jaywbigred
Active member
(sorry for the cell phone pics) So I made the trip out to Blue, using Root's directions to avoid the traffic on 78 as you enter PA, and made it in 1:21 on the way out and 1:29 on the way back, going a little slower with a stop for gas, but also less traffic.
(welcome to PA!!!!!)
Anyway, I was able to get the college discount; I'm not sure how the math worked, but my ticket was $16!!!! I skied for 3 hrs and change, which was all my legs could handle, because every run was a bump run. I took probably 12-15 runs, lost count. 2 were on Barney's Bumps, which I wish I had discovered earlier in the night (i.e. before my last 2 runs of the night). I guess technically you could lap it via the 6 pack, but that would be a long run-out in snow conditions that can best be described as mixed. They started out as straight slush, which is fine in the bumps, and then as things got cooler, some spots started to get real fast. It was interesting handling the runouts in the mixed conditions w my bump skis, on which I do not have that many miles.
Now, the bumps. Challenger was the only other trail I skied all night (unless the run outs have other names). The bump course was still up, and much to my happiness, the kickers were open! Not sure if they slightly dismantled them or not, there wasn't much kick to them (up shot), they were almost more like ledges. But they were very fun. I mostly skied the line on skier's right because about half way down on the skier's left line, there was a rock in the middle or a trough, right at the spot where you could really start to get a rhythm going. The only problem w skier's right was the trannie after the second kicker. If you braked the wrong way into the first bump of the ensuing line, you got kicked into a funky trough that basically took you out of the zipper. So I found the best way to ski the line was to start at the top right, ski it all the way down to the second kicker, and then make sure to brake left as you land on the second kicker, putting you into another zipper that was perfect.
(yummy! And much more well lit than Camelback)
This was my first time ever skiing a bump course with kickers, and I had a lot of fun. I fell a few times, mostly after jumps where I picked up to much speed and was braking too hard coming back into the zipper. I actually found by the end of the night that you were better of jumping, braking, and then turning back into the trough before hitting the first bump; whereas, when I started, I thought you could brake right into the first bump and use it as a speed check. One I ceased my braking before the bump, I was able to stay upright better. I had a couple of runs that felt real good.
There were a couple of dudes there who definitely could rip, and at one point they watched the entirety of one of my better runs. When I finished, one of them made my night by saying "Nice f-ing run man!" He then asked if I had been in the competition over the weekend. I told him no, but that I had seen some videos of it posted online, and that it looked like a lot of fun. I gave an AZ plug and he said to the other dude "ohhhhhhhh, Bob most have posted that." Not sure if Bob=Root or not...but anyway, he implored me to come back next year for the comp "Dude you HAVE to come, it is a lot of fun, we're trying to grow it" etc... It was nice to hear, and esp. nice to get a compliment from someone who knows what there doing.
I also rode the lift with a couple of nice guys. I'm sure you Blue regulars must know one or both of them. The first was an older guy, maybe in his 60s or 70s, who actually parked next to me too, I think. His car had a license plate frame that said "I'd rather be skiing" and he had a wicked beard. He was also wearing a helmet and listening to tunes, so I felt a little bad when I asked him if he knew if anything else was bumped up besides Challenger. He pointed out Nightmare, but said the field was much shorter than Challenger, and perhaps not worth my time, and Barney's Bumps, which I eventually checked out.
The other dude told me he was 40, he also had a little beard/goatee thing. He had Black Diamond adjustable poles, and he was telling me that he also boards. He was lucky enough to be up in the Catskills and VT for the big dump 2 weeks ago, and we traded some notes on ski areas out west.
Anyway, overall, a good experience, I would do it again if the snow holds up. Unfortunately, with the rain in the forecast, and th amount of brown showing all over the mountain (though not necessarily on the trails themselves), I'd be concerned about how much Blue had left in her/whether she will survive the weekend well. The only other thing I'd add is that Blue gives off a certain vibe...shall we say...a vibe that made me feel "next time I'm bringing my ski lock." They do have free ski valet, though.
