khoward Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 There's a reliable rumor that our new Executive Director will be making a significant improvement to the previously announced change in operating hours very soon :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 There's a reliable rumor that our new Executive Director will be making a significant improvement to the previously announced change in operating hours very soon :) OK, so you've piqued my interest (and the interest of a lot of other folks, no doubt)......when will we hear more? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Probably September 1 :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Officially permitted to post this: Monday-Thursday 10AM-8PM Friday 10AM-9PM Saturday 9AM-9PM Sunday 9AM-8PM Holiday Hours 9AM-9PM Thank You Brandi :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 So we basically only lost one hour of weekday riding time - I can live with that! Thank you Brandi!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 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: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 BWD - I figured we'd be hearing from you once the sailing season wound down...... From left to right: SG, Nirvana, Rev, ???, Delrossi, Incline. I don't recognize the board between the Rev and the Delrossi? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Love this weather graphic: Spirit Mt from river trail last week: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Snow making is underway by unconfirmed report. Don't know about an early opening day, but suspect we'll have more than one run open. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Spirit web video update says they're making snow and will open this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 There might be a couple of runs open... most likely Bindle Stiff (aka The White Ribbon of Death) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 No one ventured out on the "white ribbon of death" over the weekend? The snowmaking should be coming along nicely with this cold weather. Huttner is predicting a gradual warm-up in the next 2 weeks with El niño possibly setting up for a milder winter. http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolson Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Gentlemen (loosely interpreted), Looking forward to catching up and happy to see Mr. Maron still holding to his Duluth base of boarding operations.......will see you all at some point soon...just maybe not as soon as some of you fanatics..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khoward Posted November 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 It might be the first week of December till I can get out for an Evening session. Jane survived 3 runs on Sunday without a problem. She also attended the new employee orientation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Might come up for a Saturday session before the rain/sleet forecast Sunday. Hoping there's more terrain open. Got my first turns in today at Wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted November 21, 2014 Report Share Posted November 21, 2014 I'll be busy Saturday helping to test out the new crop of Spirit Mountain Patrol candidates but plan to be out for the duration on Sunday. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Well, you didn't miss much if you didn't get out today. Problems with the express chair forced everyone to C chair for the 1st hour or so. 4 runs open; 4pipe, scissorbill, bindlestiff and skyhooker. I was able to have a few nice runs on 4pipe, which was virtually empty before they got the express chair going, just had to cross the rough to scissorbill and to C chair. Otherwise, everywhere else and the rest of the day, the density of traffic made carving a challenge, even with the slalom board. Once the terrain park is built it will be a lot safer for carving! All the effort they put into building it is well worth it. The snow was good, firm and consistent with good coverage. Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow! Glad I got lucky at Wild on Thursday with no crowds or lift lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 8, 2014 Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 I was out both days this weekend - conditions have improved over the last two weeks - everything is open except Blue Ruin and the Terrain Park; Saturday morning was sunny with temps in the single digits and firm, today was partly sunny with temps in the 20's and a bit softer. Got busy Saturday but didn't feel crowded at all today, though I was on my way home by 11am both days. One of the changes introduced by the new hill management is the expectation that the patrol load at 8:45 and sweep the runs prior to the 9am opening.....since we work from the top chalet, that means we get two runs before the general public loads:biggthump. This Thursday is the first weekday (12 - 8p). Regular hours starting on 12/19. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Got in a short session on Friday (12/12); flat light, good groom, temperature just above freezing, and not too busy. Ski Patrol shift on Saturday starting at 3pm; fog and light drizzle, but surprisingly good carving once the lights came on and most everybody else went home...so foggy and wet on Sunday that Spirit closed at 4pm......forecast is for one more day of above average temperature, then the remainder of the long range forecast looks good! Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 I was out last Thursday, Spirit's first weekday, before the warm-up/melt-down. 3-4" of new snow had been groomed in the morning, before the noon opening, making a plush corduroy carpet. Flat light kept me on the shorter radiused boards, with better visibility when the lights came on late afternoon. I'm going to remember the night option for riding those flat light days. Interestingly, they have filled in and groomed the area between upper scissorbill and 4pipe, and removed the fencing, making for a bit of new carving terrain. Fingers crossed for new snow tonight! Might be up on Thursday to celebrate the return of the sun and winter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Looking good for tomorrow, Thursday. I'll be on the first chair at noon. Hope that bit of new snow helped freshen things up after the meltdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwmaron Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 Turned from rain to snow Monday night while I was out for a toboggan training session, then the temperature dropped dramatically; it won't be plush, but I'm thinking you'll find the familiar 'firm' Spirit groom. I'd love to join you, but I need to retrieve my daughter (and several friends) from the UMinn tomorrow afternoon. I do plan to be out early both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 18, 2014 Report Share Posted December 18, 2014 A few clips from last December in the vortex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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