Hunter Mountain - 2/27/2006 (AZ Gathering)

[bvibert]

You two need to get in shape!

Drill sargent JimG. reporting for butt kicking duty.

You got that right, I didn't even hit any bumps and I'm still pretty beat.

I was just happy that I made it to 4:00 without collapsing...

 

[Eski]

... Drill sargent JimG. reporting for butt kicking duty.

I reported for happy hour duty and expected to see you and the crew there ... next thing I see from across the way was you backpackin' it outta the lodge ... nice snow to be found that day

 

[kingslug]

Hunter Mountain 2/27/06

OK, a trip report. Hunter proved it's slogan as the snowmaking capitol of the world. They had the guns going full blast all day. We met up at 11. Some of us had been there since around 9 whith a good amount of laps already in. The weather was cold but we had blue skies. The conditions where great with very little ice. They had a class B mogul course set up so we decided to hang there for a while. Jim G. Gregg, and Pat ( names right?) showed us less talented folk how it's done. I'm still trying to get the hang of it after 10 years. The run was only half moguls so you could bail or just not do them. We then checked out the rest of the area. Racers Edge which has been closed for a while due to a snow making computer malfunction was up and running. The top was ugly, the middle near the guns was better. Everything else was in good shape, mini konka, east side drive, gun hill road, all in good shape. Kennedy was a manmade blizzard, all the guns where going and the powder was piling up. You couldn't see a thing but who cared. We then ventured over to the west side. It looked very slick, the top entrance was closed as it was a solid sheet. Well what the hell how bad could it be. Jim G, Gregg, and I decided to give it a whirl. The bumps on the side where OK, the middle a sheet. I picked skiers left when out of no where a ski passes me. I looked up to see a body sliding down at full speed towards me. Full yardsale into the fence right behind me. Then his buddy decides to do the same. They where all right, time to bail. Guess some people don't take the warning sign too seriously. After lunch we took it easy. Too many bump runs and you get jello legs. It was great to be able to hang with quality mogul skiers all day and every body else of course. You know it's good when you close the place. Have to do it again some time soon. And yes Jim I will try to make a few more turns. Which leads me to post a question in the main forum.
__________________

 

[JimG.]

I reported for happy hour duty and expected to see you and the crew there ... next thing I see from across the way was you backpackin' it outta the lodge ... nice snow to be found that day

Sorry I missed you Ed...had to pack it out of there home to keep the family happy too. At least we got a chair ride in with Doug's lovely fiance Alexa.

BTW, there have been alot of NYstate troopers out there in the past 2 weeks pulling over anyone speeding even a little bit. If you're gonna hit happy hour after the slopes, kick back a while and enjoy some down time before hitting the road.

 

[JimG.]

I picked skiers left when out of no where a ski passes me. I looked up to see a body sliding down at full speed towards me.

OMG I almost forgot that debacle! Clairs really wasn't in bad shape but those 2 guys just couldn't handle eastern hardpack. And I was the one who suggested you go over to that side while Greg and I hit the ice bumps on the right.

When the ski just missed you and I saw the first guy go into the streamlined, feet first, I'm never going to stop missle shape I thought he was going to take you out too. And he didn't hit the fence (that was the second guy who I screamed at to dig his heels in). The first guy went top to bottom and was travelling at least 40 MPH by the time he stopped at the bottom.

Scary.

 

[YardSaleDad]

The first guy went top to bottom and was travelling at least 40 MPH by the time he stopped at the bottom.

Scary.

He didn't land on the trail either. It was the rocky scrub on the side, with very little snow coverage.

You could have knocked me over with a feather, when he just got up and started walking. Albeit walking gingerly.

 

[Greg]

Brings up an interesting point. What's the proper way to self-arrest in that situation? Simply bend the knees, shoulder-width apart, and dig the heels in hard? Once that guy got up to speed, would he have even been able to stop himself without anything short of an ice axe?

 

[dmc]

Brings up an interesting point. What's the proper way to self-arrest in that situation? Simply bend the knees, shoulder-width apart, and dig the heels in hard? Once that guy got up to speed, would he have even been able to stop himself without anything short of an ice axe?

If you still have skis on pull them under your body and you might get back to standing...

No skis - the you have to grab your poles down by the baskets and use the points in the snow... Like an axe...

If you have a pack on - roll over onto your back and it may slow you down...

 

[JimG.]

If you still have skis on pull them under your body and you might get back to standing...

No skis - the you have to grab your poles down by the baskets and use the points in the snow... Like an axe...

If you have a pack on - roll over onto your back and it may slow you down...

Unfortunately, this poor soul shed all his equipment way up on top of Clairs near the intersection with upper Taylors.

D, he reminded me of that guy who took the top to bottom wipe in the Chute at Tucks a few years back.

 

[Eski]

.... If you're gonna hit happy hour after the slopes, kick back a while and enjoy some down time before hitting the road.

yup, went from lodge to the hotel w/friends and hung out a few hours before getting on the road

 

[ALLSKIING]

No skis - the you have to grab your poles down by the baskets and use the points in the snow... Like an axe...

..

Thats a great idea...never thought of that.

 

[kingslug]

Well thank God no pics of me trying those bumps. Class B course, class D skier....does not make for good pics. Unless for comedy.

 

[Greg]

Well thank God no pics of me trying those bumps. Class B course, class D skier....does not make for good pics. Unless for comedy.

Yeah, but isn't that you in the tail end of my video? Sorry for outing you...

 

[bvibert]

Yeah, but isn't that you in the tail end of my video? Sorry for outing you...

Sure is...

 

[kingslug]

Those 2 sliding reminded me of the opening scene in the movie Vertical Limit when the climbers fall off El Capitan. I've seen some pretty bad yardsales back there. The woman who fell off the side of Mini and landed in the tree was also pretty scary. Not an easy mountain for most.

 

[kingslug]

Yeah, but isn't that you in the tail end of my video? Sorry for outing you...

I can't watch it at my work computer. Have to wait till I get home. Hope it's not too ugly. I look much better skiing powder.

 

[awf170]

First question: Jim are you wearing AT boots?

Second question: What the heck of you wearing for pants YSD? It doesn't even look like you have ski pants on.


Anyway awsome trip report, and I envy jimg, 2knees, and greg mogul skills.

 

[bvibert]

First question: Jim are you wearing AT boots?

Second question: What the heck of you wearing for pants YSD? It doesn't even look like you have ski pants on.


Anyway awsome trip report, and I envy jimg, 2knees, and greg mogul skills.

Yes, Jim was wearing his AT boots. IIRC YSD had some fleece pants on.

 

[JimG.]

First question: Jim are you wearing AT boots?

Yup, my Adrenalins.

But, I've got the DIN soles on in place of the rocker hiking sole and those are my alpine bump skis with regular alpine binders.

This versatility is one of the things that make these boots the absolute best I've ever owned. And my bootfitter Keith tells me every week that he's sold another pair. As expensive as they are, these boots are a great value.