Wildcat 4/13/08

deadheadskier · Apr 13, 2008, 4:33 PM

Date(s) Skied: Sunday, April 13th, 2008

Resort or Ski Area: Wildcat Mountain, NH

Conditions: FROZEN granular, corn the bottom 400 vert. High 20's summit, High 30's Base

Trip Report:

Well, I appear to be cursed. The ever elusive good spring skiing day escaped me again today. If it weren't for the damn weather man, I would've gone yesterday and skied the wonderful corn bumps that Iso crave and am running out of time to experience.

Today was my first time back to Wildcat in a couple of months. The mountain still has full coverage on their snowmaking trails, but the natural trails are thinning quick. The advertised 100% open, but plenty of sections of trails were roped and if it wasn't groomed the night before, it was essentially unskiable except for the bottom 400 vert of the mountain or so. Everything up top was frozen solid and rather crusty. The snow was edgeable, but it seemed very much like skiing on early November snowmaking conditions where there's a ton of water in the snow and it's real 'grabby' yet slick all at the same time.

The only thing remotely close to enjoyable bumps was Chutes, but it needed a ton of skier traffic to break up the crust and get a good corn surface. So, I cut my day pretty short today after about a dozen or so runs on the crusty not too enjoyable conditions. The bottom 1/4 of the mountain had softened to a nice corn surface, but I have no use for corn outside of bumps.

The only real positive that came out of today was I got to take out the new 06' Bandit X's I received. I REALLY liked them. These will be my primary skis over the B2's outside of powder days. The X's were much quicker underfoot and had a very solid edge grip despite being on the factory tune from three years ago. I can tell they are gonna rock in good bumps and will do well on skied off surfaces. The only area they suffer in comparison to the B2 is they're not quite as stable at speed; a bit squirly. I'm sure in powder they will be inferior to the B2's as well. That said, this is a very fun ski that is going to do exactly what I hoped for when I purchased it.

Hopefully, I get to mash some soft sweet bumps in them before the year is through. Only a few days left for it and I hope I don't keep striking out like I have been.

riverc0il · Apr 13, 2008, 4:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadheadskier

The advertised 100% open, but plenty of sections of trails were roped and if it wasn't groomed the night before,

I got burned out on Wildcat long ago for their fictitious trail reporting. Too bad they can not be upfront about partially open trails. And if entire trails were roped that were posted as open, well, that is just bad form.

I got skunked to yesterday believing the weatherman. Swing battah battah battah battah WIFFFFFF.................... One of the biggest blown forecasts of the season. But I can't blame the weather folk, I made the call and I choose poorly.

deadheadskier · Apr 13, 2008, 4:56 PM

Yeah, I'm more pissed at myself than the weather man. I should've gone yesterday. Definitely my biggest swing and miss of the year and the fact that there's not much time left for lift serviced has me pissed at myself even more than I normally would be.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Apr 13, 2008, 5:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadheadskier

Date(s) Skied: Sunday, April 13th, 2008

. The bottom 1/4 of the mountain had softened to a nice corn surface, but I have no use for corn outside of bumps.

.

Nice report..smooth corn is sa weet....is Wildcat weekends only now?

ckofer · Apr 13, 2008, 5:47 PM

I was there for the afternoon. Froguls galore! Most of them looked like sweet spring moguls but had absolutely no mercy. It was both sunny and snowing at once. I'll bet yesterday was a stellar spring day there- moguls, not froguls.

deadheadskier · Apr 13, 2008, 5:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrilledSteezeSandwich

Nice report..smooth corn is sa weet....is Wildcat weekends only now?

As far as I'm aware, 7 days a week still. They definitely have the base to go to the 27th with a good amount of terrain options. Perhaps May 4th if it doesn't get too warm for the rest of the month.

Vince · Apr 13, 2008, 6:06 PM

Definately hit or miss time of the year. I woke up this morning it was sunny and I was kicking myself for being unprepared. The weatherman sucks got both days wrong.........I discovered Wildcat as my favorite spring place a few years ago. I don't go here mid season. Within the 2100 ft vertical, different exposures to the sun. You can find some good conditions and a fast lift. It often changes through out the day. The bottom 400 ft doesn't quite do it. Last year I hit the last day May 6th. Good skiing most of the way down and a big puddle at the bottom.

ckofer · Apr 13, 2008, 6:11 PM

I definitely demostrated gaper moves today there. I may have stem-christied some bumps.

deadheadskier · Apr 13, 2008, 6:32 PM

I think everyone I saw skiing today brought out the gaper moves, me probably more than most

. Challenging skiing for sure

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Apr 13, 2008, 7:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadheadskier

I think everyone I saw skiing today brought out the gaper moves, me probably more than most

. Challenging skiing for sure

I brought out my gaper moves in the solid bumps at Belleayre today..link four turns sideslip..link 3 turns..poles flailing..lol..it's all part of being an east coast skier..

