Hunter's 44? Place your bets!

[JimG.]

Total waste of money. That trail is huge. It's got the width of some Western style bowls. Besides, Annapurna is a much better trail and much better protected. I was dissapointed last year when they focussed on 44 over 'purna.

Agreed...I want my Purna!

I'm not sure I'd say it's a much better trail, but Purna has more character than 44.

While 44 is steeper in places, its' width makes it ski more like a bowl as you have pointed out. And its' width is part of why blowing it is so expensive. The usual set up is that it gets blown after a snowfall of 18" or greater so it has some kind of base for the manmade to stick to. Otherwise, the snow gets scoured by wind pronto.

Also, because of the double fall line that sucks fallen skiers into the left hand fence, 44 is harder and more work to patrol. Lots of fence scrapers there.

 

[Greg]

Because of its steepness or bowling ball structure?

I was going to ask the same.

44 is not a particularly difficult trail.

I'm not sure I'd say it's a much better trail, but Purna has more character than 44.

I haven't ski either, but I expect I'd like Annapurna better than 44 because of the "character" aspect.

 

[dmc]

I haven't ski either, but I expect I'd like Annapurna better than 44 because of the "character" aspect.

To me 44 has more character...
It's wide open - double fallines - headwall - did i mention wide open? Has some sweet hucks - the snow bakes and softens - it's almost always empty...

And you can duck in and out of Taylors Run which is a cool natural snowtrail...

The "Prune" is a skiers trail... All bumps.. Sweet lines... I normally hug the side...

 

[Greg]

The "Prune" is a skiers trail... All bumps.. Sweet lines...

Sounds crappy....

 

[dmc]

Sounds crappy....

You'd hate it

 

[Brettski]

I've only been on Anna once...and she loved it

 

[millerm277]

And you can duck in and out of Taylors Run which is a cool natural snowtrail...

Didn't they just blow it open?

 

[dmc]

Didn't they just blow it open?

Only the top third... where it joins with Claires.. The seperates again it's closed...

 

[adamti91]

I know 44 is 'local speak' for a trail on Hunter, just not which one! I looked on the map but couldn't find it (maybe I could if I put together some clues). I've never been to Hunter as surprising as that may be with me living so close. What is the name on the trail map?

 

[Greg]

West Way. It's in my OP.

 

[adamti91]

Ah, my bad.

 

[millerm277]

Only the top third... where it joins with Claires.. The seperates again it's closed...

Aw, I like the lower section a lot better. Guess that means the Y lift will be pretty damn empty if it gets run at all this year.

 

[inhalexhale]

How do I say this in a nice way....


Are we opening 44 this year?


nope.



And you, Greg, and Jim, you two already know that, so stop taking free money! I didn't think I'd see so much moral corruption on AZ! :smash:

 

[YardSaleDad]

How do I say this in a nice way....


Are we opening 44 this year?


nope.

Not even after the 22" from the Valentines Nor'easter of 07?

 

[inhalexhale]

Haha, you are a little too hopeful. If we get that much snow, the first issue will be packing it into the rest of the base, but if we get 22", it might be something to think about. Improbable, but I guess possible...in a "it will never happen" kind of way....

 

[Greg]

Improbable, but I guess possible...in a "it will never happen" kind of way....

Way to be positive... :roll:

 

[inhalexhale]

Hey, now there is a difference between being positive and being realistic....

Positive: it might hit -24 with wind chill tomorrow.
...WOO-HOO!!!! BRING IT!!

 

[snoseek]

I know nothing about hunter but... who cut a trail and put snowmaking on it if it's too much money to open it. I know it's a bad year, but if i was a passholder and the mt. declared it closed for the year (unless a freak storm) i wouldn't be happy. Hunter sells lots of ticket's right?

 

[inhalexhale]

The Highlands area and Westway are never guaranteed to open every year, simply because of their locations. These trails DO open, but will not be opening this season. We certainly have had them available for many seasons.

Very few mountains EVER open 100% of their skiable terrain, so we're in the same boat as everyone else...especially this winter.

After the challenging start to the season that we've had, and a number of other factors, I don't think people should be surprised that we are unable to open every single trail we have.

 

[dmc]

I know nothing about hunter but... who cut a trail and put snowmaking on it if it's too much money to open it. I know it's a bad year, but if i was a passholder and the mt. declared it closed for the year (unless a freak storm) i wouldn't be happy. Hunter sells lots of ticket's right?

maybe it's just cost too much $ to open right now...
It's been open the last couple seasons but they were able to blow snow on it early..
We were riding 44 in Dec last season - I'm a passholder - but I'm also a realist...