Mount Snow - 11/25/2006

**Greg** · Nov 25, 2006, 10:19 PM

Date(s) Skied: Saturday, November 25, 2006, 9:30 am - 2:20 pm

Resort or Ski Area: Mount Snow, Vermont

Conditions: Manmade, variable. Clear, temps 30's - 40's, no wind.

Trip Report: bvibert and I left our meeting place in town a bit after 6 am. We pulled into the lot around 8:40 am. As we were gathering our things, I noticed somebody checking out the tailgate of my car looking at the AlpineZone.com decal and immediately realized it must be andyzee! We introduced ourselves and said we'd hook back up at the designated meeting place at the main entrace/drop zone. We headed into the main lodge to get ready and soon JimG. arrvied. andyzee and I went out to the lift ticket windows to grab lift tickets and wait for MichaelJ. We soon found him and headed back inside to grab the rest of the crew.

We took the Canyon Express quad up to the Canyon/River Run juction. We took River Run down to warm up and grab the Challenger triple which served as today's access lift for the open terrain. From the summit we took Upper Canyon to River Run again. Upper Canyon was in very good shape with deep manmade throughout the upper section. The bright sun made for a very pleasant run. River Run was in the shade most of the day and consisted of a much more variable surface. Jim, andy, Mrs. Zee and I decided to give Chute a try while Michael and Brian hit the Canyon/River Run combo again.

I found Chute to be in great shape. More deep, yet heavy manmade with some nice bumps and groomer lip skier's left. That's when it clicked for me and I was feeling pretty comfortable despite new boots and it being day one. The next run we all took Chute and everybody seemed to enjoy it. We proceeded to do a few more runs on Chute and another on Canyon/River Run before heading in to lunch. After lunch we did the Canyon/RR combo and then Chute at which point andy and Mrs. Zee decided to hit it. Very nice couple; good people. I enjoyed several lift rides with them.

A couple more runs down Chute and the rest of us just about had it. We hopped back on the Canyon Quad to download which went off without any issues. Kudos to Mount Snow for setting up an early season skiing option, despite the need to download. The surface they offered was very very good for only having a few days to make snow. A few of the choke points on Canyon/RR got pretty thin, but nothing that would cause much, if any base damage. Chute had pretty solid cover throughout. A few thin spots here and there, and some funky bumps, LGR piles and hard pack. Variable snow was the rule today, although any of the surface in the sun was a pleasure to ski. It was great to have 1,000+ vertical feet of a decently pitched run in Chute. It was pretty crowded today and the Challenger lift seemed to stop quite a bit. A few of the stops were several minutes in length (one of them probably approaching 10).

Again, the mountain offered a solid product and I am now officially in a mellow mode that should hold me over to at least Wednesday or so before I begin to wig out again.

I laughed at some of the comments today about how hyper I seemed leading up to this event. I'm glad it went off well. Some damn decent conditions, awesome weather with bright sun and no wind (it actually felt warm today) and some really great company! Day One is officially in the record books!

Tough day to get good photos on Chute as the light was either flat or the sun right at you. Click HERE for pics! I have a short video too, but it's 75+ MB! Need to figure out how to compress it...

**MichaelJ** · Nov 26, 2006, 7:19 AM

I had a blast on this trip. It was great to be challenged by skiers better than I, trying to follow their tracks and improve my technique. I beat the heck out of my body on no food and barely any sleep, but the snow conditions, company, and weather were worth it.

In fact, all things considered the conditions were remarkable for November. If they take as good care of the trails when winter finally arrives, I'll definitely revisit.

Greg - I have all sorts of vid technology here and plenty of bandwidth; if you make the video available to me I'll see what I can do with it.

It was pretty funny when I got home. In the parking lot of my apartment complex, I unloaded my skis while the guy next to me unloaded his golf clubs.

**bvibert** · Nov 26, 2006, 7:34 AM

Nice report Greg! It was a good day for sure. I only got two pics and a few short vids:
Pics: http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery...ry.php/cat/616
Vid1, Greg on Chute: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250003.MOV
Vid2, JimG on Canyon: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250004.MOV
Vid3, Greg, then MichaelJ on Canyon: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250005.MOV

**Greg** · Nov 26, 2006, 8:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bvibert

Vid1, Greg on Chute: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250003.MOV

Cool videos! One thing I noticed on this one as I skied by is my position is much taller and centered. I'm normally a croucher. That may be partly a function of the new boots. I'd like to tighten up that stance just a bit though and smooth out my transitions. Overall, not bad for day one on some sketchy surfaces. Legs are a little tight today...but not too bad.

