Ski Sundown 2/27/07 (Night)

[bvibert]

Date(s) Skied: 2/27/07

Resort or Ski Area: Ski Sundown

Conditions: Loose granular

Trip Report: I was able to make it out for an hour or so tonight after getting out of work. I saw Loafer and his brother skiing while I was working, but never ran into them after I got on the hill at around 8. I was pretty disappointed to see that the bumps on Exhibition were completely gone now. As reported by Greg the bumps on Nor'Easter are mostly filled in. It seems to me that all the snow they got filled in the troughs and not enough good bumpers were around to ski them back into shape. Now they're kinda setup that way, but some of the bumps are trying to poke their way back through. It doesn't look too good for them unless they get some help from the terrain guys I'm afraid...

Other than the disappearance of the bumps the conditions were quite good. The warm temperatures today really loosened up the surface leaving lots of loose granular on top. I didn't find ANY scratchy spots, even in the usual spots, just VERY edgable snow. A perfect night to be out, not too cold and no wind at all.

 

[2knees]

i'm reading your report and i cant figure out why I'm feeling almost guilty now, for my pain and others.

then i remembered my last report from there. i should've been thankful for having them, not taking them for granted.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/13794-sundown-2-13-a.html

 

[ski_industry_enthusiast]

You've just got to hate those disappearing bumps! :wink:

That's why it's nice living a few minutes from Sugarbush... there are always plenty of bump skiers around to keep some decent bumps on the hill!

 

[Greg]

It seems to me that all the snow they got filled in the troughs and not enough good bumpers were around to ski them back into shape.

This was my initial thought, that the troughs filled in and everyone skied off the tops and flattened the whole field out more. But I doubt 4" would do that. They were definitely flattened out by something. I'm just worried that they won't bother reseeding at this point, but I could be wrong. The mountain certainly has enough snow to make it to April so maybe they will make an effort at setting up some spring bump fields. It only took them a day to seed them last time. The problem is whether they'd be willing to top coat them with snowmaking. My guess is no, but hopefully we'll get a big storm and they can reseed to carry us through March.

That's why it's nice living a few minutes from Sugarbush... there are always plenty of bump skiers around to keep some decent bumps on the hill!

Sheesh. Thanks for rubbing the salt in.... :roll:

 

[Grassi21]

I was pretty disappointed to see that the bumps on Exhibition were completely gone now.

B, mowed down or just completely ugly looking?

 

[bvibert]

This was my initial thought, that the troughs filled in and everyone skied off the tops and flattened the whole field out more. But I doubt 4" would do that. They were definitely flattened out by something. I'm just worried that they won't bother reseeding at this point, but I could be wrong. The mountain certainly has enough snow to make it to April so maybe they will make an effort at setting up some spring bump fields. It only took them a day to seed them last time. The problem is whether they'd be willing to top coat them with snowmaking. My guess is no, but hopefully we'll get a big storm and they can reseed to carry us through March.

Well you got the 4" that fell in the troughs and then the 4" that was on the tops that got pushed into the troughs. I can totally see that happening. I don't think that a groomer came through and did anything, because then they would be completely gone. You can still see the same odd shaped bumps, they're just buried. The hard, icy backsides of the lower bumps were even starting to poke through last night.

I was hoping to run into the mountain ops manager last night to see what's up, but he was gone by the time I got there...

B, mowed down or just completely ugly looking?

Mowed down as far as I could tell...

 

[2knees]

I really think it was rolled for sure. there are parts that are completely flat. 4" didnt fill in those bumps.

 

[Grassi21]

I really think it was rolled for sure. there are parts that are completely flat. 4" didnt fill in those bumps.

That middle section of lower Nor Easter was REALLY flat. After getting tossed around in the upper part that flat spot gave me time to recover before getting tossed around the lower section. ;-)

 

[2knees]

That middle section of lower Nor Easter was REALLY flat. After getting tossed around in the upper part that flat spot gave me time to recover before getting tossed around the lower section. ;-)

Grassi, if they do set them up again, you will love skiing those bumps in the warmer weather. totally different then the icy setup stuff that we've all been skiing on. you'll love it.

