Sundown: Timeline

[bvibert]

Hey, that's my birthday! I'd love to ski at the mighty Sundown on my B-Day this year. Hopefully, it will happen snow-wise.

It WILL happen! I foresee it!

 

[mister moose]

I skied at Satan's Ridge for a number of years, I think the first was '63. According to a friend of mine who was involved in the early years, Satan's ridge opened in 1962 with a rope tow and the original Mueller center post chairlift. The mid station was there because the intermediate terrain was mostly either side, lower gunbarrel to the right and whatever the T-bar slope was called to the left. The only intermediate trail from the top was miracle mile, what is now called Canyon Run, and the old Chicken Point was much more intimidating to low intermediates. Because of that and the less snowmaking at the top, quite a few skiers got off at the midstation. The lines in those days weren't bad so you didn't mind the short vertical. The other early trails I remember are Papoose, the flat green from the top, Temptor, just to the left of the liftline, and The Horn, departing Chicken Point for Gunbarrel just below the steepest iciest portion. Temptor was always a natural snow trail and was rarely open. Gunbarrel was the only trail to keep its original name.

Within a year or so the Hall T-Bar was added. The Wikopedia entry I looked at seems wrong, I don't believe there was ever 2 T-bars at Satan's Ridge or Sundown.

There was never skiing under the chair in the early years. I don't even remember seeing poached tracks. Lots of stumps and logs and ledge, with the little natural snow there was it likely was only rarely possible. In those days snow was rolled after a snowfall and deep snow was difficult to ski. Grooming was minimal.

The original bunny hill was tough to learn on. First you had to conquer the steep rope tow, and then there was an icy bowling alley across the fall line to the lower 2/3 of the slope. It really was a low intermediate pitch. A number of beginners would hit the fence that kept you from going into the brook.

I also don't remember Satans Ridge being abandoned or closed. It just changed names when it was sold.

Satans Ridge was the first chairlift I rode, and I put in a lot of days and nights there as a kid. As a skier, I grew up there.

 

[Greg]

Hey, that's my birthday! I'd love to ski at the mighty Sundown on my B-Day this year. Hopefully, it will happen snow-wise.

It has more to do with paying customers than it does snow. They closed on 3/30 last year with full side-to-side coverage everywhere but the base area and the best bumps of the season on Temptor:



The could have easily gone another weekend by pushing around the big air jump to patch up the base area. There was still snow from it there in early May:

One thing the mighty Sundown doesn't skimp on is making snow. Pound for pound, I'd put them up against anybody.

 

[2knees]

I skied at Satan's Ridge for a number of years, I think the first was '63. According to a friend of mine who was involved in the early years, Satan's ridge opened in 1962 with a rope tow and the original Mueller center post chairlift. The mid station was there because the intermediate terrain was mostly either side, lower gunbarrel to the right and whatever the T-bar slope was called to the left. The only intermediate trail from the top was miracle mile, what is now called Canyon Run, and the old Chicken Point was much more intimidating to low intermediates. Because of that and the less snowmaking at the top, quite a few skiers got off at the midstation. The lines in those days weren't bad so you didn't mind the short vertical. The other early trails I remember are Papoose, the flat green from the top, Temptor, just to the left of the liftline, and The Horn, departing Chicken Point for Gunbarrel just below the steepest iciest portion. Temptor was always a natural snow trail and was rarely open. Gunbarrel was the only trail to keep its original name.

Within a year or so the Hall T-Bar was added. The Wikopedia entry I looked at seems wrong, I don't believe there was ever 2 T-bars at Satan's Ridge or Sundown.

There was never skiing under the chair in the early years. I don't even remember seeing poached tracks. Lots of stumps and logs and ledge, with the little natural snow there was it likely was only rarely possible. In those days snow was rolled after a snowfall and deep snow was difficult to ski. Grooming was minimal.

The original bunny hill was tough to learn on. First you had to conquer the steep rope tow, and then there was an icy bowling alley across the fall line to the lower 2/3 of the slope. It really was a low intermediate pitch. A number of beginners would hit the fence that kept you from going into the brook.

I also don't remember Satans Ridge being abandoned or closed. It just changed names when it was sold.

Satans Ridge was the first chairlift I rode, and I put in a lot of days and nights there as a kid. As a skier, I grew up there.

that was one of the most interesting posts i've ever read on a ski forum. thanks for taking the time to post that.

 

[Greg]

I skied at Satan's Ridge for a number of years, I think the first was '63. According to a friend of mine who was involved in the early years, Satan's ridge opened in 1962 with a rope tow and the original Mueller center post chairlift. The mid station was there because the intermediate terrain was mostly either side, lower gunbarrel to the right and whatever the T-bar slope was called to the left. The only intermediate trail from the top was miracle mile, what is now called Canyon Run, and the old Chicken Point was much more intimidating to low intermediates. Because of that and the less snowmaking at the top, quite a few skiers got off at the midstation. The lines in those days weren't bad so you didn't mind the short vertical. The other early trails I remember are Papoose, the flat green from the top, Temptor, just to the left of the liftline, and The Horn, departing Chicken Point for Gunbarrel just below the steepest iciest portion. Temptor was always a natural snow trail and was rarely open. Gunbarrel was the only trail to keep its original name.

