Pico - Feb 9 2018

[WJenness]

Was at Pico the day before you (2/8)... had a great time. Didn't get as adventurous as you, but still had a great time.

 

[SkiRay]

The one weekend we were not there.....

Glad you made it there to our home mountain.. You know what is funny, we have yet to ski BUSTED.


Great report.

 

[SkiRay]

Also, I wish my dad was still skiing. He stopped way back - after a knee injury in his mid-50's. Now in his late 70's - still in rock solid shape- though he is onto other adventures in warmer climates.

 

[urungus]

Thanks for the responses, I am looking forward to trying Summit Glades, Birch Glades (even if they are not really glades) and Giant Killer next time. Although I see in today’s report that they have gone from 100% open to only 19 of 57 trails open. Only blacks currently open are Upper KA and Exhibition (B slope closed for racing). Anyone know what the KA trail is named after?

 

[SkiRay]

KA - An important bit of history on Pico

Thanks for the responses, I am looking forward to trying Summit Glades, Birch Glades (even if they are not really glades) and Giant Killer next time. Although I see in today’s report that they have gone from 100% open to only 19 of 57 trails open. Only blacks currently open are Upper KA and Exhibition (B slope closed for racing). Anyone know what the KA trail is named after?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51lz1dtBtJU

 

[SkiRay]

This is part II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kwa80K6B9I

 

[urungus]

Great videos, thanks. Loved the story about how he crashed the tractor into the tower pole.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Pico has too short of a season for me to call it my Home mountain. But I do like to go there mid season to switch it up and get less crowds than next door. I'm glad it is the way it is though.

 

[SkiRay]

Pico has too short of a season for me to call it my Home mountain. But I do like to go there mid season to switch it up and get less crowds than next door. I'm glad it is the way it is though.

Well they opened mid December and go to Mid April. Most other places - open around the same time - or maybe 2 weeks earlier. Their season pass, can't be beat for the price and this year with the MaxPass add on it was very good. Next year, I am sure they will not be part of the Ikon Pass - sure of this.

And if we want a Killington - day - well we stick to Killington early and late season.

I think we are LONG overdue some turns together Tuna.

 

[bdfreetuna]

Cash me ousside some time how bow dah !

 

[cdskier]

Next time I am at Pico I am hoping to try the Summit Glades, Birch Glades, and Upper Giant Killer and would love to hear peoples thoughts on how they compare in difficulty to the other runs off the Summit. Looking at the satellite, both glades look pretty wide open, which would be good for me.

I'm clearly a little late to the party on this thread...but just saw this now. Summit Glades and Birch Glades are both pretty much trails with a few trees in the middle.

Here's a pic of Summit Glades from back in 2011 when I was last at Pico:


And here's a pic of Birch Glades from that same trip:


Upper Giant Killer from my memory was the most challenging trail off the summit. It had lots of big bumps. Although I also really sucked at bumps back when I last skied it (probably ~15 years ago) so my opinion today might be different if I skied it again.

 

[SkiRay]

Giant Killer and the adjoining glades have been stellar this month

Its been a stellar this month for sure....

 

[SkiRay]

This is our latest video - its not really a trip report though we hope you all like it.

 

[Edd]

Enjoyed it, thanks!


Sent from my iPad using AlpineZone

 

[urungus]

Giant Killer and the adjoining glades have been stellar this month
Its been a stellar this month for sure....

What is the preferred way to start Giant Killer (Red, Green, Yellow, Blue)? If you take the Blue route, can you claim to have skied “all of Giant Killer” ? Does the Red route have uphill parts ?

 

[bdfreetuna]

Either green, which is a very short hike around the Patrol station, or blue, which is what I usually do because it's easier and you're only missing a few turns anyway.

 

[urungus]

Either green, which is a very short hike around the Patrol station, or blue, which is what I usually do because it's easier and you're only missing a few turns anyway.

Thanks. Took the blue route this afternoon. (Red route was roped off where Summit Glades splits off ... how are you supposed to get to the old Poma line, do you have to duck the rope?). Great conditions today, soft bumps and no ice. Almost didn’t do Upper Giant Killer ... Went down Summit Glades for the first time too, earlier in the day. Pretty big bumps and was pretty tired by the time I made it to the bottom. “If this is only a single black and Giant Killer is a double ...” But despite the rating, I found Giant Killer to be less challenging than Summit Glades ... really there’s only the one steep section at the start, and it’s quite wide so there were many lines to choose from

Also had fun bombing down groomed Sunset 71 / Sunset Schuss and Slope B. Nice surface even in the afternoon, hadn’t been skied out at all. Not too many people there, there was no wait for the Little Pico Triple nor at the Summit Quad.

Pico was 100% open and the base was holding up well. Sun even came out a few times!

Looking back up Upper Giant Killer:



How do I get rid of this sideways pic:

 

[bdfreetuna]

officially the policy is don't ski Poma Line as it requires ducking that rope they have up

 

[Delskisbumps]

Went to Pico with the old man today. 64 years old and he does alright. Even one upped me today.

Was about 3 degrees when we arrived. Almost nobody there, parked a couple rows away from the lodge. Obviously lots of snow up there right now. My primary mission was to ski "Busted", which I haven't before. Photos of that below.

Tweaked my back pretty bad on the first run of the day but took Aleve and tried to ignore it. Skied lots of woods which helped due to the hip rotation stretching it out a bit.

Haven't been able to ski a lot this year, mostly due to newborn daughter (who is delightful most of the time!) , but each time I've gone it's been raising my game. IDK if it's because I lost 20 lbs since last season, or new ski boots and getting used to the new skis from last season... or just finally being consistent with the fundamentals ... but the TunaSpeed is strong and the TunaSteez is just like flowing through Upper KA Woods > Lower KA Woods > Birch Woods without stops.

Anyway not trying to toot my horn, but express gladness that it seems my best skiing days are still ahead of me. The snow today certainly made it easier, and I have been picking my days this season pretty carefully as I can ski any day of the week (floating work schedule) and have deals worked out at most VT resorts.

The last run of the day was Busted and that ish is pretty rediculous. I will describe it if anyone wants to know but with the caveat that the first half is pretty gnar and borderline unskiable in a few places. I expect it will be the most challenging run I take all year, even with the perfect conditions. I will probably never ski it again unless I have Ski Blades. Not meant for 185cm skis at all. I had to remove my skis in a couple places as I could not make a safe turn or any turn at all. Even before that part there are switchbacks that will have you hugging trees with one arm on the turn. One of those runs that reminds you, yep, there's some higher level skiers than you out there... if anyone can ski that and ski it *well*, you certainly have my respect. Anyway, eventually it dumps out into some sweet low angle woods that end up in Poma Woods. There had only been 3 people who skied/rode this (2 skiers, 1 boarder) since the recent storm. Massive untracked score.

Nice day, good adventure, especially for my old man who is not as strong a skier -- but as I said he did one up me -- he managed to keep his skis on the whole time down Busted. 64 years old I give him credit.

View attachment 23153View attachment 23154

can you please dm me about busted, thanks. And Poma line isn’t that bad, someone removed the cable.