Magic Mountain - West Side

urungus · Mar 18, 2017

Hi everybody. Longtime lurker, first post.

Looking for advice on what you think is the "easiest" (or maybe it is better to say, least difficult) way down the west side of Magic Mountain, for someone who is ready to venture off Wizard?

Also any comments you have about the reasoning behind your choice are most appreciated!

a) Broomstick / Heart of the Magican / Lower Magician
b) Talisman
c) Sorcerer
d) other

Thanks.

NYDB · Mar 19, 2017

I'd say talisman this year since its the one with the best coverage and you are less likely to have to turn around a stick or a rock or something. Sometimes that stuff freaks intermediate level skiers/riders out.

Otherwise I see little difference in a or b

Savemeasammy · Mar 19, 2017

NY DirtBag said:
I'd say talisman this year since its the one with the best coverage and you are less likely to have to turn around a stick or a rock or something. Sometimes that stuff freaks intermediate level skiers/riders out.

Otherwise I see little difference in a or b

Talisman was bumped up yesterday.

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slatham · Mar 19, 2017

Talisman IF groomed. If everything is bumped up Broomstick/Heart of Magician is best route as it is not as steep, though Broomstick is obviously very narrow - though at least you can look down it before committing.

Couple other things to keep in mind.

Sometimes Broomstick is groomed all the way down to Black Line, and sometimes that grooming continues down skiers left of Black Line and cuts down Link back into Lower Heart of Magician. That would be the easiest way as that section of Black is not that steep, and if groomed would not be too difficult (though its probably only two groomer widths wide).

Also, there is another "Link" like trail that cuts from Backline into Heart of Magician right where Broomstick ends at Black Line. Not on map but its there. I haven't skied it recently so a recon trip might be order. But this route avoids the first and steepest section of Heart of Magician.

Finally, often when Tali is groomed so is Bailout into Lower Heart of Magician all the way down. This will eliminate about half the steepest pitch on Tali.

Best to seek out Mark Lynch, Head of Ski Patrol or one of his colleagues to get the rundown on what Brownie actually groomed up the night before. The level of detail you will need is not likely on the snow report.

urungus · Mar 19, 2017

Thanks for the comments everybody, keep 'em coming.

I was out there today and had a great time, but I chickened out at the top of Talisman and made the "walk of shame" back up to Wizard... Talisman was pretty bumped up and I get a little woozy when the trail is so steep I can't see over the edge.

I think I should have taken Broomstick, which was groomed and didn't look gut churningly steep. Then follow slathams directions from there. Try to observe if there is any grooming when I am taking the Black Chair over the section of Black Line that slathom mentioned, between Broomstick and Link. Broomstick didn't look all that narrow from the top, especially after going down the short "Potter" trail a little further down Wizard.

Hopefully next time...

jrmagic · Mar 20, 2017

urungus said:
Thanks for the comments everybody, keep 'em coming.

I was out there today and had a great time, but I chickened out at the top of Talisman and made the "walk of shame" back up to Wizard... Talisman was pretty bumped up and I get a little woozy when the trail is so steep I can't see over the edge.

I think I should have taken Broomstick, which was groomed and didn't look gut churningly steep. Then follow slathams directions from there. Try to observe if there is any grooming when I am taking the Black Chair over the section of Black Line that slathom mentioned, between Broomstick and Link. Broomstick didn't look all that narrow from the top, especially after going down the short "Potter" trail a little further down Wizard.

Hopefully next time...

If you were comfortable enough on Potter then broomstick will be ok for you. I have found people are more nervous on broom than Tali or Sorcerer but YMMV

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bdfreetuna · Mar 20, 2017

Heart of Magician can be kinda tough due to double fall line and the way the trail turns into it. Not that steep but requires you to ski differently than usual at times. This with Broomstick is the toughest way down of your listed options.

Talisman is not a hard trail, if you find it tough just take your time it's not overly steep and doesn't have any surprises.