Jim looked in control and confident as usual. Brian - again, your form was very good yesterday. You appeared much more agile and fluid. Dropping that extra weight has definitely helped. MichaelJ - you're well on your way. Work on those hands and log as many miles as possible this season. Mrs. Zee recovered well from a little spill in a tricky area near the bottom of Upper Canyon. Aside from that little bobble, she skis very well. Andyzee took am impact from an out of control skier with grace and dignity.

I saw that lady ski right after that and she was actually a good skier. Weird that she crashed into you like that. It happens I guess.

Let's do it again soon!

andyzee · Nov 26, 2006, 8:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg

Mrs. Zee recovered well from a little spill in a tricky area near the bottom of Upper Canyon. Aside from that little bobble, she skis very well. Andyzee took am impact from an out of control skier with grace and dignity.

I saw that lady ski right after that and she was actually a good skier. Weird that she crashed into you like that. It happens I guess.

Let's do it again soon!

When that skier took my legs out from under me, I was in no rush to get up as I was laying on top of her. The first words out of my mouth were " We gotta stop meeting like this" and I introduced myself. Afterwards when my wife took a spill, not sure if you saw it, but she was coming straight at me as well, think I had a target on me that day

Got to say though, I'm used to it. Women have been flinging themselves at me all my life

**ALLSKIING** · Nov 26, 2006, 8:34 AM

Nice guys!!! The pics and video had the opposite affect they usually do on me...Now I am in panic mode to make some turns!!!!!!!!

**thetrailboss** · Nov 26, 2006, 9:22 AM

Nice pics. Looks like the terrain was good and that there was not too much of a crowd. Nice views. I can't wait to get there when there is more snow.

**Greg** · Nov 26, 2006, 9:23 AM

Okay. I found a utility online to convert the video from AVI to MPG. I'm impressed with the quality of the video mode on my little point and shoot camera. Again, tough to to get good pics/video and this little sample is just some lazy turns on sketchy late day Chute:

Jim, Brian and Michael heading down Chute

Right-click and "Save as..." It's almost 13 MB so be patient.

**bvibert** · Nov 26, 2006, 9:32 AM

Nice avatar! I guess the pic was avatar material after all!

Sorry it's a bit grainy...

**bvibert** · Nov 26, 2006, 9:37 AM

Cool vid Greg! Those turns were a lot faster in my head...

Nov 25, 2006, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Greg Mad River Glen - 2/8/08 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 18,113	Mount Snow - 11/25/2006 Date(s) Skied: Saturday, November 25, 2006, 9:30 am - 2:20 pm Resort or Ski Area: Mount Snow, Vermont Conditions: Manmade, variable. Clear, temps 30's - 40's, no wind. Trip Report: bvibert and I left our meeting place in town a bit after 6 am. We pulled into the lot around 8:40 am. As we were gathering our things, I noticed somebody checking out the tailgate of my car looking at the AlpineZone.com decal and immediately realized it must be andyzee! We introduced ourselves and said we'd hook back up at the designated meeting place at the main entrace/drop zone. We headed into the main lodge to get ready and soon JimG. arrvied. andyzee and I went out to the lift ticket windows to grab lift tickets and wait for MichaelJ. We soon found him and headed back inside to grab the rest of the crew. We took the Canyon Express quad up to the Canyon/River Run juction. We took River Run down to warm up and grab the Challenger triple which served as today's access lift for the open terrain. From the summit we took Upper Canyon to River Run again. Upper Canyon was in very good shape with deep manmade throughout the upper section. The bright sun made for a very pleasant run. River Run was in the shade most of the day and consisted of a much more variable surface. Jim, andy, Mrs. Zee and I decided to give Chute a try while Michael and Brian hit the Canyon/River Run combo again. I found Chute to be in great shape. More deep, yet heavy manmade with some nice bumps and groomer lip skier's left. That's when it clicked for me and I was feeling pretty comfortable despite new boots and it being day one. The next run we all took Chute and everybody seemed to enjoy it. We proceeded to do a few more runs on Chute and another on Canyon/River Run before heading in to lunch. After lunch we did the Canyon/RR combo and then Chute at which point andy and Mrs. Zee decided to hit it. Very nice couple; good people. I enjoyed several lift rides with them. A couple more runs down Chute and the rest of us just about had it. We hopped back on the Canyon Quad to download which went off without any issues. Kudos to Mount Snow for setting up an early season skiing option, despite the need to download. The surface they offered was very very good for only having a few days to make snow. A few of the choke points on Canyon/RR got pretty thin, but nothing that would cause much, if any base damage. Chute had pretty solid cover throughout. A few thin spots here and there, and some funky bumps, LGR piles and hard pack. Variable snow was the rule today, although any of the surface in the sun was a pleasure to ski. It was great to have 1,000+ vertical feet of a decently pitched run in Chute. It was pretty crowded today and the Challenger lift seemed to stop quite a bit. A few of the stops were several minutes in length (one of them probably approaching 10). Again, the mountain offered a solid product and I am now officially in a mellow mode that should hold me over to at least Wednesday or so before I begin to wig out again. I laughed at some of the comments today about how hyper I seemed leading up to this event. I'm glad it went off well. Some damn decent conditions, awesome weather with bright sun and no wind (it actually felt warm today) and some really great company! Day One is officially in the record books! Tough day to get good photos on Chute as the light was either flat or the sun right at you. Click HERE for pics! I have a short video too, but it's 75+ MB! Need to figure out how to compress it... __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs. Last edited by Greg; Nov 26, 2006 at 6:25 AM.

