bigwavedave Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Missed you out there Russ, but look who showed up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Missed you out there Russ, but look who showed up... When I woke up today the windchill was -35F and the forecast was for wind speeds to increase through the morning; it just wasn't happening for me today - the bit of frost nip from last weekend hasn't fully healed yet and the warmth of the fitness center seemed a better alternative. You both have my undying admiration for sticking it out today!!!! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Wow....WICKED cold on Sunday....WICKED....but worth every moment. For the first time out all year, I had a great number of runs on good snow and I am fully primed for some runs with temps above 14 below zero.....:D. Dave was rock'n on his new Donek and with that much room on the hill....well, just a great morning. Look forward to seeing everyone else soon. Let me know if anyone has seen my nose...pretty sure it fell off around 10:15 or so...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I will likely will come up tomorrow. Between Tues and Thurs, it looks like the better day. Maybe a few inches of fresh snow today and tonight plus warmer temps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I will likely will come up tomorrow. Between Tues and Thurs, it looks like the better day. Maybe a few inches of fresh snow today and tonight plus warmer temps. I mentioned I may try to sneak out for long lunches. This week will not work to hook up during the week but keep posting those weekdays you plan to come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I will likely will come up tomorrow......Maybe a few inches of fresh snow today and tonight plus warmer temps. We got a couple of inches of nice light snow during the day today; I squeezed in a few runs before patrol toboggan training this evening and conditions were EXCELLENT (and it was a balmy 14F). Might be a party tomorrow - Tuesday afternoon is Ken's normal day off and I might have to join you gentlemen for lunch. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Lunch was quite yummy today - several inches of light, fluffy frosting on a smooth, well groomed base - garnished with a mix of clouds and sun and topped with a temperature of 20F! Dave and I dined well...... Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 18, 2013 Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 A day of contrasts started with this... And quickly went to this... 1 1/2" of light fluffy, powder followed by a mix of sun and cloud made for a great session of afternoon synchronized carving with Russ. You just wanted to dive down and get your hands in that fluffy stuff on every carve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Planning to come up tomorrow, solstice Saturday. I had 3" of snow on my driveway this morning and it looked like Spirit might have had a few inches too. I'll bet it was nice out there today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) I'll bet it was nice out there today. Yes, quite nice! Dave - I'll put that board we talked about in the car - I have 3p - 9p patrol duty so check in before you leave! Russ Edited December 21, 2013 by rwmaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Good morning out with Dave and Jolson. Planning first chair tomorrow Added a little new board porn:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 December 21/22 - I had patrol duty from 3 - 9pm each day, so missed the usual morning sessions. Caught up with Dave at the end of his day on Saturday; took a couple of runs in the poor afternoon light, then waited 'til the lights came on; the minimal (for a Saturday) traffic of earlier in the day left the area primed for a couple of hours of rocketing around under the lights on the firm groom....on Sunday, I just waited for the lights; the new snow throughout the day and evening and thin traffic made for a great evening - I kept thinking how close this must be to what surfers experience. We've had the luxury of light traffic so far this season, I expect that'll change with the holiday break including the DSAC camp from 12/27 to 12/30 and Nastar on the 28th. Dave and I had chatted briefly about riding tomorrow, but I'm behind on holiday prep, so it ain't happening for me. