lafcadio

A couple of reasonably priced (no frills) options in Charlemont close to the mountain: http://www.hawkmountainlodge.com/ http://www.redrosemotel.com/

If you need gear, I can offer a Coiler Nirvana Energy 174 and Pure Boarding II 158 and 164. However, I do not have any step-in bindings to offer you. F2 Race Titanium or Ibex/CarveCompany standard bail bindings only. Whatever you need, has your name on it.

Usually alone. I do occasionally run into others when I'm out on local hills and I typically know every hardbooter I happen to come across when it does happen.

Love the Gizmo plates. I had Bruce build my Nirvana with mounting holes for the Gizmo plates. This reduces the weight as there’s no need for the bottom plate adapter for 4x4 insert pattern.

.75 base and 3 side. I voted for 1-3.

For first tracks, try this: 1. Forget the Gondola. Line up at the old 1A double chair at 8:30. Ski Patrol and lifties are friendly will generally let you on the chair by 8:45. 2. 1A (aka Shadow Mountain chair) will take you directly to the bottom of Ruthie's. 3. You'll have 3-4 runs in on Ruthie's before anyone makes it over from the Gondola.

Me too!

Wow! Corey, you're already planning for next year?! ;-)

It's best to measure your feet like this: http://bomberonline.3dcartstores.com/How-to-Size-my-Boots_ep_76-1.html My larger foot measures 25.2 cm and I wear size 25 MP Deeluxe boot and a US size 8 men's shoe. That said, I'm also interested in purchasing these boots. @cfj04, please consider me second in line if @Silentmonkeyman doesn't want them.

Of course, you'll be fine. Just follow the groom. And please bring your legendary Powder Sense. We need it bad!

Here is my Unofficial Snow Report for the Official/Unofficial ATC. I've been carving the past 4 days with the Pure Boarding crew chasing Joerg and friends around the mountains. Snowmass: We rode Snowmass on Monday and of the four mountains it's the worst off. Most of the best carving runs are not groomed and those that are groomed have thin cover. Plenty of dirt patches, stones, and exposed rock. It's doubtful we'll go back unless there's some significant snowfall. The good news is the other mountains are much better. Buttermilk: Rode Buttermilk Tuesday morning. Buttermilk is good but not the Milkland of your dreams. Coverage is okay. No stones but grooming is lacking by Aspen standards. Most of Tiehack has not been groomed. Runs off the Summit Express to the front of the mountain and West are all excellent. The view of the pristine groom on Golden Horn from the top of Buttermilk was too tempting. We moved over to the Aspen Highlands around 10:30 and were glad we did. Aspen Highlands: Highlands is super! Golden Horn and Gunbarrel are awesome! Golden Horn has plenty of snow and the best groom in Aspen next to Ruthie's. On Tuesday, Gunbarrel off of the Cloud Nine lift was yummy good with plenty of coverage. Today, Gunbarrel had stones and dirt patches to watch out for. Two days of carving trenches on Golden Horn and I can't wait for more. The groom on Golden Horn is likely firmer than Colorado natives would like, but coming from the East Coast, I thought it was hero conditions. The Bowl is open, but... Ajax/Aspen Mountain: Ajax is incredible if you stick to runs off Ruthie's all the way down to 1A and FIS Express. Ruthie's has plenty of snow and the groom is easily the best of the 4 mountains. The rest of the mountain is very iffy - thin cover with bare spots. Copper Bowl is best avoided. It's riddled with rocks and stones. Aztek off Ruthie's is fun and challenging: it's steep and hard packed. I'm from the East Coast, I felt right at home. We will likely alternate between Ajax and Highlands and maybe hit Buttermilk once or twice more. My last day of riding is Sunday. Pure Boarding is here to the end of next week. Hope to see some of you out here this Saturday and Sunday. Carve on!

I'm usually there on weekends. Either Saturday or Sunday, sometimes both. It's mostly a carve-friendly mountain. Just watch out for racing events and training which tends to shut down the best carving trails. When UFO is open and groomed it's one of my favorites. Plutos, Satelite Summit, Magnitude, and Big Dipper are fun, too. If you can hit Meteor when it's not closed for a race it's spectacular. I prefer the larger terrain options, more steeps, and even fewer crowds at Berkshire East. But it's a 90 minute drive to BEast and only 20 minutes to Crotched.

Omg! Was that your Donek??? You, okay?

I do just the opposite. Using Deeluxe Track 225 boots in typical hard pack conditions, I always ride with my front boot locked and my rear boot in "powder mode". Powder mode on modern Deeluxe Track series allows more travel than locked, but not full travel you get in walk mode. Occasionally, I also ride my front boot in powder mode on very soft conditions, pow days, or in natural terrain, moguls, etc. When my front foot is locked, I get stronger better carves. On poorly groomed terrain, off piste, bumbs, etc., powder mode/walk mode offers an easier ride. I never liked the feel of my rear boot locked. I want more mobility.

Second in line for the Bastard if you decide to sell separately and will ship ... and of course West Carven doesn't want it. Size and photos of the base would be appreciated.

Yep. ;-)

The dates will be the weekend AFTER Presidents Day: February 24 and 25. Event details are still being finalized and coordinated with the Berkshire East, including (hopefully) discounted lift tickets. Stay tuned!

Unfortunately, yes. I've seen this mentality in people who are otherwise competent downhill snow users, grew up skiing/snowboarding, have come from a snow sports family, and have been doing it for 20+ years. ;-( There was a safety video Ryan Knapton posted about a year ago showing a snowboarding getting taken out by a skier coming on fast from behind (uphill). The skier in the video was so blatantly out of line and wrong there could be no confusion as to was at fault. Guess what... when I showed the video clip to various skiers and snowboarders out of context, many of them said the snowboarder was "obviously at fault." The reason given was that it appeared the snowboarder went "out of his lane" and into the path of a faster moving vehicle... like passing on a highway without checking that the lane is clear.

Does anyone have advice for finding last-minute lodging for a procrastinator like me? The challenge is that I'll be there from Jan 28 to Feb 4 to meet up with the Pure Boarding crew (and meet work/personal time constraints) so my dates will likely not align with many here. I'm thinking of just doing an Airbnb. Does anyone have other ideas? Thanks!

Btw, I heard a rumor that a Rally is in the works. Stay tuned!

I decided to stay local today and went to Crotched in NH. Similarly disappointing. It was a frustrating combination of terrible snow quality (read "ice, rocks, and dirt") and crazy crowded. Of the two groomed runs (one Blue, one Green), the Blue had gates set for the race team. At least the snow guns were all on at full force.

Good choice! :-D I was actually referring to @pow4ever. I'm deciding between Whitefish and Aspen. As much as I like the idea of seeing Montana and something different, I really want to catch up and ride with Joerg. Miss that guy something fierce.

David, are you headed to Aspen? Would you come to Berkshire East for a Rally the weekend after Presidents Day?

How are conditions in Aspen now?

Last week Killington was closed due to "extreme weather" with -50 F windchill at the summit. This week in many parts of New England it was 60 (59 in Southern NH) with heavy rain and flood warnings. I just left my local hill after trying (and failing) to convince myself that sliding around on rocks, dirt, and ice with heavy MLK weekend crowds would be fun. Does anyone know a good therapist? On the plus side legalization of recreational marijuana use is a thing. Ironically, the "Live Free or Die" state is not yet on board with that.