Pat Donnelly

Brian, Your e-mail from your profile is not working. Otherwise, I will be at Pine Knob locally as only 4 miles from home. Nubs / Highland trips TBD on short notice.

I believe Bobby Buggs has one available as well as Larry Casturita

Use the SEARCH link above and enter SPORTUBE Lots of info

What areas do you usually ride in MI?

Aspen Daily News Wed 12/19/2007 12:00AM MST Tiehack fans will get whisked up the east side of Buttermilk Mountain a whole lot faster if a plan now entering the public process is approved. The U.S. Forest Service is inviting public comment on several proposed improvement projects on Buttermilk and Snowmass ski areas. This initial “scoping” process will identify issues and kicks off a public process that could last 18 months. Proposed Buttermilk improvements include a new high-speed, detachable, four-person chairlift to replace the upper and lower Tiehack lifts, both fixed-grip double chairs. SkiCo mountain planner Victor Gerdin said replacing the lifts with a high-speed quad is something the company has been wanting to do for a long time. The Forest Service has actually approved the lift replacement twice, in 1997 and 2001, he said, but since the agency adopted a new forest plan it had to redo the review. “Buttermilk is such a great mountain, it separates skiers so naturally with beginners on the west side, park skiers on main Buttermilk and powder skiers and racers on the Tiehack side,” said Gerdin. “But the Tiehack side gets so little use because of the old, slow lifts. You’ll see that much more utilization on that side with a high-speed lift.” Both main and West Buttermilk are serviced by high-speed quads. Two short lifts and a magic carpet serve beginners near the main base area. SkiCo also wants to add two new snowmaking reservoirs next to the compressor building near the Midway Avenue trail, along with additional snowmaking equipment. An upper and lower pond would be the first water storage facilities on Buttermilk, and would make the ski area’s snowmaking capacity more efficient, said Gerdin. For example, with water storage crews could make twice as much snow during cold periods than now, when they’re drawing directly out of Maroon Creek. It’s also like insurance for snowmaking on the lower part of the mountain early in the season when Mother Nature doesn’t provide as much. Another improvement is a proposed skier overpass at the Teaser Trail/Homestead Road intersection between main and West Buttermilk. This is a place where many beginners and terrain park users tend to cross paths, and should be separated, said Gerdin. At Snowmass, SkiCo wants to deepen Rayburn’s Pond near Elk Camp to make snowmaking more efficient, and add a switchback to the work road up to the Big Burn, because some big trucks can’t make the steep grade up a portion of the mountain access road on Sneaky’s. Initial public comments on these plans must be received by Jan. 21. Forest Service staff will then review the comments and determine what level of environmental review the proposal should go through. Further public comment will be invited on both the draft and final plans. The whole process is part of the National Environmental Policy Act and generally takes around 18 months, said Gerdin, so it’ll be a few years before skiers and riders get to experience the new lift. Written comments should be addressed to Maribeth Gustafson, Forest Supervisor, c/o Roger Poirier, Winter Sports Program Manager, White River National Forest, P.O. Box 948, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602-0948. Comments may also be sent by fax to 945-3266 or by e-mail to wrnf_scoping_comments@fs.fed.us. For more information, contact Jim Stark, Aspen district snow ranger, at 945-3314. lutz@aspendailynews.com

Just need to center the heel and toe blocks and we will be all set. Dave Winter's on the set from the SES 2007 DVD.

Update: 6mm x 20mm with a 5mm drive DO NOT EXIST!!! Fastenal's catalog contains a typo as the drive size is 4mm; not 5mm as stated.

The current version has better or longer life battery and they do not require monthly discharge / recharge. Our original version only lasted two seasons. Have yet to buy into the new and improved. I am not sure about punching a hole in my Thermo-Flex liners and being able to re-mold? They were the best thing to keep the toes comfy. I have tried multiple ideas to help keep the feet warm. When you take a break, remove your liner to see if you are packing snow under your shell near the toes or at other flex joints. You may be in for a surprise. IMO - the battery packs are better off clipped onto your waist than riding on the back of your boot as sometimes a low chair will land on the battery just as you are sitting down to ride the lift up. Alternate brand http://ecom1.sno-ski.net/bootheaters.html http://forums.epicski.com/archive/index.php?t-50820.html Tips: Make sure your boots start out dry and warm. Remove the liners at the end of a riding day. Applying a foot cream, like Gold Bond can help. Do not over tighten the toe buckles which can reduce blood circulation. Boot Gloves. Spray your liner with anti-perspirant. A Grabber hand-warmer pack placed on top of your toes helps. If I am doing this then I need two thin pair of nylon socks or liners with the heat pack between the inner and outer sock or liner. The ones under the toes tend to curl up when I put my foot into the boot. I find if its cold, teens or colder, I will need to go inside after an hour and remove the boots and socks to warm my feet. After 15 or so minutes and a cup of coffee or cocoa I am good to go.

