billski
Active member
Date(s) Skied: 3/13/9
Resort or Ski Area: Loon Mountain
Conditions: Hard Pack Frozen Granular, 1" of sugar. Temps in the 20's, pretty much all trails open.
Trip Report:
Very busy day at the mountain for a Friday. Freestyle competition brought out many folks.
Stopped by the comp to introduce myself to SKIDORK. His son competed later in the day and I'm sure he'll check in with results.
Spent the day skiing with mountain staff, old friends from way back when.
Conditions were hard packed, wall-to-wall covered. Loon spent a lot of time
with the snow cats working the stuff. It stayed below freezing all day,
so it stayed hardpack. Friday was a day to stay on your toes, literally and figuratively.
Good GS carvers were the tool of the day, lots of edge, and huge amounts of speed
were the remedy for the day. There wasn't much loose stuff to push around, so you
could just fly. Downside was that when the scrapers go out there, we
were down to the hard stuff by early afternoon. Have to give the groomers
credit. Not a day for lower intermediates IMHO. the beginners stuff was fine, with a low enough
pitch that there would be no problem.
Everything was hugely homogeneous, groomed flat, same conditions everywhere.
Except for the sometimes pitch, it would be difficult to tell the difference
between some blues and blacks. No bumps to be had anywhere except this one section of Lower Flume. Kinda poor-man's bump field, with dozens of skiers trying to shape it. It looked like it might have been for a competition.
Skiing actually got a little boring for me, being 100% predictable skiing, but heh, to each his own.
Ripsaw was a new trail for me, but it didn't strike me as a double black. I think it
needs a re-sign. Upper flume on North Peak had some nice lines under the lift, but
it was clearly a testosterone bastion, with several dozen of my closest friends
all blowing through there; kinda felt like the Garden State Parkway.
Once it softens it's going to be a lot nicer. I don't think I'd like to ski
with temps below 30 again on a weekend. Luckily, it's supposed to be in the 40s
there today. I'm looking forward to it warming up now so I can get back
into the woods, seems like forever since I've been eating bark.
Checked out the new lodge and the good Panni sandwiches at the South Peak Base.
Service was rather lethargic, multitasking doesn't seem to be in their vocabulary.
Hey, it was a nice day, with good friends, lots of introductions, a good day to
socialize.
All these pictures were taken at the 4pm run, which explains the lack of skiers and boarders.
Resort or Ski Area: Loon Mountain
Conditions: Hard Pack Frozen Granular, 1" of sugar. Temps in the 20's, pretty much all trails open.
Trip Report:
Very busy day at the mountain for a Friday. Freestyle competition brought out many folks.
Stopped by the comp to introduce myself to SKIDORK. His son competed later in the day and I'm sure he'll check in with results.
Spent the day skiing with mountain staff, old friends from way back when.
Conditions were hard packed, wall-to-wall covered. Loon spent a lot of time
with the snow cats working the stuff. It stayed below freezing all day,
so it stayed hardpack. Friday was a day to stay on your toes, literally and figuratively.
Good GS carvers were the tool of the day, lots of edge, and huge amounts of speed
were the remedy for the day. There wasn't much loose stuff to push around, so you
could just fly. Downside was that when the scrapers go out there, we
were down to the hard stuff by early afternoon. Have to give the groomers
credit. Not a day for lower intermediates IMHO. the beginners stuff was fine, with a low enough
pitch that there would be no problem.
Everything was hugely homogeneous, groomed flat, same conditions everywhere.
Except for the sometimes pitch, it would be difficult to tell the difference
between some blues and blacks. No bumps to be had anywhere except this one section of Lower Flume. Kinda poor-man's bump field, with dozens of skiers trying to shape it. It looked like it might have been for a competition.
Skiing actually got a little boring for me, being 100% predictable skiing, but heh, to each his own.
Ripsaw was a new trail for me, but it didn't strike me as a double black. I think it
needs a re-sign. Upper flume on North Peak had some nice lines under the lift, but
it was clearly a testosterone bastion, with several dozen of my closest friends
all blowing through there; kinda felt like the Garden State Parkway.
Once it softens it's going to be a lot nicer. I don't think I'd like to ski
with temps below 30 again on a weekend. Luckily, it's supposed to be in the 40s
there today. I'm looking forward to it warming up now so I can get back
into the woods, seems like forever since I've been eating bark.
Checked out the new lodge and the good Panni sandwiches at the South Peak Base.
Service was rather lethargic, multitasking doesn't seem to be in their vocabulary.
Hey, it was a nice day, with good friends, lots of introductions, a good day to
socialize.
All these pictures were taken at the 4pm run, which explains the lack of skiers and boarders.
Last edited:
