bigwavedave

Spirit web video update says they're making snow and will open this weekend.

Well, here comes winter! Big snow in the forecast tomorrow and return of polar vortex afterwards. Wonder if Spirit will start making snow and maybe open early? Time to scrape off the storage wax.

Donek Incline

Love this weather graphic: Spirit Mt from river trail last week:

Hi Matt, Would you mind sharing the specs on the Promad? I know it's not for sale, just curious.

Coiler Monster, 188, 23waist. A "little" something I picked up this summer from the BOL recycling center. I'm liking the float from these "fat" boards in soft snow and wanted a back-up for when the Delrossi decides to retire. While up at the marina I had a couple of meals at the Spirit base chalet and ran into Hutch and others and they are also pleased that the hours are not cut as much as originally rumored. Paul Huttner is hinting at possible polar vortex again this year. Yea? http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/ I'll be up at the boat Sunday to do some winterizing and hopefully some hiking in the hills.

First season's snow showers in the forecast for Duluth Friday night. Hauled the boat out last weekend at Spirit Lake Marina. Getting ready for winter. Enjoying hiking and biking the nearby trails while up working on the boat. A view of Spirit Mt from the St Louis river trail: And my quiver is ready; three of each--small, med and long , skinny on the left, and fat on the right:

thanks for sharing that, I hadn't seen it. Not sure where they got the photo.

Emailed you a couple of times. I will take the monster if you haven't sold it.

Emailed you.

Yes, still for sale.

Thanks Bryan, it's certainly not urgent as I'm getting ready to pack it all up for the summer, but it's nice to get it together now. Fin should have some made up by the time I'll need it next season. Dave

Just emailed you. It will cost about $30 more to go to Canada via USPS, which I believe is the preferred shipping method to avoid border handling fees with UPS.

I'm cobbling together another set of bindings and need 1 TD3 base plate (part C), the flat plate between the base assembly (cant/disc) and the sole blocks. The Bomber store is out of stock, so if someone (Brian?) has one laying around they'ld like to sell. This part...

1 pair Emery Course bindings. These came with a board and I never used them. All metal construction. The bails are thinner and likely more flexy similar to the old Burton plates. $50 shipped. SOLD!

1 pair Catek world cup bindings; standard, long plate. Base mounts on standard 4 hole or Burton 3d pattern. Fully adjustable cant/lift. $100 shipped SOLD!

Hike and Ride at Spirit Saturday morning, April 26. Intermittent light snow; about 1" fresh over granular base. Had 2 great runs on ScissorBill then over to untracked DoubleJaw. Hiked to the top of D chair and got about 1/3 way down when things got slooow...had the wrong wax with me... First and last run down ScissorBill (and likely last of the year), and 1st ride on new/used 164 Incline (I think it's a keeper): 37 seconds

Lutsen reports 10" new snow and high in the mid 30's Sat & Sun and overnight freeze. Tempting, but maybe a good hike will quell the impulse to pay full price for a lift ticket...or maybe I'll come to appreciate the full value of a high speed chair...

....Hah!Don't you wish you bought some of those 2 for 1 Lutsen tickets? They couldn't have planned for better weather--forecast calls for several inches of snow today through Friday and then sunny all weekend with below freezing temps at night. Tempted to come up Saturday and hike Spirit. Even tempted to go to Lutsen, but I don't want to pay full price for spring conditions. But, I have to test ride this 164 Incline...the green one...dazed and confused...

Interested in the Donek Incline if dtb doesn't take it.

SOLD! Thanks Andy. Got the board today and the base and edges look near perfect as if it just had a base grind, and only minor scuffs on the edge of the 'dazed & confused' topsheet, as described. ...and, no, it didn't take a year and a half to get here, I just found what I was looking for by fishing through old threads and thought I should put a period on it.

One guy I ride with always announces, "two more runs, and going to skip the last one", when he's ready to quit. A tongue-in-cheek nod to the superstition. I never know for sure when my last run is until I finish it, although I feel when I'm close. With experience comes the wisdom to know when it's time to quit. You always want that last run to be fun, a satisfying end to the day. The kid in me never wants to quit. Early in the season my legs tell me when I'm on my last run, later it's the conditions (snow or crowds) and occasionally I make it from first chair to last, that's a good day. We have several last runs of the season as each of the local hills close, and we try and get a day at each before they close. Some times we have quick transitions into the next season, but this year and last we've had lots of snow and continued freeze/thaw, so I may have to do some hiking and riding...last runs that can truly be savored.

I did a run down Scissor Bill on Thursday afternoon on the way up to Lutsen. I saw your tracks when I drove by yesterday afternoon on my way home. I suspected that was your work. Glad you got out.

Just got this email... [TABLE=width: 649] <tbody>[TR] [TD=width: 1, bgcolor: #eeeee4][/TD] [TD=width: 1, bgcolor: #e6e6dc][/TD] [TD=width: 1, bgcolor: #d2d2ca][/TD] [TD=width: 639, bgcolor: #ffffff][TABLE=width: 100%] <tbody>[TR] [TD=colspan: 3, align: center][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=colspan: 3, align: center] Skiing in May? May-be! As yet another spring storm hit the North Shore, Lutsen has now recorded over 13 feet of snowfall this season. With a base of 2 to 3 feet on all primary runs and reserve piles virtually untouched, the snow conditions are unprecedented for late April. Meanwhile, the forecast is ideal for spring skiing with highs in the mid 40’s and lows below freezing for the extended outlook. With such ideal conditions we are opting to remain open through the first weekend in May – because we can. Lutsen Mountains is open Easter weekend with 3 mountains, 5 lifts and 60+ runs. We plan to operate one lift on Eagle Mountain with 12 – 15 runs for an additional two weekends weather permitting. Bridge lift is scheduled for April 26 & 27 and May 3 & 4, providing a selection of green, blue and black diamond runs. Russ and I had a great day at Lutsen. Again the Inclines were the boards of choice for the soft spring conditions. Rode from 9:30 to about 3:30, bright sun and temps in the upper 30's. There were stashes of untracked snow on the sides of many of the runs. We declared it a great last day of the season, and then this email appeared. We'll see what the weather brings... [/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] </tbody>[/TABLE]

XC skiing hands down! XC athletes consistently top the charts in aerobic capacity. Consume more oxygen=burn more calories. Alpine skiing is likely at the bottom of that list.