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 26, 2013 Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 (edited) So, I think I need a fix, coming up tomorrow. Probably won't get back up til next week. I can't wait to try the XC snowboard I got for Christmas. Has anyone been out? Any word about the express lift and if they expect it to be working tomorrow? Edited December 26, 2013 by bigwavedave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted December 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2013 Highly unlikely to be in operation tomorrow, but they're working hard to fix it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 (edited) Started off with bright sun for the first few hours and clouded over with flat light in the afternoon. Express lift was not running and no sign of work being done--maybe waiting for a part or the Maytag repairman? The 3 original lifts were running; Gandy, Summit, and Double Jaw, which I've never ridden before. Rode everything from Cinder Snapper to Juggler Joe. Gandy is still a bit rough, CinderSnapper less so. Blue Ruin was a blast with the undulations in the terrain below the drop off. Started to get busy around 2PM when I quit. Rode Russ' Delrossi (Delrussi?) after my late AM warm-up. Carves great! Can't wait to see what it will do with some powder. Edited December 27, 2013 by bigwavedave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 27, 2013 Report Share Posted December 27, 2013 I gave it a go for a couple of hours this morning but the combination of flat light, continued mechanical problems, and holiday crowds convinced me to pack in it early. Lots of grumpy customers.....hope the Express lift gets fixed soon! I'll probably give it another shot Sunday morning. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 29, 2013 Report Share Posted December 29, 2013 Spirit closed tomorrow do to cold and wind. I may come up Tuesday, forecast high is 8 below zero, but at least sunny with no wind. The U.P. continues to get hammered with lake effect snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 29, 2013 Report Share Posted December 29, 2013 Hmmm....I may be able to join Dave for a while on Tuesday morning, and I'm also thinking Wednesday morning. FYI - the DSAC camp originally scheduled to end on Monday has been extended through Tuesday due to today's closure, so there will be lots of small folk about. Has anyone heard an update on the Express repair schedule? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 31, 2013 Report Share Posted December 31, 2013 Spirit forecast is for -26 tomorrow morning with a high of -11. I'm going to bask in the southern warmth at Afton (high of -1) with Mimi, who's doing some gate training tomorrow. I will come up to Spirit this weekend, hopefully the express lift will be back online by then. Happy new year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 Spirit forecast is for -26 tomorrow morning Forecast was off by a bit: -13F at the 9am start, though the light breeze out of the northwest kept the lift rides refreshing. Sunny with firm groom and except for a few racers training, the place was deserted. Without the Express lift, you're forced to ride the D lift to access Fourpipe, Double Jaw, and Sourdough Sam; the most uncomfortable part of the day was sitting on the metal seats of that old, slow lift. I lasted two hours. 1/1/2014 -17F and overcast this morning. If it was a few degrees warmer, or there was less wind, or the Express lift was running, or the light was better, I'd have made a go of it. But none of the above occurred. Still no word on the timeline for repair of the Express lift. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 Weather-wise, Sunday is looking like the better day this weekend, even with colder temps, it looks more likely to be sunny. I'm getting tired of flat light! I just ordered a pink lens, which which I heard from a professional racer, is supposed to be better than the reflective blue lens in flat light. Still no word on the express lift? Ken,what's the inside scoop? I still found it interesting to navigate around the hill using the original lifts last week. It seemed like the slopes were less crowded, maybe because people spent more time on the lifts. Rode at Afton yesterday from 9:30-2. Really flat light with a couple of peaks of filtered sun. Rode every run. Overall, I still find Spirit way more fun and worth the extra drive time. I compared run times from my Gopro videos: A run at Afton, top to bottom, 45 seconds; Spirit, just under 2 minutes; Buttermilk, about 5 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 At Buck for the NorAm races Friday and Saturday. http://www.buckhill.com/winter/rttc.html Looks like a few inches of snow for Spirit tomorrow night. Still plan to come up on Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 Still plan to come up on Sunday. You might want to check the current conditions before you start driving - forecast for 9am Sunday is air temp of -25F with 9mph wind and wind chilll of -45F. I'm tough, but not that tough - I'm planning for Saturday morning. I got out for a couple of hours this morning to try out a pair of TD1s on a stiff freeride deck. Flat light, but good firm groom and no traffic to speak of. Also heard that the Express won't be back in service until the week of January 13........ Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 Yea, doesn't look promising for Sunday. I'll have to get my runs in between being a gate judge at the races tomorrow. KARE11 news was at Buck today shooting the racing action for the evening news to air tonight at 5, 6 and 10pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 It's a moot point for Sunday - check Spirit's website - closed on Sunday and Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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