Date: January 6, 2008
Resort: Burke Mountain
Conditions: MG becoming sticky WS in the afternoon
Weather: Partly cloudy, highs in the mid-30’s.
2007-2008 Trip Report #: 25!!!
Trip Report: Back at it again. Met the usual suspects and skied the regular trails this morning. An amazingly groomed East Bowl was first on the list. It was great. The original trailboss charged down it non-stop, and Matt swore it was his first and last run on it for 2008. He’s already skied it three times this season…and when I skied it with him last week he did not moan.
Next spin was Powderhorn, which was AMAZING. Soft, fresh grooming that we just LOVED. Wow. That tasted great. We headed across to Lower Dipper…I skied Boarderline instead:
It was in good shape. The original trailboss said that Little Dipper was nice and soft, but not groomed.
Next up was a spin down Shoot to the Meadows and Upper Willoughby, before heading down to Lower Warren’s Way. Becky might have been seen trying out some of the gates…Tim and I were :blink: as to why there has been no snowmaking or grooming on the Meadows.
Back up and down Carriage Road to Lower Powderhorn. It was nice.
After a break, we headed back out and skied the Willoughbies again…with me taking Upper Bear Den to Meadows. Upper Willoughby was getting slick and thin I heard…oy. We closed with a spin down Upper Dipper to Lower Powderhorn. Upper Dipper was icy in the middle, but I found some soft snow on the side. Lower Dipper was good.
The crew quit for lunch and I headed in as well. I ran into xcdaley07 in the Lodge after lunch…turns out he was waiting for his girlfriend who was nowhere to be seen. I told him that a ski ticket is for skiing and dragged him along for a spin down East Bowl. He told me he “wasn’t too good,” but he managed to keep up with me. The snow, at this point, had gotten pretty sticky.
He headed back inside and I headed down below to the Lower Mountain for my weekend inspection of the “other” Burke Mountain. I checked my skis in and checked Email before taking a spin down Bunker Hill and back to the summit. Lower Mountain was busy as usual and good for a run or two before I headed up to do two more spins down Upper Fox’s, Bear Den, and Ledge’s. All were soft and sticky. Ledges is getting skied out as I have said before, but still good. The warm temps meant no ice:
It was a good time to quit because I noticed that my skis were beginning to wander a bit too much…and my legs were sore. I have to work Monday, and I may be out for some of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Poma Update Last week, the Poma shut down due to mechanical failures. I spoke with numerous people at the mountain and other reliable sources and learned that the problems were numerous. At some point in the fall, both the Willoughby Quad and the Poma were struck by lightning, resulting in massive electrical damage to both lifts. Repair work was completed. The bearing on the Poma bullwheel failed as a result of that strike. That bearing was replaced this week. However, after restarting it, the Poma rail failed (the steel bar that holds the Pomas when they are not in use). The mountain had ordered one last season, only to have it arrive from France damaged. There was also a report that the braking system needed to be replaced. It is unclear if the mountain will be able to get a new rail from Poma, or if they will have to jerry-rig one. Indications are that the latter is most likely.
Resort: Burke Mountain
Conditions: MG becoming sticky WS in the afternoon
Weather: Partly cloudy, highs in the mid-30’s.
2007-2008 Trip Report #: 25!!!
Trip Report: Back at it again. Met the usual suspects and skied the regular trails this morning. An amazingly groomed East Bowl was first on the list. It was great. The original trailboss charged down it non-stop, and Matt swore it was his first and last run on it for 2008. He’s already skied it three times this season…and when I skied it with him last week he did not moan.
Next spin was Powderhorn, which was AMAZING. Soft, fresh grooming that we just LOVED. Wow. That tasted great. We headed across to Lower Dipper…I skied Boarderline instead:
It was in good shape. The original trailboss said that Little Dipper was nice and soft, but not groomed.
Next up was a spin down Shoot to the Meadows and Upper Willoughby, before heading down to Lower Warren’s Way. Becky might have been seen trying out some of the gates…Tim and I were :blink: as to why there has been no snowmaking or grooming on the Meadows.
Back up and down Carriage Road to Lower Powderhorn. It was nice.
After a break, we headed back out and skied the Willoughbies again…with me taking Upper Bear Den to Meadows. Upper Willoughby was getting slick and thin I heard…oy. We closed with a spin down Upper Dipper to Lower Powderhorn. Upper Dipper was icy in the middle, but I found some soft snow on the side. Lower Dipper was good.
The crew quit for lunch and I headed in as well. I ran into xcdaley07 in the Lodge after lunch…turns out he was waiting for his girlfriend who was nowhere to be seen. I told him that a ski ticket is for skiing and dragged him along for a spin down East Bowl. He told me he “wasn’t too good,” but he managed to keep up with me. The snow, at this point, had gotten pretty sticky.
He headed back inside and I headed down below to the Lower Mountain for my weekend inspection of the “other” Burke Mountain. I checked my skis in and checked Email before taking a spin down Bunker Hill and back to the summit. Lower Mountain was busy as usual and good for a run or two before I headed up to do two more spins down Upper Fox’s, Bear Den, and Ledge’s. All were soft and sticky. Ledges is getting skied out as I have said before, but still good. The warm temps meant no ice:
It was a good time to quit because I noticed that my skis were beginning to wander a bit too much…and my legs were sore. I have to work Monday, and I may be out for some of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Poma Update Last week, the Poma shut down due to mechanical failures. I spoke with numerous people at the mountain and other reliable sources and learned that the problems were numerous. At some point in the fall, both the Willoughby Quad and the Poma were struck by lightning, resulting in massive electrical damage to both lifts. Repair work was completed. The bearing on the Poma bullwheel failed as a result of that strike. That bearing was replaced this week. However, after restarting it, the Poma rail failed (the steel bar that holds the Pomas when they are not in use). The mountain had ordered one last season, only to have it arrive from France damaged. There was also a report that the braking system needed to be replaced. It is unclear if the mountain will be able to get a new rail from Poma, or if they will have to jerry-rig one. Indications are that the latter is most likely.
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