Apr 13, 2008, 4:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
deadheadskier Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southeast NH Posts: 3,829	Wildcat 4/13/08 Date(s) Skied: Sunday, April 13th, 2008 Resort or Ski Area: Wildcat Mountain, NH Conditions: FROZEN granular, corn the bottom 400 vert. High 20's summit, High 30's Base Trip Report: Well, I appear to be cursed. The ever elusive good spring skiing day escaped me again today. If it weren't for the damn weather man, I would've gone yesterday and skied the wonderful corn bumps that Iso crave and am running out of time to experience. Today was my first time back to Wildcat in a couple of months. The mountain still has full coverage on their snowmaking trails, but the natural trails are thinning quick. The advertised 100% open, but plenty of sections of trails were roped and if it wasn't groomed the night before, it was essentially unskiable except for the bottom 400 vert of the mountain or so. Everything up top was frozen solid and rather crusty. The snow was edgeable, but it seemed very much like skiing on early November snowmaking conditions where there's a ton of water in the snow and it's real 'grabby' yet slick all at the same time. The only thing remotely close to enjoyable bumps was Chutes, but it needed a ton of skier traffic to break up the crust and get a good corn surface. So, I cut my day pretty short today after about a dozen or so runs on the crusty not too enjoyable conditions. The bottom 1/4 of the mountain had softened to a nice corn surface, but I have no use for corn outside of bumps. The only real positive that came out of today was I got to take out the new 06' Bandit X's I received. I REALLY liked them. These will be my primary skis over the B2's outside of powder days. The X's were much quicker underfoot and had a very solid edge grip despite being on the factory tune from three years ago. I can tell they are gonna rock in good bumps and will do well on skied off surfaces. The only area they suffer in comparison to the B2 is they're not quite as stable at speed; a bit squirly. I'm sure in powder they will be inferior to the B2's as well. That said, this is a very fun ski that is going to do exactly what I hoped for when I purchased it. Hopefully, I get to mash some soft sweet bumps in them before the year is through. Only a few days left for it and I hope I don't keep striking out like I have been. __________________ 07-08

Apr 13, 2008, 4:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
deadheadskier Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southeast NH Posts: 3,829	Yeah, I'm more pissed at myself than the weather man. I should've gone yesterday. Definitely my biggest swing and miss of the year and the fact that there's not much time left for lift serviced has me pissed at myself even more than I normally would be. __________________ 07-08

Apr 13, 2008, 5:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
ckofer Willey Pond, Strafford, NH Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Strafford, New Hampshire Posts: 2,417	I was there for the afternoon. Froguls galore! Most of them looked like sweet spring moguls but had absolutely no mercy. It was both sunny and snowing at once. I'll bet yesterday was a stellar spring day there- moguls, not froguls. __________________ ------ Chris K http://myspace.com/chickenjam The Ski Cheap Or Die Calendar Project -If you have anything that you think should be on the calendar, pm me! Never wrestle with a pig: You both get all dirty, and the pig likes it.

Apr 13, 2008, 6:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
ckofer Willey Pond, Strafford, NH Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Strafford, New Hampshire Posts: 2,417	I definitely demostrated gaper moves today there. I may have stem-christied some bumps. __________________ ------ Chris K http://myspace.com/chickenjam The Ski Cheap Or Die Calendar Project -If you have anything that you think should be on the calendar, pm me! Never wrestle with a pig: You both get all dirty, and the pig likes it.

Apr 13, 2008, 6:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
deadheadskier Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southeast NH Posts: 3,829	I think everyone I saw skiing today brought out the gaper moves, me probably more than most . Challenging skiing for sure __________________ 07-08

Apr 13, 2008, 6:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vince Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 15	Definately hit or miss time of the year. I woke up this morning it was sunny and I was kicking myself for being unprepared. The weatherman sucks got both days wrong.........I discovered Wildcat as my favorite spring place a few years ago. I don't go here mid season. Within the 2100 ft vertical, different exposures to the sun. You can find some good conditions and a fast lift. It often changes through out the day. The bottom 400 ft doesn't quite do it. Last year I hit the last day May 6th. Good skiing most of the way down and a big puddle at the bottom.

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