(welcome to PA!!!!!)
Anyway, I was able to get the college discount; I'm not sure how the math worked, but my ticket was $16!!!! I skied for 3 hrs and change, which was all my legs could handle, because every run was a bump run. I took probably 12-15 runs, lost count. 2 were on Barney's Bumps, which I wish I had discovered earlier in the night (i.e. before my last 2 runs of the night). I guess technically you could lap it via the 6 pack, but that would be a long run-out in snow conditions that can best be described as mixed. They started out as straight slush, which is fine in the bumps, and then as things got cooler, some spots started to get real fast. It was interesting handling the runouts in the mixed conditions w my bump skis, on which I do not have that many miles.
Now, the bumps. Challenger was the only other trail I skied all night (unless the run outs have other names). The bump course was still up, and much to my happiness, the kickers were open! Not sure if they slightly dismantled them or not, there wasn't much kick to them (up shot), they were almost more like ledges. But they were very fun. I mostly skied the line on skier's right because about half way down on the skier's left line, there was a rock in the middle or a trough, right at the spot where you could really start to get a rhythm going. The only problem w skier's right was the trannie after the second kicker. If you braked the wrong way into the first bump of the ensuing line, you got kicked into a funky trough that basically took you out of the zipper. So I found the best way to ski the line was to start at the top right, ski it all the way down to the second kicker, and then make sure to brake left as you land on the second kicker, putting you into another zipper that was perfect.
(yummy! And much more well lit than Camelback)
This was my first time ever skiing a bump course with kickers, and I had a lot of fun. I fell a few times, mostly after jumps where I picked up to much speed and was braking too hard coming back into the zipper. I actually found by the end of the night that you were better of jumping, braking, and then turning back into the trough before hitting the first bump; whereas, when I started, I thought you could brake right into the first bump and use it as a speed check. One I ceased my braking before the bump, I was able to stay upright better. I had a couple of runs that felt real good.
There were a couple of dudes there who definitely could rip, and at one point they watched the entirety of one of my better runs. When I finished, one of them made my night by saying "Nice f-ing run man!" He then asked if I had been in the competition over the weekend. I told him no, but that I had seen some videos of it posted online, and that it looked like a lot of fun. I gave an AZ plug and he said to the other dude "ohhhhhhhh, Bob most have posted that." Not sure if Bob=Root or not...but anyway, he implored me to come back next year for the comp "Dude you HAVE to come, it is a lot of fun, we're trying to grow it" etc... It was nice to hear, and esp. nice to get a compliment from someone who knows what there doing.
I also rode the lift with a couple of nice guys. I'm sure you Blue regulars must know one or both of them. The first was an older guy, maybe in his 60s or 70s, who actually parked next to me too, I think. His car had a license plate frame that said "I'd rather be skiing" and he had a wicked beard. He was also wearing a helmet and listening to tunes, so I felt a little bad when I asked him if he knew if anything else was bumped up besides Challenger. He pointed out Nightmare, but said the field was much shorter than Challenger, and perhaps not worth my time, and Barney's Bumps, which I eventually checked out.
The other dude told me he was 40, he also had a little beard/goatee thing. He had Black Diamond adjustable poles, and he was telling me that he also boards. He was lucky enough to be up in the Catskills and VT for the big dump 2 weeks ago, and we traded some notes on ski areas out west.
Anyway, overall, a good experience, I would do it again if the snow holds up. Unfortunately, with the rain in the forecast, and th amount of brown showing all over the mountain (though not necessarily on the trails themselves), I'd be concerned about how much Blue had left in her/whether she will survive the weekend well. The only other thing I'd add is that Blue gives off a certain vibe...shall we say...a vibe that made me feel "next time I'm bringing my ski lock." They do have free ski valet, though.
