Algunderfoot Posted October 23, 2020 Report Share Posted October 23, 2020 Big Snow Resorts has announced Blackjack will open on November 20th for the weekend with free lift tix that day. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algunderfoot Posted November 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2020 Now moved back to the 27th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algunderfoot Posted December 1, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 On 11/16/2020 at 3:42 PM, Algunderfoot said: Now moved back to the 27th. OK, Blackjack will now open this Friday, Dec. 4th, really and truely, free lift tix on Friday. MI COVID protocols will be in place, (I won't comment on those), but basically distance, only parties who came together can chairlift together, and face coverings at all times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 18, 2020 Report Share Posted December 18, 2020 I see Indianhead and Blackjack are open daily now with limited terrain. And it finally looks like conditions are aligning for a good blast of lake effect snow next week. Fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted December 23, 2020 Report Share Posted December 23, 2020 Hey @Algunderfoot, hope you're hunkered down in Bessemer with your PC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 @Algunderfoot Thinking of making a day trip to Indianhead tomorrow, Friday. I see they have a race camp. Hope they keep it on one run. Probably FIS, it's one of my favorites. You gonna be there Al? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Algunderfoot Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 We'll be there but with the exception of last Sunday, coverage is thin, hard and lumpy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 8 hours ago, Algunderfoot said: We'll be there but with the exception of last Sunday, coverage is thin, hard and lumpy... Didn't see this ^ before I took off this morning at 6. I rode from 9-noon. Had lunch and hit the road. My legs were done. Catch you next time...when it snows. Where the snow was good, it was about as good as Spirit is now, but that was just on 3 runs, Old Flambeau (best), Chippewa and Voyageurs. This is the first time in memory when conditions weren't better than home. Sundancer was all marbles and ice cubes. I never even wandered over to the other side. At least It was sunny and didn't start getting crowded until around noon. I had an awesome time on the XC. It's been my favorite board this winter. Perfect for all the low vis days, when it's icy, or when it's hard like today (only ½" deep "trenches"). Man I love ripping into those last turns on the face at the bottom! Stopped by the post office to pick up something from da man in northern Idaho. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 16 minutes ago, bigwavedave said: Stopped by the post office to pick up something from da man in northern Idaho. Ohhh and what a sweet thing it is Dave!!! Mercy..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 6, 2021 Report Share Posted February 6, 2021 Headed over to BigSnow country last night as strong NW polar winds started cranking up lake effect snow. Indianhead got about 8" from the storm with additional lake enhancement. Lake effect will continue for a couple of days. Much of the snow was groomed in overnight with 1-2" of fine polar powder on top of a soft pillowy groom. Trenches were 6" deep, more if you weren't easy on your edge. It was surfy turns with a cushy powder bounce. Al, Doobs and I did a good job of trenching up the hill and called it a day after 2½ hrs when we all started feeling the bitter cold. The 181 PC swallowtail layin' down that 1st track... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 21, 2021 Report Share Posted February 21, 2021 Yup! Indianhead good! The 1st track... There was a young carver dude on an F2 race 166 who slept in his truck in the parking lot expecting to get that first track, and some old dude slipped right by, clipped in and took it. I didn't mean to take it from him, it's just that layin' down that 1st track is kinda my thing. ...and I didn't know! Turned out it was Doobs' kid, who races and has gotten a bunch of other kids into hardbooting. We rode together most of the day and I forgot his name. (Dakota) Of course Al & Beth were there and we all carved up the hill pretty good. Al should be my board caddy, as I was pulling out my 185 8rw he whispered, "I'd ride the Super, it's a little hard today", and of course he was right. But a "hard" day inda U.P is a "great" day at Spirit. Rode for 5 hrs, so I met my self imposed 5 hrs behind the wheel rule. It got busy after a while, but not crazy bad. Chalk it up to Polar vortex pent-up demand. Nice sunny day. Started below zero and shot up to +25. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 Heading over to Indianhead tomorrow, staying through Thursday. There's a little snow in the forecast, hopefully. Al will be there and @Chouinard is driving up too. If Mr Miller loads his car up with Thirst demos, including the Tesi8, and hits the road tonight, he could still make it here for Wed & Thurs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobble Posted February 22, 2021 Report Share Posted February 22, 2021 where do you stay up there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 2 hours ago, bobble said: where do you stay up there? Usually at the Indianhead Motel in Ironwwod. Relatively inexpensive, 15 min from the hill, has a little private sauna. Sometimes at the resort, especially if it's going to dump. Are you thinking about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 If you go @bobble bring supplies! It's a bit remote for you big city boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 22 hours ago, lonbordin said: If you go @bobble bring supplies! It's a bit remote for you big city boys. It's Bob's "happy place". You know you want to Bob...Buttermilk east.... Bobble giggling... 