here’s a report from Gustave Sexauer, who surprisingly rates it among his favorites in the smaller/throwback ski area category:

We skied Mt. Lemmon on Saturday and boy were we surprised. They were talking of closing for lack of snow after more than a month open (if you recall, they didn’t open at all last season), so we expected thin, rocky conditions. We were treated to 1″ of fresh from Thursday night on a soft base and were told by the patrol and the lifties run after run which trails were skiing best. We surprised to get first tracks on at least one trail that no one had been down on Friday. I’d skied the Lemmon before, but after yesterday I’m firmly placing it in the top three small ski areas I’ve been to. The others would be Turner Mountain and Bear Paw Ski Bowl, for the record.

As for the next “lemon,” there were none to be found among the US contingent this morning in Åre Sweden. Ladies Super G competition said to be the penultimate contest of Lindsey Vonn’s career. Well, Mikaela Shiffrin won, again, making her 4-and-Oh this season in that particular speed discipline. Switzerland’s Corinne Suter actually had an edge at the third timing interval, but dropped off to finish third. Sophia Goggia of Italy was a couple hundredths behind Shiff through the entire course, and finished second just .02 behind. Not much more needs to be said about our young champion, so permit me to circle back to the lion in winter. Vonn crashed, as you’ve probably heard. So she did not win — but let’s see what else she didn’t do. She didn’t ski like some sort of farewell tour. She didn’t take a sled down, and she didn’t whine about it. She also didn’t back out of plans to ski the downhill (yet). Vonn had the hammer down and was skiing to win. I don’t think she knows any other way, and I think her genetic makeup is so competitive that retirement is unfamiliar ground and she is not comfortable on it, at all. So I expect her to suit up for the DH and ski like the blazes. After that, we’ll see…in Southern California, Mountain High enjoying a foot of fresh, more on the way. They’re looking at possibly opening the east base this weekend….up north, they’re blessed with a little too much snow; Mammoth Mountain, June Mountain, Boreal and Squaw/Alpine all closed today. Sugar Bowl is spinning a lift, Homewood Resort has about half their lifts and most runs open, but you’ll need chains to get there…sorry to report that 80-year-old Rudi Huber of Pocono Twp, PA died Saturday while skiing at Camelback Resort. Mr. Huber was a long time season passholder and known around the resort. “The entire team of Camelback Resort extends our heartfelt sympathies and support to the family and friends of Rudolf ‘Rudi’ Huber,” said Brian Czarnecki, President and Chief Operating Officer of Camelback…