Thanks Mike, but I must pass credit and thanks to Scott Firestone for mentioning Fastenal under "other sources" for parts on AlpineCarving.com Any Catek owners in need of some M6 x 20mm (4mm hex drive). I bought a bag of 25 of which 8 have been spoken for [M6 / 20mm bolts for Catek toe/heel blocks]

the 4 on the floor are clear polycarb with white protective backing still in place. the 2 on the board are white polyethylene. NOTE: lengths are 9.50" which is about one inch shorter than Catek's template. Materials from McMaster.com and here is a link to the 3/16" thick clear polycarbonate http://www.mcmaster.com/itm/find.ASP?tab=find&context=psrchDtlLink&fasttrack=False&searchstring=8574K27 6mm X 20mm bolt (if using Bomber TD 2) from McMaster's require a 4mm hex wrench. Update: 6mm x 20mm with a 5mm drive DO NOT EXIST!!! Fastenal's catalog contains a typo as the drive size is 4mm

Brian - Sat 12/8 was about as good as it gets and I was first up. My quads keep telling me I had some good turns. The next day the light went flat so I only stayed about 45 minutes. The snow should be very fast this weekend!

Buggs, Going with risers to protect the board. My 210 lbs. might stress the board a bit more than a 160 lb rider. http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=17737 http://www.catek.com/snowboard-binding-spacers.htm BTW - uncle smooth is getting a copy of this board too. BShaw - has your e-mail addy changed? and yes, PK this Saturday but this board may have to wait to be prepped as I am traveling.

Check out the Tom & Joel featured here http://www.thundercloudmarketing.com/Page17.htm

Just arrived . . . Many thanks to JoelP for input, evaluation and specing out this board; and of course to Bruce! Excellent!! Planning to cut up a few sheets of 3/16" thick clear polycarbonate for riser plates this weekend.

Sweet!!

Hey Mario - Speedy recovery and hope to see you in Aspen for the afterglow session! Pat

January 20, 2003 <!--- BODYTEXT --->MAMMOTH – You won't find snowboarder Brian Albertson catching big air, or doing flips, spins or other tricks on terrain features or rails at this or any other resort. That's because he's a die-hard "carver," a breed of snow rider who uses a longer board and hard-shell plastic boots to carve big, swooping turns down slopes from the eastern Sierra to the Rockies and beyond. He'd just as soon leave the fancy stuff for the kids. Albertson, 50, used to be a devoted skier. Not terribly aggressive, though he enjoyed taking on a steep run every now and then. But five years ago, he tore the meniscus in one of his knees and was laid up for six weeks. During his rehabilitation, Albertson saw the video "Ridge The Edge" made by former La Jolla resident Cliff Ahumada and several friends. "I took a few lessons and fell in love with it," said Albertson, a longtime surfer. "I didn't want to ski anymore. Better yet, I don't have to worry about tearing up my knees anymore," said Albertson, who initially used poles to keep from doing too many face plants. A native of New York, Albertson lives in Escondido and works at Pacific Gas Turbine Center. He moved to Orange County at age 9 and took up skateboarding and surfing. He rode ramps and pools, but didn't much care for falling on the hard surfaces of pools. Ramps were only a little softer. What he really liked was the water and as he got older, he ended up spending much of his free time at Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. In 1968, he discovered San Diego County and Baja. As a surfer, he and his buddies liked nothing more than carving up waves. "We were into style and technique," he said. "We wanted to look good in the tube, the Gerry Lopez kind of thing. We didn't do tricks." Though some younger skiers love to emulate Johnny Moseley and do stunts off jumps like their snowboarding brethren, Albertson enjoys riding his board something like a skier. "When you carve, you control your board and ride it like a ski," he said. "You put pressure on your feet and it bends and turns. You can lay yourself out flat and skim the surface of the snow with your hands." Albertson modestly describes his boarding technique as "not too bad, maybe up in the advanced category." He will ride 25 to 30 days this winter, mostly at Mammoth and June. He will avoid Big Bear, Snow Summit and Mountain High because – sounding like a curmudgeon – they have too many snowboarders. "They sit down in the middle of runs, beneath rolls in the terrain where they can't be seen and make it dangerous for others," he said. Moreover, he and others who grew up skiing find it annoying when snowboarders plop down on their backsides at the entrances to lift lines and clog up the flow. "I love to ride down a big, open slope and carve trenches in the snow," said Albertson. "I feel like I'm flying." http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20030120-9999_1s20snowspts.html

bootie call! http://www.firsttracksonline.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3364

time to buy a copy 2 disc set http://www.amazon.com/Eric-Clapton-Crossroads-Guitar-Festival/dp/B000VR824S review http://www.modernguitars.com/archives/004012.html

Terry - yes, I have Habervision goggles and do reccomend them. A friend brought a pair to Buttermilk a few years ago and a few of us tried them and ended up buying. Last season I upgraded to the then, new larger size which fit my big melon better. I like buying from a direct marketer and I have noticed Habervision had full page ads in both the recent issues of SKI and SKIING so we will probably be seeing more of the brand on the hills. For glasses check out https://www.panoptxstore.com/ good selection for snow sports as some of the models have padded eye cups to shield out the wind. They also have a close out section and offer Rx lenses too.

www.habervison.com and enter snow for member discount.

Suppose you could park in Wal-Mart's lot down in Glenwood?

Pine Knob snow making begins . . . .

Dave - That would Mojitos. Another excellent suggestion from Joel.

We fly into DEN and usually rent a mini-van. Suggest shopping via Orbitz or Expedia then book direct with the rental company. Usually no charges are incurred if you cancel a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. Quoted rates can and do change. As of today, Advantage is the low cost company www.arac.com but the rates offered today may not be available tomorrow. If you see a good rate, and you know your dates, book what is best for you while you can. We booked a mini-van for Feb 2008 in May and the 8 day rate then was $590 w/tax versus $420 today for the same time period. CME's qouted rate from DEN to Aspen for Feb 2008 is $115 pp one-way.