Sorcerer isn't a hard trail either and probably the easiest of the 3 options, it's a little less steep than Talisman.

Any of these trails can be tough under less than ideal conditions though

KustyTheKlown · Mar 20, 2017

Talisman

Magic was so fun yesterday. Lots of snirt and rocks but that makes magic fun.

I skied red line like a goddamn champ. Drew some cheers from the chair. Dropped a cliff at the red line/witch intersection and a ~13 year old kid on the lift gave me a "woah dude you're good at skiing" which made me smile

Savemeasammy · Mar 20, 2017

KustyTheKlown said:
Dropped a cliff at the red line/witch intersection

My kid loves that one. There are a few others a bit further down redline, too

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bdfreetuna · Mar 20, 2017

KustyTheKlown said:
Dropped a cliff at the red line/witch intersection and a ~13 year old kid on the lift gave me a "woah dude you're good at skiing" which made me smile

Timed it just right with the one 13 year old kid at Magic still afraid to take a 4 foot drop

MadMadWorld · Mar 20, 2017

That was sick...I caught it all on video too! You went fully sendy brah! https://youtu.be/BX5nJtBbBwg

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KustyTheKlown · Mar 20, 2017

yep thats me

NYDB · Mar 20, 2017

Damn, red line has some good coverage

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MMP · Mar 21, 2017

Broomstick to black line under the chair to bailout to heart of magician to hocus pocus.

The flags are in bad shape man. Bad shape.

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MMP · Mar 21, 2017

bdfreetuna said:
Heart of Magician can be kinda tough due to double fall line and the way the trail turns into it. Not that steep but requires you to ski differently than usual at times. This with Broomstick is the toughest way down of your listed options.

Talisman is not a hard trail, if you find it tough just take your time it's not overly steep and doesn't have any surprises.

Sorcerer isn't a hard trail either and probably the easiest of the 3 options, it's a little less steep than Talisman.

Any of these trails can be tough under less than ideal conditions though

Tali steeper than sorcerer. Nah.

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urungus · Mar 21, 2017

MMP said:
Broomstick to black line under the chair to bailout to heart of magician to hocus pocus.

Do you mean "Link" instead of "Bailout" ? I thought "Bailout" came downwards from Talisman, so you couldn't go in the opposite direction, from "Black Line" to "Heart of the Magician" ?

dlague · Mar 22, 2017

Talisman - depending on how the bumps are on Broomstick then that would be the way to go since it does not have a lot of pitch it is however pretty narrow.

Domeskier · Mar 22, 2017

bdfreetuna said:
Timed it just right with the one 13 year old kid at Magic still afraid to take a 4 foot drop

I hear the locals are pushing to have it called Kusty's Kliff in honor of the event.

MMP · Mar 23, 2017

urungus said:
Do you mean "Link" instead of "Bailout" ? I thought "Bailout" came downwards from Talisman, so you couldn't go in the opposite direction, from "Black Line" to "Heart of the Magician" ?

View attachment 22240

Whatever they're named, take the ones that point downhill. If you're going uphill it's the wrong one.

The flags? Sad.

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urungus · Mar 25, 2017

Thanks for the advice everybody. Broomstick was closed today (despite what it said on the snow report), so I went down Talisman a couple times. Once I peeked over the initial crest, it wasn't as steep as I had initially feared last week. A little bumpy but not too bad. Wonderful powder field after the second headwall. Second time down I took Bailout over to Heart of the Magician / Lower Magician, which wasn't as steep but there were a couple of tricky "death trenches" (is there skier slang for that) on Bailout. Also it is funny that the Bailout trail comes *after* the most difficult part of Talisman, the second headwall was much easier (and even had an unmoguled part on the left).

Here's the Ski Tracks map, runs 3 & 5

Magic Mountain - West Side

What is the "easiest" way down the west side of Magic Mountain, other than Wizard

Broomstick / Heart of the Magican / Lower Magician

Talisman

Sorcerer

other

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