bigwavedave

With lack of a good forecast for new snow after the frizzle and warm-up in the U.P. on Friday, I decided to head home. I drove by Spirit Mt about 7pm, temps were still above freezing and conditions looked like they might be soft and "surfy-spring-like". I took 2 runs down 4pipe and left. It was a sheet of really rough ice, covered with pushed around piles of granular snow--not fun, especially with all the Friday night straight-liners! Hope we get enough snow from the coming storm to renew the slopes.

rwmaron and I rode all day at Indianhead on Thursday and had endless fun carving around the face of the giant knoll at the bottom, which prompted the lifty to comment that we looked like we were having the most fun out of anyone there.

Friday Jan 23 Woke up to a light coating of freezing rain and overcast. Indianhead was re-grooming the icy crust, but with lots of weekend folks arriving, in addition to the less desirable conditions, we decided it wasn't worth spoiling the memory of a near perfect day yesterday. Looking to the north I could see a break in the clouds over Lake Superior, so I decided to drive up to the Porkies and lucked out with bright sun for a few hours. Only about 10 cars in the lot, $27 afternoon ticket, icy crust on the top half , but surfy soft on the lower half, and as it warmed up the snow softened higher up the hill. It was fun enough that I stayed for 3 hours, plus you can't beat the view...

Fabulous day at Indianhead, firm groom, bright sun, not a cloud in sight, and very few people all day, made for freecarving heaven! Tired, but happy...

Sunday Jan 18th 8:30-2:45, first tracks down Scissorbill before blocked off for Nastar! Rode with Russ, on his new/used 162 glass Donek SL, and Jim O. Overcast all day, although brighter later, so visibility not as bad. Forecast sun never appeared. Ice-base layer seemed closer to the surface. I think the drizzle on Saturday moved the conditions a step backwards. Later in the day, as it got busier, the top layer got scraped off exposing the ice on many runs. Russ and I are heading east to the U.P. and Indianhead Thurs-Fri in search of better snow and no ice. Was tempted to pay the $10 for Nastar and just carve Scissorbill ignoring the gates! Could be nice before the course got rutted up and you wouldn't have to worry about traffic, although likely to piss somebody off.

Oh, K, got it. Might be up tomorrow too.

9:45-2pm. Started out with light overcast with patchy sun turning to all sun before noon. Best snow conditions yet, the "surface groom" a little thicker today--Wow, "trenches" 1.5" deep, could hear the icy base underneath, but still great carving! Saw Ryan out on his Freecarve for an hour or so, looking very surfy relaxed. Not too busy until about 2pm, when the after-schoolers started showing up. Good day, tired... My 10th consecutive year with a Spirit pass.

Here's an old thread with Bruce's take on it... http://forums.bomberonline.com/index.php?/topic/21402-any-coiler-monster-ride-reports-yet/?hl=%2Bcoiler+%2Bmonster James Ong

Gonna come up tomorrow, Thursday. Forecast for a dusting overnight, so could be nice.

Love making those first tracks!...yesterday 10 below, bright sun and no body in sight, but mine...

Hi John, "Culinary" was meant a little tongue-in-cheek, I didn't mean overpriced or pretentious. I liked the New York Pizza place, good, hand made crust, memorable, I'ld go back there. Not sure I'ld go back to Boogie's. Don't remember what I had there, but the atmosphere was...unappetizing? More than a couple of times I found myself returning to City Market for their sushi--surprisingly good--that with an ice cold lager or pilsner really hit the spot. Cory, Gonna have to try one of those wraps, I remember someone else raving about them. Also, the onion soup at the fancy place at the bottom of Highlands (table cloths etc, don't remember the name) was really good with a glass of red wine. Outside seating was more casual.

Russ and I are planning to head over to Indianhead next week for a couple of days--Th&Fri, Jan 22&23. Then, I might head up to the Porkies on Saturday.

Rode from 9:30-2. Groom is getting better, barely heard the ice base, very firm, 1" deep "trenches" left all over the hill. Ten people riding the express chair til about noon when 5-10 more showed up. Need I say more? About 100 high school ski racers over on the other side where I didn't go. Started out about 10 below and warmed up to 10 above. Rode "Da Monstah"=the original Coiler Monster, built 2008 for J.O. Kinda soft for the firm groom, but should be great in soft snow.

Bringin' DaMonstah with me tomorrow!

Yes, Aspen has great carving, but I've heard there's some pretty good food too. Just for fun, I thought I'ld start a food "not-to-be-missed" thread. Anyone have recommendations of a favorite place or dish served that you have to go for when you're in Aspen? For instance, a certain carving sommelier directed me towards the pate at the Ajax tavern and the wood fired pizza and cookie at 12,000' up4pizza. Both well worth experience. Is the fondue at Cloud Nine that good?

Sale pending payment. Sold...to the board junkie... Thanks Kurt

Glad I stayed away from that side of the hill yesterday! Coming up on Tuesday. Looks like it should be good, a bit chilly, but sunny.

Thanks for the update Al. Keep em coming. Looks like they've been getting some good snow. We could really use some here. We still haven't nailed down dates for our U.P. trip.

1st tracks at 8:45, and got a couple more runs in b/4 9--my new job description--official groom accessor--makin' sure everything's good to go for the general public. Rode til 1:30. Snow was good. 1.5" of groomed packed-powder over the icy base made for nice carving conditions. The Spirit snow report today called this, "surface groom". Later in the day some spots were scrapped off exposing the icy base. Started out below zero and was warming up when I left and the hill started to get busier. Traffic level was like a busy-ish weekday, in other words, lots of room to carve it up. Double Jaw was fun, as they left some of the snow-making piles for some groomed rollers. Spirit seems to be putting a lot of time and effort into park development to keep the "freestylers" entertained. I'm not sure if they're trying to attract their business or simply attempt to contain and segregate them in their own playground for the safety of others. Found the lost boys! Jim showed up for several runs and really carving low--new stiffer boots thanks to Russ!! Ken appeared after Jim left and did a few runs with me.

gopro on a pole, photo-shopped out? Looks like right hand was maybe wrapped around a pole. I played around with one a few years ago, but left the shadow of the pole in.

Like a lot of the above stratagies, but the best is having the luxury to arrange my schedule as to get out and ride early on weekdays and leave when it starts to get busy. Mention of the "skiers code" reminds me of a pet peeve, and it's more often a group of skiers that, after stopping mid run, fail to look up the hill (and see me coming), before starting out. You would think that anyone who knows how to drive a car, wouldn't pull out from the side without looking for oncoming traffic!

Hope someone gets out in that new snow today! I'm planning on Saturday and getting there early to make first tracks.

I picked up two older Inclines last year; a 180cm with 23.5 waist, 11.5m single scr; and a 164cm with with 24.1 waist and 10.4m scr. I ride them with hardboots and use them mainly when conditions are too soft, where a raceboard tends to bury itself. I was surprised how well they carve--feels very similar to the old glass Freecarve--just a bit mellower, with float, and busts through late day crud nicely. Even though not my first choice for riding perfect cord, you can really rail these boards! 180 Incline the"Delrossi" railing on firm corduroy in soft spring crud

click "follow this topic" top right of page.

PM'd counter offer...