bigwavedave Posted January 9, 2012 Report Share Posted January 9, 2012 Coming up tomorrow, Tuesday morning, forecast looks better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 A beautiful afternoon on FourPipe with the groom softening up in the spring conditions for some nice turns. Very few people out, except for a cross-country ski meet around the chalet. It began to get crusty as the sun went down and called it a day. We may try an evening session Wednesday after work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Rode from 9am to 1:30, near perfect firm groom for first two hours then softened in the bright sun, crunchy stuff about 2" underneath, but still great carving. Russ showed up about noon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Ken; We couldn't have missed you by much today; I stayed until just after 2 pm. Depending on weather, I may try getting out for a bit under the lights early Thursday evening. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Suspect it's blue ice with wind-blown dust after the rain this morning, drop in temperature and strong NW winds. We're taking a pass this evening and hopefully the groom Thursday will be passable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 hopefully the groom Thursday will be passable. Not quite.....9F, 19mph wind out of the NNW. I gave it a try hoping that the groom would hold because the cold and wind kept everyone at home today, but I should have done the same. A mix of icy groom and rock hard, shiny bits. I lasted an hour. Did I mention that the chairlift rides were quite refreshing? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2012 From the Duluth News Tribune, January 13, 2012: Spirit Mountain seeks to build Grand Avenue chalet and ski lift Spirit Mountain has some big and expensive projects on tap this year, including the construction of a new bottom-of-the-mountain Grand Avenue chalet and the replacement the ski hill’s largest lift. But the improvements will depend on winning Duluth City Council approval Tuesday for nearly $7 million in general obligation bonds. Councilors learned more about the project during a Thursday night committee-of-the-whole meeting. Several council members spoke enthusiastically about the plans Thursday. “I’ve always said Spirit Mountain was built backwards,” said Councilor Jay Fosle. “I’m hugely in favor of this.” Currently, Spirit Mountain’s main chalet is located at the top of the mountain, with access primarily from the Proctor area. Renee Mattson, Spirit Mountain’s executive director, predicted the chalet will spur additional investments. “We believe this will be a catalyst for further development in West Duluth,” she said. “This is the first domino to fall.” Fosle agreed, saying, “That corridor is going to open up like you wouldn’t believe.” The proposed new chalet would operate year-round, as would the adjacent new lift, which would carry hikers, bicyclists and bicycles up the mountain when skiing is no longer an option. Mattson said Spirit Mountain’s current four-person lift is 28 years old and is due for replacement. The new chalet would be about 12,000 square feet, and should be ready for action by November. The new lift also is expected to be installed and operational by the start of the next ski season. Passage of a resolution supporting the bond request appears likely, as the measure remains on a consent agenda for Tuesday’s City Council meeting. That means no one has picked it out as a discussion item. The $6.975 million in bonds would be backed by the city, but they would be paid off without using any general fund money, said Chief Administrative Officer David Montgomery. He said plans call for the bonds to be paid using an annual dedication of $500,000 from tourism taxes, with the balance coming from Spirit Mountain’s operating revenues for the next 20 years. Mattson said Spirit Mountain has been making strides toward becoming more of a year-round attraction, with the recent development of an Adventure Park, including features such as the Timber Twister, a zipline and a miniature golf course. Those additions have led to the creation of 12 full-time jobs. Mattson predicted the proposed new chalet and other improvements being planned will lead to yet another 10 to 12 new full-time positions. Dan O’Neill, a member of the Spirit Mountain Board of Directors, said plans to offer bikes and possibly kayaks for rent also are in the works as part of the new chalet development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2012 Flat light at the 9am start, but for a change it quickly improved. Juggler Joe (#13) is now open, but it needs a few more groomer runs to smooth out the ridges and soft spots. Likewise Bindle Stiff (#9) where some new snow was (surprisingly) blown in....generally good conditions once the light got better, though it wasn't too hard to find the hard stuff underneath. In what may be a crushing blow to the hardbooter community, I heard a rumor this morning that Spirit is going to forego putting up a half-pipe this year. Oh well, there's always the tubing park. Guess the $80K cost can't be justified this late in the season. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 We did a couple of pretty sketchy runs on Four Pipe and Sky Hooker after work today. Hit a lot of crusty spots and MLK Day traffic. The chairlift rides were again challenging with a 25MPH N breeze. Saturday and Sunday had great conditions, great weather and relatively low traffic. Did acquire a decent bruise on my left thigh after finding an icy trench parallel to the fall line on the middle part of four pipe on Saturday. Unfortunately, Spirit's running out of time and Snomax to build the pipe this season. Jane's rather disappointed since that's her favorite. According to the experts on things like that, laying a foundation with earth for the pipe at Spirit would not work well for a number of reasons (erosion, maintenance, quicker melting,..,etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 17, 2012 Report Share Posted January 17, 2012 Pretty good groom right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2012 Pretty good groom right now Real time updates from your local resort! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 A bit of fresh powder this evening and not much of a crowd. The chairlift rides had become a bit of a challenge by 7PM. Fresh snowmaking on Sky Hooker should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I have patrol duty both Saturday and Sunday; planning to get some rides in early before the action heats up....... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Working tonight, Saturday and Sunday. Possible short evening session Sunday night. Jane 'll be riding over the weekend I'm planning an epic session for Tuesday afternoon :) Hope everyone has a great weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Flat light early on.....bigwavedave found the 180 Kessler a bit much when you can't pick out the details, so he switched to the mini (SL) Kessler; after some tweaking with his stance, he's decided that this one is a keeper: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January212012004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January212012004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> A bit later in the morning, we hooked up with the most impressive soft boot carver I've ever seen....Alec rides an Arbor Roundhouse with an 18/18 duck stance and carves it hard both regular and switch: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January212012006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January212012006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Still later we encountered Martha and her friend Jolene (on skis)....despite her best efforts to conceal her real identity, the gorgeous Prior deck, TD2s, and Deeluxe Lemans were a dead giveaway: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January212012007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January212012007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> The light improved later in the day - less busy than a usual Saturday - groom held up well.....nice! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 A great day! Near perfect groom and lack of typical weekend crowd more than made up for a cold start and flat-ish light. Rode til I could hardly walk. What an addictive sport...left, right, rhythm change, repeat to bottom, take a breath, get up and do it again til you can't anymore...Ahhh...what fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Wish I could have been there today. Had to work We're going to try getting out for an evening session after 6PM tomorrow. About an inch of snow forecast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Same flattish light and thin crowd as yesterday; groom was equal or better and it was 22 degrees warmer today at 9am than yesterday....... I'm working nights for a couple of days this week, so planning to get out Tuesday during the day. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Plan to come up Tuesday AM, with this new snow and a sunny forecast for tomorrow, it should be better than better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 First powder day (sort of) with 1-3 inches. Got out 6-7:30PM last night after work good carving. (freezing mist on the goggles added to the enchantment) Very little traffic on Four-pipe Started to become crusty by the end. We're planning another evening session after 6PM today If work permits. I'm planning to be there Tuesday afternoon:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Plan to come up Tuesday AM Why am I not surprised?I'm supposed to work until 7am and may try to catch a little sleep before heading out, so mid to late morning for me. Just a 'heads-up' that the GSSP (grade school ski program) goes into full swing this week; let's all be careful around the little people! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Surprisingly icy this evening - not much of a storm. Looks like it had been a busy day on Four-Pipe and quite sketched-out. Lots of people sitting around on Sky Hooker and Bindle Stiff for an extra challenge. Tonight's grooming and a sunny day tomorrow should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Sunny, moderate temperature, nice firm groom - bigwavedave on the mega Kessler early in the day: <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January242012002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January242012002.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> I've come to appreciate the qualities of titanal (thanks to BlueB): <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January242012004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January242012004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Fourpipe at 12:30 pm (I'm not kidding.....): <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January242012005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January242012005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Yeah, yeah, it's a Kessler......Ken's bright lime green Prior is pretty cool too! <a href="http://s996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/?action=view¤t=January242012007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/rwmaron/January242012007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Planning to get out at least one morning this weekend. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 We're planning an early evening session Friday. I'm also aiming at first chair Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Great conditions this evening with the fresh snow and a great crowd for College Night. I'm anticipating superb groom tomorrow AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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