rwmaron Posted November 28, 2017 Report Share Posted November 28, 2017 After an impressive early start to winter that enabled Spirit to open (one run) before Thanksgiving warmer weather has settled in again. The 10 day forecast shows an impressive cold snap starting in about a week. Patience, my friends, patience. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2017 And now back to our regularly scheduled program..... Both Ken and I were out today getting some turns in. Runs open include Bear Claw, Gandy, Sky Hooker, Bindle Stiff, Sissor Bill, Four Pipe, and Double Jaw. Good light at the 1pm opening that began to deteriorate within an hour or so; generally nice soft groom. I can't speak for Ken but I found some muscles that need a little practice. But hey, we get to hang out with our wintertime homies again! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 20, 2017 Report Share Posted December 20, 2017 Very tempted to come out and play on Friday afternoon. Looks like it might be clearing skies after a bit of snow. I suppose it could be busy. Otherwise I can't get away til Thurs/Fri next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 21, 2017 Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 Thought you guys might find this interesting, while looking at the Indianhead website I found they offer $30 lift tickets for St Louis Co (MN) residents. Must purchase online 2 days in advance, good Sun-Thurs only, no holidays. I'm on the fence about coming up tomorrow. I'm expecting some new liners delivered tomorrow, so might wait and come up early Sat morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2017 I'm probably going to be out early Friday afternoon to get some turns in before the deep freeze settles in and my kids get into town. Regardless of the weather, I'll be out on the 28th, 30th, and 31st for patrol duty. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLN Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 I'd like to join fellow carvers and I have some vacation days left for next week, but driving from Chicago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 Out for a couple of hours this afternoon - impeccable, grippy, firm groom. I think our season is on! Russ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 22, 2017 Report Share Posted December 22, 2017 4 minutes ago, rwmaron said: Out for a couple of hours this afternoon - impeccable, grippy, firm groom. I think our season is on! Russ Oh my... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 23, 2017 Report Share Posted December 23, 2017 I'm heading up tomorrow, Saturday. Planning to be on the hill at opening (10am) and ride as long as it's not too crowded or until my legs give out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 23, 2017 Report Share Posted December 23, 2017 We're coming up today as well. It's just going to take us all day. Looking forward to tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 23, 2017 Report Share Posted December 23, 2017 (edited) The first turns of Christmas! Turned into a sunny day and never got really busy. Rode til 2pm. Snow was very good, very firm. Saw two other hardbooters on the hill─never caught up with either of them. One looked like a young girl on a Donek with the pink flamingo topsheet and the other a guy in a blue jacket on a black board. Also met the new boarder-patroller who's interested in checking out a hardboot set-up. I told him Russ was the man. Hope to be back up on Thurs and/or Friday. Edited December 24, 2017 by bigwavedave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 I'm so tired in a happy way. Rode open to close today (10-3). Definitely was getting colder and windy after ~1300. Early was overcast and snowing. Later was Partly cloudy with some sun. Fantastic groom under a couple of inches of fresh snow. Every run was a winner. I rode with that patroller Dave. Maybe another convert is soon upon us. Spirit is closed for xmas and it is forecast to be very cold tomorrow. I think we'll just hang around Duluth and do some snowshoeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 On 12/23/2017 at 10:41 AM, bigwavedave said: The first turns of Christmas! Turned into a sunny day and never got really busy. Rode til 2pm. Snow was very good, very firm. Saw two other hardbooters on the hill─never caught up with either of them. One looked like a young girl on a Donek with the pink flamingo topsheet and the other a guy in a blue jacket on a black board. Also met the new boarder-patroller who's interested in checking out a hardboot set-up. I told him Russ was the man. Hope to be back up on Thurs and/or Friday. Oh man brutha'! That's windin' me UP!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 (edited) Spirit resumed operations today. It was a chilly one with wind chills around -25F+. Good snow... Not the best groom. Some runs over on the Gandy side were mostly death cookies. Still much fun was had and I'm tired. Whew. Photo from moments ago as we're leaving, for the day. Edited December 29, 2017 by lonbordin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Thinking there's a good chance Spirit might suspend ops on Saturday with the forecast cold & wind, I'm planning to come up tomorrow (Friday). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 (edited) Light snow most of the day. Best runs were Bindle Stiff, Gandy Dancer, and Four Pipe. Fairly busy today... temps were toasty... I think we hit a high of +3F. Absolutely balmy. Got to ride a few with Russ... he's one smooth patroller. Edited December 29, 2017 by lonbordin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Oh baby, it’s cold outside, but the snow is so good.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 We were late to the hill BUT I got to ride with BWD so it worked out... Thanks Dave, always great to ride with a smooth rider. It is pretty cold here... Spirit's changing operating hours to 10-4 for the next 3 days to protect the staff. I expect some chalky goodness tomorrow on the hill. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Temp of -15F and wind of 17 mph at the open for a windchill of -39F....but the sun was shining, the crowd was thin, and the groom was chalky goodness! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Spirit closed tomorrow, New Year's eve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 Man... Russ' entry into Bindle Stiff... So smooth and deep... carves of legend. Great day. Fit my Intuitions this morning, so toasty warm. Good thing as it was cold. Ooo that wind! No pictures today, no way was I taking my hands out for that. I'm loving those blue springs Russ! Got a few runs with them, sweet. Kinda bummed about tomorrow but I respect the decision. Forecast is for warming up, w00t! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 31, 2017 Report Share Posted December 31, 2017 16 hours ago, lonbordin said: Man... Russ' entry into Bindle Stiff... So smooth and deep... carves of legend. Yea, edge to edge, right up to the trees. Following Russ down Bindle Stiff teaches you to take your time and enjoy the view (I think he says "smell the roses"), but one also discovers that the best snow for carving is often way over on the edge of the trail. Jeez, a high of zero forecast for New Year's Day, no wind, clear and sunny skies, possible overnight flurries, and they've moved opening time from noon back to 10AM. Could be a nice start to the new year! Just might have to drive north tomorrow. Picture this... Happy new year! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 The first tracks of 2018! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Great way to start the year! Open to close... For most of the day got to ride with BWD. It was colder than predicted but plenty of nice snow on nice runs. I'm tired. Tomorrow's supposed to be 10F... Balmy. This place will spoil you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 2, 2018 Report Share Posted January 2, 2018 Great riding with you guys today. Great carving from Double Jaw to Sky Hooker. Ran into boarder-patroller Don over on the Gandy side where the groom was hard. Russ would be impressed that I rode the same board all day! Sun, no crowds, riding big boards and watching lake Superior make snow and sending it to the U.P. Gorgeous full moon rise on drive home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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