Do you always call the mountain snow phone they day you plan on riding?

[billski]

My brother actually still uses his. At one point he had hundreds of tapes. I don't know how many he has now though. I always hated hearing a song fade out, switch to the next channel, and fade back in again.

Egads. he must either have really bad hearing or not care one iota about fidelity. From what I recall, they were strictly low-fidelity!

 

[Mildcat]

Egads. he must either have really bad hearing or not care one iota about fidelity. From what I recall, they were strictly low-fidelity!

Definitely the latter. The stereo is a 1980? $40 Radio Shack special. He just uses it in his garage though.

 

[riverc0il]

Back in the olden days of cubco bindings, newpapers and rear-entry boots, before the internet, there was this old communications method called the telephone. Most areas had (and continue to have) a breathing body who uttered sounds into a recording device for all to hear, upon dialing a special, pre-arranged set of digits on the "telephone". The human figure usually recorded an announcement at the end of and beginning of each ski day. :lol:

While hurtling down the valley at 65mph, it can be combined with present-day cellular technolgy to garner and inkling of snow conditions. Some areas have a specially coded number, in others you ask the human figure who answers the calling device to connect you to it.

In the olden times, it was rife with lies and fantastic imagry. As today, the most important thing to listen for is what is NOT being said.

Thomas Edison and Morse code days were not far behind, so you can see what a huge advancement this was in the days of olde.

Old one, you are wise with historical information, thank you for the enlightenment. I once heard that before telephone technology became wide spread that ski reports were once posted in newspapers. Is there any truth to that rumor? Hard to believe any one was able to survive before the age of the internet when information was just a click away.

 

[kcyanks1]

I used to call, but now I rely on websites. I generally don't check the morning of, unless there is a weather issue I'm concerned about. I'll often check the day before. It depends whether I expect any changes in conditions.

 

[billski]

Old one, you are wise with historical information, thank you for the enlightenment. I once heard that before telephone technology became wide spread that ski reports were once posted in newspapers. Is there any truth to that rumor? Hard to believe any one was able to survive before the age of the internet when information was just a click away.

Ah yes, the newspapers. Even then, we knew the information was at least a week old, condition terminology wasn't standardized, of dubious value and was so brief it was pitiful. "Stowe, Packed Powder, 28" new, 6 lifts, 8am-4pm."

Worse yet, there was a telephone monopoly. A phone call from the flatlands to the hinterlands could cost you $3-4 while making a $1.50 wage, so not many phone calls were afforded. Those new-fangled answering machine boxes were only affordable by the rich ski areas. Usually the phone just rang and rang and rang while Jimmy was outside tending to the lift.

This new hi-falooten thingy called "radar" was new, fuzzy and mostly limited to national maps, and satellites were only for spying at commies. Usually the tele had Billy-Bob moving H's and L's around with a stick. He was lucky if he got the start of the snow pinpointed to a day or two.

One would speak with neighbors, office workers, the postman to find maybe one or two who had been "upcountry" within the last month.
Travel information was sketchy and information was often days old. So travel to the upcountry was filled with mystery as we traveled in our rear-wheel drive Ford. Everyone had sand, shovel, and extra hands to help push the car out of the ditch, which was always a requisite activity. Upon arrival, you took what you could get for conditions. We spent as much time dorking around with our equipment as we did on the slopes. Then we started skiing....

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Ah yes, the newspapers. Even then, we knew the information was at least a week old, condition terminology wasn't standardized, of dubious value and was so brief it was pitiful. "Stowe, Packed Powder, 28" new, 6 lifts, 8am-4pm."

Worse yet, there was a telephone monopoly. A phone call from the flatlands to the hinterlands could cost you $3-4 while making a $1.50 wage, so not many phone calls were afforded. Those new-fangled answering machine boxes were only affordable by the rich ski areas. Usually the phone just rang and rang and rang while Jimmy was outside tending to the lift.

This new hi-falooten thingy called "radar" was new, fuzzy and mostly limited to national maps, and satellites were only for spying at commies. Usually the tele had Billy-Bob moving H's and L's around with a stick. He was lucky if he got the start of the snow pinpointed to a day or two.

One would speak with neighbors, office workers, the postman to find maybe one or two who had been "upcountry" within the last month.
Travel information was sketchy and information was often days old. So travel to the upcountry was filled with mystery as we traveled in our rear-wheel drive Ford. Everyone had sand, shovel, and extra hands to help push the car out of the ditch, which was always a requisite activity. Upon arrival, you took what you could get for conditions. We spent as much time dorking around with our equipment as we did on the slopes. Then we started skiing....

How freakin old are you??? LOL

 

[billski]

How freakin old are you??? LOL

Old enough to have watched WPTZ sign on at sunrise and signoff at 11pm. Then we would watch "Indian Movies" on the tele at night. Black and White, of course!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Old enough to have watched WPTZ sign on at sunrise and signoff at 11pm. Then we would watch "Indian Movies" on the tele at night. Black and White, of course!

Wow you must be the oldest person on the internet. I thought I was old since I remember alot of 80s songs..lol

 

[billski]

Wow you must be the oldest person on the internet. I thought I was old since I remember alot of 80s songs..lol

too funny:lol:. you should watch my mother in law on the 'puter. still afraid if she pushes the wrong button it will break. (not to far from the truth with Microsoft products!)
There's a lot older skiers on the slopes than me. I just age quicker than most