JohnE

Went up Tuesday. Wasn't planning on new snow but they had 10" overnight. Was very warm the day before so what was underneath was very hard. A bit of a traffic jam getting to the lot. Lots of powder hounds out. Mostly non-Loveland regulars. First in line on #2. Ptarmigan wasn't open so we went to #4. We were on the 3rd chair there. Lifties and ski patrol had a hard time getting there so by about 10AM only Chet's Dream, #2, #6 & #4 were running. First ride up #4 Scrub was relatively untracked. Rode to top. Visibility was really bad. First run down Telstar / Scrub was a real surfing experience. The 10" of new was very dense. Greg went over the handlebars and had difficult time getting up. Second ride up Scrub was almost entirely tracked out. All the skiers/boarders were concentrated on a few slopes. I've NEVER seen a slope go from untracked to massacred so quickly. Second run down was like standing on the back of a bucking bronco. I was exhausted. Third run down Apollo. Terrible visibility. I tweaked my back trying to stay upright. Headed down to the lodge. Called it a day after 3 runs / 1 hour. My back still hurts. That snow should make a good base for the groomers if it doesn't get too warm.

Went up to Loveland last Friday & did their snowcat tour. Eight of us on the cat: 5 skiers and 3 on boards. Ski Patrol Phil runs the program. He's been a ski patrol for 41 years. He really knows his stuff. The cat picked us up on the top of #8 and went into Dry Gulch - the next valley east of Lift #8. Hadn't snowed for several days but the snow quality was pretty good. Didn't see any tracks. Perfect bluebird day. Warm - most stripped off their outer layers. One guy skied in short sleeves. I think we got in about 11 runs / about 12k vertical feet. Dropped us back on the top of #8 about 3:30. Fun time. Could be wonderful with new, light snow.

Ok - thanks for the tip. I'll try some.

I notice that Loveland is offering 2 for 1 seats on their snowcat tours for Dry Gulch. These are run Friday - Sunday for the rest of April. That makes it $200/seat. Has anyone done this? Any reviews on this? Any idea about what the snow conditions are like? The exposure appears to be similar to Scrub on Chet's over on Lift #8.

I figured out the best compromise (for me). I just took a small, 1.5 liter minimalist CamelBak, fastened the sternum strap and put it on backwards. This puts up to 1.5l on your chest (instead of your back). Like a 1500ml "uni-boob" in the middle of your upper chest. Kind of big when you start out in the morning but gets smaller every time you drink. This seems like a better solution to others. A 750ml bladder in my right waist pocket is too small and interferes when I try to bend down. A 1500ml CamelBak on my back is a pain to ride the lift with - feels like it's going to push me off the lift. But the 1500ml CamelFront is enough water and I'm the least aware of it. Anyone else try this?

When snowboarding, I struggle with hydration. I got a new Platypus water bladder that holds 750ml. What I have been doing is to fill it up in the morning and drink the entire thing. I then refill it and put it into a pocket in my parka. We go out riding for 4 - 4.5 hours. I usually run out after about 3 - 3.5 hours (then I'm thirsty). So this is a total of about 1.5 liters. I've tried various Camelbaks but I don't like the big lump between my shoulder blades on the lift. The 750ml Platypus bladder is about the biggest I can fit into an inside parka pocket. Do others have similar problems and have you found a superior solution?

That's hillarious!

I admire all of you that have the courage to get back on the horse after an injury or severe illness!

Alright Bob & Arne - enjoy the perfect cord! Greg & I had some great cord yesterday at Loveland. We are corduroy connoisseurs!

Juwan - Greg & I & Arne (I think) are heading to Loveland tomorrow. Can you join us?

Agreed. It was our best day this season so far and one of the best days ever! Maybe we'll see you again next Tuesday Juwan.

Juwan - we're heading to Loveland tomorrow if you would like to join us.

We figured you went to #3. Didn't see any other carvers from Ptarmigan. We spent most of our first 2 days this season on #3. Very nice. So was Firebowl.

