Saddleback 1/10/2009 - Pics

[salsgang]

Date(s) Skied: January 10th, 2009

Resort or Ski Area: Saddleback

Conditions: Some Powder & PP, Wind Blow upper mountain

Trip Report: Ahhh - great day at Saddleback. Cold - it was probably single numbers at the base... around zero or below at the top. Wind was calm so that was good.

We were able to find some serious fresh on the edges of the trails and in the woods.... leftovers from the 12" plus they have received in the past couple of days. Took our first ride up the new quad to the top first thing. They built it pretty low to the ground... nice quiet ride up.

We did the blue Tri Color from the summit back down Green Weaver to the Quad. Nice PP conditions. Then we went left and took a look down Tight Line. Top 25 yards looked pretty miserable. Icy and rocky. Looked OK after that. We took a peek at Wardens worry - It didn't seem quite so bad to start so we went down. BIG MISTAKE. It was a icy, rocky mess. The wind had blown all the light fluff out of there. Towards the end of the run it got a bit better but that wasn't a good way to start. My youngest got down it after some coxing. I could tell though that terrain rules with more snow.

Anyway, with that out of the way we stuck to the snow. Everything off the Rangley double was great. Peachy's Peril was great ungroomed. Soft moguls everywhere. Parmachee Bell was the narrow ungroomed trail of the day. All kinds of fresh on the sides. Blue Devil was the groomed trail of the day. Fast and fun. And we hit Thrombosis glade a bunch. All kinds of soft snow...especially down low.

Decent crowd at the hill, but practically no lines all day. Typical Saddleback non vacation Saturday. I was still ripping corduroy at the end of the day in places.

Took a bunch of pics.

Intimidator Glade

Golden Smelt - narrow and fun

Next 4 are all off Parmachee Bell. This trail was super today

Boy #1 going deep in the woods for fresh.

Last 3 are Thrombosis glade action. Loads of Fresh.

 

[bigbog]

...

salsgang,
Looks like a nice day...what are those called... "Ice-Carvers"?.. Really good practice eh'!?? Sweetspot of about 6"..:-D
Cold, but looks like no windswept ice issues...

 

[billski]

I was thinking the same thing too - no breezes to blow things into the woods....
what a gorgeous place, I miss it. Looks like you all had a great day.
thanks!

 

[salsgang]

salsgang,
Looks like a nice day...what are those called... "Ice-Carvers"?.. Really good practice eh'!?? Sweetspot of about 6"..:-D
Cold, but looks like no windswept ice issues...

"Ice-Carvers" must be referring to the short skis? They are "Ski-Boards". Made by Snowjam. My wife and son ski them. Great for quick turns in the woods on fluff. Woods were great. Only the upper mountain trials were windblown.

The other thing that was funny about the trip is that my boyz were falling all over the place. After skiing mostly fast "flour on granite" groomers so far this year, it was like they didn't know what to do with all that snow.

 

[tipsdown]

I was there Saturday too. Amazing day. The woods were in great shape. There was still alot of fresh tracks to be had. Sunday was even better! The dropped the ropes on Governer around noon and there was all kinds of fresh stashes.

 

[salsgang]

I was there Saturday too. Amazing day. The woods were in great shape. There was still alot of fresh tracks to be had. Sunday was even better! The dropped the ropes on Governer around noon and there was all kinds of fresh stashes.

Question for you - I can ski expert trails but a newbie off the top stuff at Saddleback (didn't ride the T-bar much). Where is that cross cut off Tri-color (fire fly I think) where you can cut over and avoid the first section of Tight Line and drop into the upper mountain trails a bit lower down. The map seems like it is right at the Intimadator glade entrance but I didn't seem to see it. Was that roped off Saturday?

Also - did Governor have good cover Sunday in between the fresh stashes?

Hopefully heading back up Weds!

 

[tipsdown]

Question for you - I can ski expert trails but a newbie off the top stuff at Saddleback (didn't ride the T-bar much). Where is that cross cut off Tri-color (fire fly I think) where you can cut over and avoid the first section of Tight Line and drop into the upper mountain trails a bit lower down. The map seems like it is right at the Intimadator glade entrance but I didn't seem to see it. Was that roped off Saturday?

Also - did Governor have good cover Sunday in between the fresh stashes?

Hopefully heading back up Weds!

Salsang,

You've got it. Firefly is off Tri-Color about 1/4 of the way down is to the right where the entrance to the Intimidator glade is. You will approach the glade right in front of you as you descend down Tri-Color. Hook a hard right in front of the glade and there's the crosscut. I believe it was roped off Saturday because every trail other than Tightline was closed from those sections of the trails (Head to NW pass a bit further down). I'm sure it will be open on Wednesday, since it was yesterday and there's more snow expected Tuesday night I believe.

Governer was amazing in places and less cover in others. The very top (tight glade) off the quad to the right had tons of fresh especially when I hit it since they just opened it. At the firelfy cut it was a little thin on the headwall. There were still a couple places in the middle of the trail where stumps were present but if you stayed on the left side there was knee deep powder…That trail tends to hold the snow well and is normally one of my faves…

Also another recommendation is the quad liftline. It's not marked on the map this year but you can ski it from Artula (right near firefly). Lots of light stuff in there too…Saturday not so much but another 4-5 on Sunday made a big difference.

Have fun up there Wednesday!

 

[salsgang]

Awesome. I must have been looking down the glade and not to the right for Fire Fly. Thanks for the info tipsdown!