Dec 12 and 13, 2009

First two days on the snow for 2009/2010 season. Got a seasons pass this year. Last weekend I hiked around Burnt Ridge and took some video. Looking forward to checking out the new Burnt Ridge glades once we get enough snow.



First two days were great. Sunway first, then we Greg and I rode Topridge most of the day. Topridge was in really good condition, especally with the sun shining on it almost all day. Some powder down skiiers left which was real fun. It started to get chunked up so I rode the middle which was soft and carvable from the sun. Last run we hit Showcase and that was also in good shape with some fresh MM powder. Good last run.

Sunday was sunway/quicksilver, back up gondola to Topridge a bunch of times. Still in good shape but some bare patches today. Still early season. Took a break then came back to Topridge some more. Finsihed on sunway, but hiked up to the old gondola mid-station and struggled down the gondi line and walked back out to Sunway. Will hit the gondi line again once we get lots of snow. Should be nice, steep and clear. How many Shelter stickers can you count?

Jay Peak, Feb 21-22 2009

It was Epic. Tons of powder. Got my first face shots of powder ever in the Andres Paradise glades. I think we hit most everything, spent most of saturday on the Beaver Pond side. Then hit the Dip later in the day. Everything was POW! Easily my top day of the year, and probably ever. Watch this.

Practice 02-07-2009

Well, I didn't go to Gore this weekend due to lack of funds. So I tried to practice bs 360's in the backyard on a jump i made. Almost landed a few. Gotta spin better off the jump by carving off and holding the spin a little farther.





Click here for follow-up on the video.

Gore 01-31-2009

Another cold day. Sun was out though. Today we spent most of the day on the Darkside/Northside area, which is not what we normally do. Needed to check out some of the other trails/woods other than Chati/Cave all the time. Started up the gondola and down Sunway to Quicksilver. Here's Greg carving once again on the first run. Gondola again this time to Tahawus glades. Once we got there thru some flat wooded area they were fun, but the new snow on the ground was like a moist powder so it was sorta heavy and sticky, gliding very far was difficult at best. The Glades themselves were nice, nice drop in at top, pretty open and even some fresh lines here or there, not difficult but not that long either.




Next took North Quad to the dreaded Upper Wood In to High Peaks chair. Greg's foot was killing him so we had to get back to the car... Lies, which was in great shape, to Topridge Triple to Foxlair to base. Lunch at 10:30 am. Beer at 11, bartenders are hot! Also, it was daughters-under-19-ski-free-week so there were some ski bunnies and ski MILFs around!

After break we did the dreaded Cedars to BR quad to Sagamore. This is a great trail, an alternating mix between blue and black. The black pitches are pretty quick than you can recover before the next one, with the last black pitch to the chair being the longest and most difficult. Parallel to the last pitch is a nice area under the chair with some cool little drops the were fun. A definite leg burner, also one of the longer runs on the hill i believe. Check it out....





BR quad to Tahawus Glades again, way easier to get there from here, to Upper Wood In AGAIN, to High Peaks double. Came down Lower Steilhang to Glades on right. Pretty tracked up. Went to Lies again, to Open Pit. This is probably my new favorite trail. Real fun down the left side in the sun. Next to Lower Chatiemac glades then to Upper Chati glades. Good not great conditions, needs another shot of snow, or i have to find some new untracked clear lines. Greg slammed his quad on a tree on the traverse and he was done for the day. I went back up solo from Topridge trilpe to Cave glades. Found my old reliable chute in here to still have some pow, then Summit Quad to Open Pit again, back up Topridge to Showcase for the last run. After lunch was great, got into more of a groove then the morning session, which was marred by flats. Worked on my carving a little more. Getting there slowly. Need to learn a few aeriel moves soon.

Gore 01-17-2009

Another bluebird day!





Just me today. Started with Quicksilver then Sleighride so I could pratice some carving. Was really laying down some good carves after reading tips all week. Wanted to get over towards summit double chair on the dark side. Hit Lower Steilhang which was ok. Trying to find more glades over there, i think i'm missing something.

After lunch checked out Upper Dardy/Open Pit area. Discovered these glades which are skiers right on Open Pit. Very steep and pretty short, would probably only do again after a snowfall and try to get first tracks. Rode Open Pit several times and enjoyed it. Some nice snow on the left side with nice sun, was able to weave thru edge of some trees. Very fun. Could not locate the Minshaft Glades, though they are over here somewhere. Think I need to cut left half way down Open Pit then hang a right further down.

Finally went over to Chatiemac glades. Cut down pretty soon and found this line....









The landing for the second drop was bad, all downed trees. But the area in general was pretty cool. I think a little more right or left from the top might work. Tons of area to explore off the ridge, just drop down anywhere and see whats below.

Whiteface 1-11-09

First trip to Whiteface this season. Took the short bus with Greg and Tim. That thing hauls the way Tim drives. Reached for the 'oh shit' handles multiple times in the back seat. Arrived at the mountain around 9. Very cold, perfect bluebird day.



Today was strictly groomers. Trails were in great shape, very little ice. Watched Tim and Greg carve all day. Tim is very fast. Greg has great technique. After a few runs a got separated and while waiting at a chair lift for them to show up I saw a funny low speed crash. Tim and Greg never turned up so I took the new Lookout triple and check out some of the new terrain. This is Hoyt's High, it is a black diamond on the new Lookout Peak. It think it is much steeper toward the top but it wasn't open yet. Here's another view of Hoyt's High. View from the summit of Lookout Peak. This is Lookout Below on the right, another diamond that cuts down to Lookout triple from Wilmington trail, which is a long cruiser which goes all the way back to the base.

After lunch headed to the summit and came down Skyward which had just been opened. Man, a steep leg burner is tough right after lunch and the 3200' of vert to the bottom was killer. I decided after this trip that I need to work on my carving more.

12-23-2008

Me, Chris, and Chuck went to Gore for the day. Chuck was visting his family for xmas from Seattle and Chris was stopping by on his way from Jay to the 'rents. Had an awesome day. Snow was great and we had three cameras rollin for a good chunk of the day. Hit the Chatiemac glades many times and also hit Burnt Ridge. Check out the video....

Gore 12-20-08

First trip of the year. Went up with Greg. Got there early since Greg is a freak about leaving early..in a good way. Really what I remember most about this trip was hitting Burnt Ridge for the first time. Unless you get there thru the Twister glades, the trail to the burnt ridge lift from the base lodge is brutla on a board. First run on Burnt Ridge was Cirque glades. Chris later surmized it best by calling it an 'adventure' trail. Initial drop into the glades is via a break in a long rock wall which is very cool. Then it goes from cross-country to short downhill section back to cross-country. Overall, it was a littel disappointing ride-wise, however the scenery is top notch.