St_Lupo - The experience you describe and the photos look wonderful. A year and a half ago we did a cruise up the west coast of Norway up to Honningsvag and down the coast through Tromso and Lofoten during the summer solstice. What a beautiful country! The little non-corporate ski areas are the best.

A skier friend lives in Edwards - just west of Vail. He is the biggest Vail booster I know. His wife has worked part time for Vail Associates long enough for them to earn lifetime passes. They have skied about 50 days a year for the last 30 years. He is so disgusted with the situation that they are considering a move out of state.

Interesting article: https://slate.com/business/2023/12/epic-versus-ikon-ski-duopoly-cost.html I used to think that Vail was nirvana (back in the 70's 80's and 90's). Not anymore. This article spells it out. I still go there for a few days each season to meet up with my college buddies but the riding pretty much sucks. Their uphill capacity is so huge that the lift lines aren't bad but the slopes are CROWDED! They list their "groomed" runs but they may not have been groomed in many days. Epic and Ikon have hyped the "experience" so much and they get people to make their choice in September about which pass they are going to buy. All of those people just cruise right past our little ski area and head toward the big resorts to the west. I hope the hoards never discover our little old ski area.

Great day yesterday. Met Lance & family in the lodge at breakfast. Overcast with off & on light snow. About 20 degrees. Visibility was good enough. Greg & I went up to Ptarmigan. Ski Tracker shows about 15 runs Firebowl / Turtle Creek, 3 runs Firebowl / Firecut and 2 runs on Roulette. A few crowds but were able to find openings and no close calls. Snow was very good. Firm but not icy. Even after the cord was gone the remaining snow held up very well. Getting a little bumpy around 12:30 but still lots of fun. We quit at 1:30 after 4 1/2 hours. Really tired. Best day of the season (3rd day). Now I think our default day will be Tuesdays.

I think Sean at Donek can best help you. I think he is smartin@donek.com

Did you do that snowboarding? How? About 5 years ago I dislocated my right index finger falling off a mountain bike. It's been crooked ever since. I've become much more careful on my bike.

Greg & I at Loveland yesterday for my 2nd day this season. Much more crowded than last Thursday. Started with a few on Richards & Mambo and met up with Juwan. We decided to go over to #3 to avoid the crowds. Good call. Snow was firm but nicely groomed. Very few people on #3. We would either do the whole run or sometimes get off at midway for some easy low angle fun stuff. I think we did almost 20 runs and knocked off at about 1PM. I was riding a 155 Donek Aloha that Sean loaned me. I liked it but I don't think it is enough different from my 2 Fluxes. Speaking of perfect groom - I-70 eastbound from the tunnel to about Idaho Springs has been recently re-paved and is like the perfect corduroy for the first run of the morning. What a glide! We're going to skip next week because the snow likely won't be any better and the crowds are almost certainly going to be worse. We'll try again sometime the first week of January. Nice riding with you Juwan. We'll look for you in the future.

Interesting that you said it was cold. I took the dog for a walk Sunday afternoon in a T-shirt. About 64 degrees and sunny.

I think that I got the Fusions. And I believe that the new version is the NX2-Carbon. My riding buddy got some Deeluxe soft boots. He really likes them.

LCI Report?

I really LOVE my combo: Nidecker (Flow) Talon boots (not sure they're available anymore) and Nidecker (Flow) NX2-GT bindings. Easy in/out. The boots are really comfy. The heel hold down is great without being too tight.

Thanks for the tip. Yesterday we started off on Mambo & Richards and tried a run on Roulette. We weren't inspired by any of these. So we got on the bus and went over to #3. Had a private bus ride both ways. I "misremembered" Twister. I hadn't been there for many years. It's steeper than I remembered. The only other people on the lift were a few beginner skiers and a few racers. The racers were going down the run skiers' left. Almost nobody else on the trail. Once we got the hang of it each run was better and better. Groom was good but a bit firm. We did about 10 runs until we were tired and headed back to the lodge about 1PM.