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobble Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 can't right now. i was just curious. i do have a warm spot for that place. i remember giggling down that main run especially on final pitch. i really liked that steep run that's on west edge. can't remember the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 23, 2021 Report Share Posted February 23, 2021 Drove over from Duluth this morning. Met up with Al & Beth, and @Chouinard and his wife who drove up from lower MI yesterday. Beautiful soft groom and a warm sunny day . It was so pleasant, I almost fell asleep on the chair ride up. Rode for about 5 hrs, very few people on the hill. We're expecting some snow tonight and tomorrow, so I'm staying put. Here's that 1st track... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 24, 2021 Report Share Posted February 24, 2021 Only about 1-2 inches overnight, but enough to help the hill groom out nicely after having ~40° temps yesterday. Had a good breakfast burrito for breakfast at the hill at 8 am. The day started out overcast, then sun in the afternoon. Rode with Pat C & wife Terry today. Rode for almost 6 hrs. I started out this morning being quite tired from yesterday, but once I started making turns....it was hard to stop...Rode the XC 1st down the hill again... ...and caught an early chair back up in time to make the 2nd track on the hill. The east side of the hill has great snow, Chippewa, Flambeau, Sundance, Voyageur. The top sections of the runs on the west side are great, but the steeps at the bottom are a little thin and icy/chunky. As the photo shows, where it was good, it was Aspen plush groom until we trenched it all up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 26, 2021 Report Share Posted February 26, 2021 Day 3 Indianhead. Keeps getting better! 1-2" over soft groom, light snow gradually clearing to warm sun. I think it was unanimous, Sundance was el supremo with 2" on top of a plush groom and few tracks other than our own. In fact it seemed less busy today. Never a lift line and unfettered carving most everywhere. It's been fun hanging out with Pat & Terry and Al & Beth. The C's are traveling east into the next timezone to visit the Porkies tomorrow before heading home. That 1st track was real nice this morning. The lifty gets it now, after watching me walk back up to snap this pic, he let me board the lift early and said, "too bad the snowmobile made a track right down the middle of the run". Rode the Super all day, 'cept for this 1st run on the XC with the gopro on a stick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted February 27, 2021 Report Share Posted February 27, 2021 Thinking of going back to Indianhead for Monday/Tuesday. Snow is in the forecast with cooler temps and possible lake effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 1, 2021 Report Share Posted March 1, 2021 8" yesterday! The 1st day groom today was a little challenging, but fun. It was kind of chunky on top and bumpy under the groomed surface. Started out on the 185 8rw and was really sinking the back half of the board. It was some weird snow. Making 1st tracks.... The 185 Coiler Contra AT with the "save-your-tail-tail" seemed to like the conditions better, including the freshies on the side. Al & Beth were there. Started out about 7° and breezy and got up to 16° when I left at 1:30. Planning to return tomorrow for some 2nd day groom before we start melting snow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurch Posted March 2, 2021 Report Share Posted March 2, 2021 Amazing photo Dave - the way that 8R (and your back foot) is buried in that cold wave it could be a surf shot. Knowing your use of the Fuego method I'm sure that front binder overhang is nothing like it looks either. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigwavedave Posted March 2, 2021 Report Share Posted March 2, 2021 2nd day groom! Wicked windy at the top of the hill and blowing downslope. Sundance, Sundance, Sundance!! When it's good, might be my favorite run on a big board. And there was hardly anyone there, maybe 10 people riding the chair? There were some people on the far side, but I didn't go over there. Beth showed up to make some turns. 1st tracks with the 8rw...the sun is getting higher, earlier... Voyageur was untracked and resurfaced with about an inch of windblown snow over the groom. Made for soft, relaxing mid-day turns. Old tracks in the ungroomed left side from 2 days ago had filled in for some 6-8" deep powdery turns. 40°F when I left around 1:30. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chouinard Posted March 3, 2021 Report Share Posted March 3, 2021 Not it off Dave! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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