rwmaron Posted November 3, 2011 Report Share Posted November 3, 2011 We're getting close.....here's what I know so far: Tentative opening date - November 24th; hours 9am to 5pm (usually 1 -3 runs available for the opener). Same hours through Sunday, November 27 with the Snocross scheduled Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Open daily starting Friday, December 2nd; weekday hours 12-8 through Friday, December 9th; regular hours thereafter. This is all weather dependent, of course, and the current mid-range forecast is for continued mild weather. It's always fun to hook up with new folks - post in this thread if you're going to be in the area and we'll see what we can work out. We had fun last year chasing each other around with Go-Pros....check out the 2010/2011 thread to catch a sample! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 From the Spirit web page: "Our snowmaking efforts are underway and we're hoping these cold temps hold out for a while. Our tentative Opening Date for skiing / boarding is Thanksgiving - November 24th. Stay tuned as snowmaking progresses!" Gettin close!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 "Unfortunately the weather has not been as conducive to snowmaking as we would have liked. We will not be able to open for skiing / boarding on Thanksgiving weekend as we had hoped. We will be open next week but do not have a set date yet; it depends on how quickly we can get enough snow made to cover the runs." Stay tuned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2011 OPENING TOMORROW! Get your gear on! The slopes will open at Noon Tomorrow!!! We will have one top-to-bottom run, "Bindle Stiff", along with some smaller connecting runs all serviced by the Spirit Express Lift. And yes, we will have some rails! Hours will be Friday Noon - 8pm, Saturday 9am - 9pm, Sunday 9am - 5pm. We'll see you on the slopes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 2, 2011 Report Share Posted December 2, 2011 We're getting our gear together for the evening session. I'm planning to to ride my Salomon freestyle board and soft boots instead of the Prior because Bindle Stiff is so narrow. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Still only one run (Bindle Stiff) open; big piles of snow on Scissor Bill and Sky Hooker. I was out for a Patrol training session but managed to squeeze in a couple of turns from the top of the Express lift to the chalet and on the lower part of the run (middle section was pretty scraped off and high traffic) and it was good......also took care of the obligatory first day heelside spill. A bit of a breeze out of the north west combined with the 14F air temp and the moisture from the snow guns refreshed my memories of the Express lift night experience. Forecast looks good for continued snow making. Planning to get out one morning this weekend. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 6, 2011 Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thanks for the updates. I'm waiting for more runs to open up. Maybe they should recruit you patrolers for snowmaking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2011 The fog was so thick late this afternoon as I drove south on I-35 that I literally couldn't see the Spirit lights from the highway - half way there I was convinced that they had closed for the evening......much better than expected, though - wet and soft from the fog and rain/snow mix, but consistent enough for a couple hours of fun. Still only three runs open; looks like they may open Fourpipe (and possibly Blue Ruin) for the weekend, but less than full width. I'll probably try to get our (early) one day this weekend. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2011 Jolson is in the house!: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/December%202011/?action=view¤t=December182011015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/December%202011/December182011015.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Good light, typical early morning traffic, plus some new terrain - Fourpipe is open though not yet full width. A few soft spots and a few hard spots, but in general good conditions for making turns. I'm thinking that Sunday mornings might be the regular routine this year (next Sunday excepted). Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 19, 2011 Report Share Posted December 19, 2011 Tuesday AM (tomorrow)? Thinking about coming up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Dave; I may be able to manage a brief session Thursday morning, but tomorrow's not in the cards for me; forecast looks good though, so go for it! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 Possible Thursday evening session pending escape from work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Dust on crust tonight. Still can hold an edge, but a bit sketchy. We really need some snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 Had a nice session Thurs morning. Also, detected the icy crust under surface hardpack when carving hard. 4 Pipe open about 1/2 width plus the next 3 runs north of that. Gandy Dancer had large piles of man-made snow turning it into onehellofa terrain park (if it was open). Hope there's some accumulation with today's snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Firm groom, bright sun, light traffic; saw another carver early that I didn't recognize, but caught up to Gregg (known hereabouts as 'bumpyride') a bit later and enjoyed some runs and catching up with him. He'll be in the area for a couple of weeks. Gandy now open, though pretty rough through the top section; most of Fourpipe is now full width - best conditions of the day were on Blue Ruin. BWD - sorry I missed you on Thursday - I would not have been good company as I was down with the flu the day before...... Merry Christmas to all! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Good snow conditions this evening for a few runs. Lots of paper tickets - good day for Spirit. Planning for first chair Saturday AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Out for a short session this morning - with the ski/snowboard camp and holiday traffic, got pretty busy by 10:30......may try another quick session tomorrow morning. I've got patrol duty Saturday and Sunday evenings, so I'll miss the morning fun this weekend. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 I was out both Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 9pm on patrol duty: Saturday - flat light at 3pm, elected to hang out in the patrol room and wait til the lights came on; - fog at 4:30, decided to sit out a bit longer..... - fog and rain at 6pm......it just ain't happening. - the fog lifted a bit around 7 and the rain quit, so headed out; the rain had chased everyone away so lots of room, but the carving was passable at best. - snow started at 7:30; just magical from then til the 9pm close. Sunday - I hope that Saturday's snow made for good conditions Sunday morning, because by 3pm, it was pretty scaped off (and windy to boot); by 7pm, the place cleared out; spent a couple of hours finding (a little) soft snow along the edges for some fast turns. No snow in the forecast; get 'er done in the morning if you can. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Hey Russ, are they still making new snow to cover that ice? Might be able to come up Thursday AM if conditions are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Hey Russ, are they still making new snow to cover that ice? That's always been a limitation of Spirit's labor intensive snow-making; as they move the hoses and snowguns north and south, they don't have the flexibility to put them back on runs that are already covered. Heard talk of a major purchase of 'Snow-Stix' for next year though, so maybe it'll be easier to refresh an existing run in the future. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Good snow conditions yesterday and today. Sky Hooker's a bit sketchy, but otherwise quite acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Met up with Russ Thursday AM for a nice session. Thanks for coming out before work Russ. Great (perfect) carving conditions with warm, hazy sun. Mostly rode 4pipe plus the 2 adjacent runs. Other runs to the north were a little chunky/washboardy and one could detect the icey stuff underneath when in full carve mode. Not as much fun. Started to get a little busy about noon when I quit. One tends to get spoiled having the full width of every run to yourself all morning. Got 22+ runs in with my 4hr ticket (less than a buck per run!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Dave (bigwavedave) stopped in today for some fast turns: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January52012003-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January52012003-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Great conditions early (before it warmed up). Anybody up for a couple of hours Sunday morning? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 7, 2012 Report Share Posted January 7, 2012 summary of last season's morning carving sessions at Spirit Mt edited by (Jolson). Nice job Jim! This video shows typical weekday morning carving sessions throughout the season with lots of room to "express yourself". It's like having your own private area for the first few hours. MN riders should consider having a weekday morning MES at Spirit. Discounted 4hr tickets and senior discount age 55 makes the drive well worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2012 Clear sky when I woke up at 7; such a pretty morning that I took the long way to Spirit (Skyline Drive) with the bright sun washing the city and harbor scene below.....crossing highway 2 the clouds rolled in. Hooked up with Jolson, but between the flat light and the icy groom, just didn't have that much fun.........oh well, there's always another day. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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