Nov 26, 2006, 7:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
MichaelJ In prior times Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Out in the MA 'burbs near 495. Posts: 1,822	I had a blast on this trip. It was great to be challenged by skiers better than I, trying to follow their tracks and improve my technique. I beat the heck out of my body on no food and barely any sleep, but the snow conditions, company, and weather were worth it. In fact, all things considered the conditions were remarkable for November. If they take as good care of the trails when winter finally arrives, I'll definitely revisit. Greg - I have all sorts of vid technology here and plenty of bandwidth; if you make the video available to me I'll see what I can do with it. It was pretty funny when I got home. In the parking lot of my apartment complex, I unloaded my skis while the guy next to me unloaded his golf clubs. __________________ Skiing combines outdoor fun with knocking down trees with your face. - Dave Barry Waterville 12/20, 12/30; Wachusett 12/21, 12/28, 3/9; Jay 1/26-1/27; Bretton Woods 2/2, 2/23-2/24, 3/22; Snowbird 2/10, 2/12, 2/14; Alta 2/11, 2/15; Sunday River 3/1-3/2, 3/8, 3/15, 4/6; Wildcat 3/30 (21 days '07-08

Nov 26, 2006, 7:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
bvibert Middle Earth - 3/21/08 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 9,595	Nice report Greg! It was a good day for sure. I only got two pics and a few short vids: Pics: http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery...ry.php/cat/616 Vid1, Greg on Chute: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250003.MOV Vid2, JimG on Canyon: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250004.MOV Vid3, Greg, then MichaelJ on Canyon: http://www.bvibert.com/skiing/vids/PB250005.MOV __________________ Brian SAC Tracker

Nov 26, 2006, 8:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
ALLSKIING The Glen Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mattituck, NY Posts: 4,144	Nice guys!!! The pics and video had the opposite affect they usually do on me...Now I am in panic mode to make some turns!!!!!!!! __________________ Dave 35 days 07/08 Season

Nov 26, 2006, 9:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
thetrailboss The Bear Den Ledges Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Now Playing at Sugarbush and Burke. Posts: 10,274	Nice pics. Looks like the terrain was good and that there was not too much of a crowd. Nice views. I can't wait to get there when there is more snow. __________________ Live, Ski, or Die! Trailboss' Ski Videos now on YouTube! Trailboss' Photo Albums. 66 days for the 2007-2008 ski season!!!! 36 of the 48 New Hampshire 4,000 Footers Completed and Counting!

Nov 26, 2006, 9:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
Greg Mad River Glen - 2/8/08 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Thomaston, CT Posts: 18,113	Okay. I found a utility online to convert the video from AVI to MPG. I'm impressed with the quality of the video mode on my little point and shoot camera. Again, tough to to get good pics/video and this little sample is just some lazy turns on sketchy late day Chute: Jim, Brian and Michael heading down Chute Right-click and "Save as..." It's almost 13 MB so be patient. __________________ Greg 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05 Life's too short for warm up runs.

Nov 26, 2006, 9:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
bvibert Middle Earth - 3/21/08 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 9,595	Nice avatar! I guess the pic was avatar material after all! Sorry it's a bit grainy... __________________ Brian SAC Tracker

Nov 26, 2006, 9:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
bvibert Middle Earth - 3/21/08 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 9,595	Cool vid Greg! Those turns were a lot faster in my head... __________________ Brian SAC Tracker

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