Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Gore Mountain, NY: 1/3/09
Ski Day 15
What a difference a day makes.
And 5" of snow. Gore called it 3, measured at the base. I find my measurements at 2000 feet are usually higher but I'd expect the difference to be less than 2 inches on five. Garnet Hill reported 6 inches. Whatever...it made a big difference. Winds were high (still are at 6pm) but with temps in the 20s, wind chills were manageable, for me.
* * * *
Things looked sweet when we got to the mountain around 8:20. I push the women folk WAY harder in the am, when there is fresh snow to be had. We took the Gondi primarily for the warmth factor. Guns were still going on Pine Knot and Uncas from yesterday. Uncas was still closed. I'll do anything for soft snow. If Pine Knot had the only carvable snow on the mountain...and it was a killing field with zero visibility ...I'd do laps.
When we got to the Straightbrook Chair things looked great. Folks who got first tracks on Chatiemac were hootin as we rode up. Lies had been groomed, which happens only a few times a season. All the way up...Chatiemac or Lies...Chatiemac or Lies? I hit Lies and did big GS turns all the way down. Then Chatiemac and Open Pit.
They were "race training" on lower Hawkeye below the headwall. On the fourth ride up, they were already taking down the gates. A crowd had gathered at the rope. Everyone knew that when they dropped it essentially there were be some form of first tracks. The racers all ski the same curvy line and leave the sides untouched. I had decided to bag Hawk because I knew the upper half was boilerplate. Basically anything that hadn't had snowmaking since 12/26 was tough sledding.
I took Chatiemac one last time before CB and I were going to check out the lower mountain. On a whim I cut over to lower Hawkeye from Chatiemac to see what was going on. Now there were at least 50 people waiting for the rope to drop. Patrol was in a line guarding the thing like it was the crown jewels. The head of Patrol is an incredibly likeable guy...I think his name is Mark. (Bean Dip) He's standing there having fun with the crowd. Then he says...."ok SEASON'S PASSHOLDERS ONLY" and holds up the rope. Almost NOBODY snags it...I was third down and it was funner than a bear.
* * * *
Down to Tannery and up the Topridge Chair. It looked like they were going to drop the rope on Uncas which they had been pounding with snowguns for two days. CB headed down and I snagged it too. It was comical. Like a rollercoaster. Great carvable manmade. A couple laps there and then a break in the Saddle to warm up.
We did a run on Twister and then another off the Triple where cut over to Echo at what we call the Echo Spot. Apparently it's already known by Patrol as the Worm Hole...an entrance to another dimension. It's only been there for 3 days and it's got a name.
* * * *
Burnt Ridge is really cool. It IS a whole 'nother dimension that makes the mountain feel so much bigger. WIDER. Sagamore...the black trail, has no snowmaking yet. Somebody poached it and MAN it looked like a dream.
CB took a break to warm up...and I did everything at the top again including a great run on Lies. Ultimately I ended up lapping Uncas where the manmade conditions were nice...some sweet bumps forming. Tons of folks over there, but fun none the less. A great day to be alive.
* * * *
Tomorrow we'll probably go sledding and hit the road. Looks like my dream of skiing on my 50th Bday (Jan 8) isn't happening and work is going to get real busy in the first half of January. Even next weekend is a long shot. Still it's been a great year so far... especially the weekend of 12/20. Still we need a BIG ONE. I'm waiting.
What a difference a day makes.
And 5" of snow. Gore called it 3, measured at the base. I find my measurements at 2000 feet are usually higher but I'd expect the difference to be less than 2 inches on five. Garnet Hill reported 6 inches. Whatever...it made a big difference. Winds were high (still are at 6pm) but with temps in the 20s, wind chills were manageable, for me.
* * * *
Things looked sweet when we got to the mountain around 8:20. I push the women folk WAY harder in the am, when there is fresh snow to be had. We took the Gondi primarily for the warmth factor. Guns were still going on Pine Knot and Uncas from yesterday. Uncas was still closed. I'll do anything for soft snow. If Pine Knot had the only carvable snow on the mountain...and it was a killing field with zero visibility ...I'd do laps.
When we got to the Straightbrook Chair things looked great. Folks who got first tracks on Chatiemac were hootin as we rode up. Lies had been groomed, which happens only a few times a season. All the way up...Chatiemac or Lies...Chatiemac or Lies? I hit Lies and did big GS turns all the way down. Then Chatiemac and Open Pit.
They were "race training" on lower Hawkeye below the headwall. On the fourth ride up, they were already taking down the gates. A crowd had gathered at the rope. Everyone knew that when they dropped it essentially there were be some form of first tracks. The racers all ski the same curvy line and leave the sides untouched. I had decided to bag Hawk because I knew the upper half was boilerplate. Basically anything that hadn't had snowmaking since 12/26 was tough sledding.
I took Chatiemac one last time before CB and I were going to check out the lower mountain. On a whim I cut over to lower Hawkeye from Chatiemac to see what was going on. Now there were at least 50 people waiting for the rope to drop. Patrol was in a line guarding the thing like it was the crown jewels. The head of Patrol is an incredibly likeable guy...I think his name is Mark. (Bean Dip) He's standing there having fun with the crowd. Then he says...."ok SEASON'S PASSHOLDERS ONLY" and holds up the rope. Almost NOBODY snags it...I was third down and it was funner than a bear.