As far as the exhibition ones, they even took it off their website so i would assume that we got the last night out of those on monday.

oh now i remember what else i wanted to add. someone at work yesterday told me they had 2 ambulances and lifestar there over the weekend. I wonder if someone smacked their head on the one of those huge ice bumps that had shown up. just a guess but it wouldnt shock me.

 

[Grassi21]

Grassi, if they do set them up again, you will love skiing those bumps in the warmer weather. totally different then the icy setup stuff that we've all been skiing on. you'll love it.

As far as the exhibition ones, they even took it off their website so i would assume that we got the last night out of those on monday.

I am looking forward to more spring like conditions (whenever that time might come ;-)). Hopefully the Sundown bumps will take a turn for the better. I'm going to get up to the Cat soon to see how their bumps are doing. I also plan on hitting Hunter one last time before I fully switch gears to lax season.

 

[bvibert]

I really think it was rolled for sure. there are parts that are completely flat. 4" didnt fill in those bumps.

The only parts that were completely flat last night was the very upper section, where the bumps were pretty small anyway. After a few turns much of the far right line could still be made out, as well as some of the more distinct left bumps. On the lower part (after Temptor splits off) I could still make out most of the oddly shaped bumps all the way across the trail, especially those funky ones under the snow guns, that's why I don't think a groomer came up through there.

 

[Greg]

Well you got the 4" that fell in the troughs and then the 4" that was on the tops that got pushed into the troughs. I can totally see that happening. I don't think that a groomer came through and did anything, because then they would be completely gone. You can still see the same odd shaped bumps, they're just buried. The hard, icy backsides of the lower bumps were even starting to poke through last night.

I don't know. There were some very deep troughs (>8") and still some funky snowmaking piles there last Wednesday that would not have vanished even with 12" of snow. The fact that Ex has been mowed leads me to believe they ran someting over Nor'easter too. Could be wrong though...

 

[bvibert]

oh now i remember what else i wanted to add. someone at work yesterday told me they had 2 ambulances and lifestar there over the weekend. I wonder if someone smacked their head on the one of those huge ice bumps that had shown up. just a guess but it wouldnt shock me.

Lifestar was called on Sunday because of an accident in the terrain park and I know there were a few more accidents in the terrain park too. I didn't hear of anything in the bumps, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

 

[loafer89]

What was amazing on the ride to Sundown last night is that we have 2-3 times as much natural snow on the ground in Coventry as does Sundown. I thought that the Lichfield Hills would have more snow.

I have an easy 8" on the ground at my house, maybe 10" in some spots. Too bad we do not have any skiing close by.:sad:

 

[2knees]

The only parts that were completely flat last night was the very upper section, where the bumps were pretty small anyway. After a few turns much of the far right line could still be made out, as well as some of the more distinct left bumps. On the lower part (after Temptor splits off) I could still make out most of the oddly shaped bumps all the way across the trail, especially those funky ones under the snow guns, that's why I don't think a groomer came up through there.

my man, you got the connections here. Maybe some interrogations are in order. i would love to know exactly what they did.

how about a friendly wager? :smile: I'll bet you a beer in the mighty sundown lounge, next time we're there, that they were at least run over with the groomer, if not plowed entirely in some places.

 

[bvibert]

I don't know. There were some very deep troughs (>8") and still some funky snowmaking piles there last Wednesday that would not have vanished even with 12" of snow. The fact that Ex has been mowed leads me to believe they ran someting over Nor'easter too. Could be wrong though...

Were you guys at a different mountain? Those snowmaking piles were still there, along with their funky drop-offs...

Maybe I was seeing things...

 

[bvibert]

my man, you got the connections here. Maybe some interrogations are in order. i would love to know exactly what they did.

how about a friendly wager? :smile: I'll bet you a beer in the mighty sundown lounge, next time we're there, that they were at least run over with the groomer, if not plowed entirely in some places.

You're on! :beer:

 

[loafer89]

Lifestar was called on Sunday because of an accident in the terrain park and I know there were a few more accidents in the terrain park too. I didn't hear of anything in the bumps, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

The Local news said that five people where taken to the hospital on sunday, including the one by Lifestar.

 

[bvibert]

The Local news said that five people where taken to the hospital on sunday, including the one by Lifestar.

I didn't want to get into specifics...

 

[Greg]

I Emailed Chris to see if he had any info as to what happened to/what the plan is for Noreaster.