* * * *
Down to Tannery and up the Topridge Chair. It looked like they were going to drop the rope on Uncas which they had been pounding with snowguns for two days. CB headed down and I snagged it too. It was comical. Like a rollercoaster. Great carvable manmade. A couple laps there and then a break in the Saddle to warm up.
We did a run on Twister and then another off the Triple where cut over to Echo at what we call the Echo Spot. Apparently it's already known by Patrol as the Worm Hole...an entrance to another dimension. It's only been there for 3 days and it's got a name.* * * *
Burnt Ridge is really cool. It IS a whole 'nother dimension that makes the mountain feel so much bigger. WIDER. Sagamore...the black trail, has no snowmaking yet. Somebody poached it and MAN it looked like a dream.
CB took a break to warm up...and I did everything at the top again including a great run on Lies. Ultimately I ended up lapping Uncas where the manmade conditions were nice...some sweet bumps forming. Tons of folks over there, but fun none the less. A great day to be alive.
* * * *
Tomorrow we'll probably go sledding and hit the road. Looks like my dream of skiing on my 50th Bday (Jan 8) isn't happening and work is going to get real busy in the first half of January. Even next weekend is a long shot. Still it's been a great year so far... especially the weekend of 12/20. Still we need a BIG ONE. I'm waiting.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Gore Mountain, NY: 1/2/09
Ski Day 14
Another tough day at the office. Temps were warmer and wind speeds were almost nil. So comfort was most improved. And considering the bulletproof conditions from yesterday, Gore did a reasonable job with what they had. Common areas (Base, Saddle, Summit of Bear) were covered. But Gore will never be Okemo or Killington. There just isn't the will or maybe the horsepower to recover from major NCP events the way the Vermont titans can.
For some reason snowmaking continued on Twister...which was pic of the day. They were blowing on Pine Knot, which I do understand. Blowing on Uncas? It's not open and probably won't be until after the holiday is over. How about Showcase, or something on the Dark Side? Hey..if Gore was a Vermont resort...it would be in Vermont. Best trail conditions were on Twister (by far), Lower Chatiemac, Pine Knot, Echo. Highlight of the day was meeting a really cool couple from NYC in the Tannery Lounge. In all my years at Gore...I have never had a beer in there. Today was also my 2.5 year old daughters first run on skis. She liked it and asked all day when she could go again. To me that is big stuff. See you tomorrow.
Another tough day at the office. Temps were warmer and wind speeds were almost nil. So comfort was most improved. And considering the bulletproof conditions from yesterday, Gore did a reasonable job with what they had. Common areas (Base, Saddle, Summit of Bear) were covered. But Gore will never be Okemo or Killington. There just isn't the will or maybe the horsepower to recover from major NCP events the way the Vermont titans can.
For some reason snowmaking continued on Twister...which was pic of the day. They were blowing on Pine Knot, which I do understand. Blowing on Uncas? It's not open and probably won't be until after the holiday is over. How about Showcase, or something on the Dark Side? Hey..if Gore was a Vermont resort...it would be in Vermont. Best trail conditions were on Twister (by far), Lower Chatiemac, Pine Knot, Echo. Highlight of the day was meeting a really cool couple from NYC in the Tannery Lounge. In all my years at Gore...I have never had a beer in there. Today was also my 2.5 year old daughters first run on skis. She liked it and asked all day when she could go again. To me that is big stuff. See you tomorrow.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Gore Mountain, NY: 1/1/09
Ski Day 13
Today was a beautiful day.
If you don't care about surface conditions. The NWS was calling for early morning windchills of 30 below. From experience those numbers don't account for the windiest spots on chairlifts. We slept in. I skied solo. Surfaces were boilerplate. Trails and lifts were closed. Parking lot, Lodges and Gondola were crowded. Trails were deserted. I really wanted to try out my new fatter skis. Not the best day for fatter skis for sure. For me...when trying out new gear...on my first runs...I'm always convinced it will never be as good as my old gear. I hit the firm bumps on Lies on my first run. Not easy.
Eventually I made it down to the bottom. They were blowing big time on Twister and it was excellent. I decided I do love my new skis. I lapped run after run on Twister from the Gondi and called it a day at 1:30. Oh...by the way Atomic RT-86s (127-86-113) are the largest skis that will fit into the old ski carriers in the Gondi. That is all.
Today was a beautiful day.
If you don't care about surface conditions. The NWS was calling for early morning windchills of 30 below. From experience those numbers don't account for the windiest spots on chairlifts. We slept in. I skied solo. Surfaces were boilerplate. Trails and lifts were closed. Parking lot, Lodges and Gondola were crowded. Trails were deserted. I really wanted to try out my new fatter skis. Not the best day for fatter skis for sure. For me...when trying out new gear...on my first runs...I'm always convinced it will never be as good as my old gear. I hit the firm bumps on Lies on my first run. Not easy.
Eventually I made it down to the bottom. They were blowing big time on Twister and it was excellent. I decided I do love my new skis. I lapped run after run on Twister from the Gondi and called it a day at 1:30. Oh...by the way Atomic RT-86s (127-86-113) are the largest skis that will fit into the old ski carriers in the Gondi. That is all.
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