Within a year or so the Hall T-Bar was added. The Wikopedia entry I looked at seems wrong, I don't believe there was ever 2 T-bars at Satan's Ridge or Sundown.

There was never skiing under the chair in the early years. I don't even remember seeing poached tracks. Lots of stumps and logs and ledge, with the little natural snow there was it likely was only rarely possible. In those days snow was rolled after a snowfall and deep snow was difficult to ski. Grooming was minimal.

The original bunny hill was tough to learn on. First you had to conquer the steep rope tow, and then there was an icy bowling alley across the fall line to the lower 2/3 of the slope. It really was a low intermediate pitch. A number of beginners would hit the fence that kept you from going into the brook.

I also don't remember Satans Ridge being abandoned or closed. It just changed names when it was sold.

Satans Ridge was the first chairlift I rode, and I put in a lot of days and nights there as a kid. As a skier, I grew up there.

that was one of the most interesting posts i've ever read on a ski forum. thanks for taking the time to post that.

Agreed. It almost made me visualize how it might have been back then. Great post!

 

[MrMagic]

I skied at Satan's Ridge for a number of years, I think the first was '63. According to a friend of mine who was involved in the early years, Satan's ridge opened in 1962 with a rope tow and the original Mueller center post chairlift. The mid station was there because the intermediate terrain was mostly either side, lower gunbarrel to the right and whatever the T-bar slope was called to the left. The only intermediate trail from the top was miracle mile, what is now called Canyon Run, and the old Chicken Point was much more intimidating to low intermediates. Because of that and the less snowmaking at the top, quite a few skiers got off at the midstation. The lines in those days weren't bad so you didn't mind the short vertical. The other early trails I remember are Papoose, the flat green from the top, Temptor, just to the left of the liftline, and The Horn, departing Chicken Point for Gunbarrel just below the steepest iciest portion. Temptor was always a natural snow trail and was rarely open. Gunbarrel was the only trail to keep its original name.

Within a year or so the Hall T-Bar was added. The Wikopedia entry I looked at seems wrong, I don't believe there was ever 2 T-bars at Satan's Ridge or Sundown.

There was never skiing under the chair in the early years. I don't even remember seeing poached tracks. Lots of stumps and logs and ledge, with the little natural snow there was it likely was only rarely possible. In those days snow was rolled after a snowfall and deep snow was difficult to ski. Grooming was minimal.

The original bunny hill was tough to learn on. First you had to conquer the steep rope tow, and then there was an icy bowling alley across the fall line to the lower 2/3 of the slope. It really was a low intermediate pitch. A number of beginners would hit the fence that kept you from going into the brook.

I also don't remember Satans Ridge being abandoned or closed. It just changed names when it was sold.

Satans Ridge was the first chairlift I rode, and I put in a lot of days and nights there as a kid. As a skier, I grew up there.

wow that was a great post, a lot of detail you included thanks a lot ski sundown was the area i first learned to ski at, and now im happy to say that i teach there thanks again

 

[Grassi21]

I skied at Satan's Ridge for a number of years, I think the first was '63. According to a friend of mine who was involved in the early years, Satan's ridge opened in 1962 with a rope tow and the original Mueller center post chairlift. The mid station was there because the intermediate terrain was mostly either side, lower gunbarrel to the right and whatever the T-bar slope was called to the left. The only intermediate trail from the top was miracle mile, what is now called Canyon Run, and the old Chicken Point was much more intimidating to low intermediates. Because of that and the less snowmaking at the top, quite a few skiers got off at the midstation. The lines in those days weren't bad so you didn't mind the short vertical. The other early trails I remember are Papoose, the flat green from the top, Temptor, just to the left of the liftline, and The Horn, departing Chicken Point for Gunbarrel just below the steepest iciest portion. Temptor was always a natural snow trail and was rarely open. Gunbarrel was the only trail to keep its original name.

Within a year or so the Hall T-Bar was added. The Wikopedia entry I looked at seems wrong, I don't believe there was ever 2 T-bars at Satan's Ridge or Sundown.

There was never skiing under the chair in the early years. I don't even remember seeing poached tracks. Lots of stumps and logs and ledge, with the little natural snow there was it likely was only rarely possible. In those days snow was rolled after a snowfall and deep snow was difficult to ski. Grooming was minimal.

The original bunny hill was tough to learn on. First you had to conquer the steep rope tow, and then there was an icy bowling alley across the fall line to the lower 2/3 of the slope. It really was a low intermediate pitch. A number of beginners would hit the fence that kept you from going into the brook.

I also don't remember Satans Ridge being abandoned or closed. It just changed names when it was sold.

Satans Ridge was the first chairlift I rode, and I put in a lot of days and nights there as a kid. As a skier, I grew up there.

that was one of the most interesting posts i've ever read on a ski forum. thanks for taking the time to post that.

+1 excellent read. thanks.

 

[bvibert]

that was one of the most interesting posts i've ever read on a ski forum. thanks for taking the time to post that.

Very good stuff, thanks Mister Moose!

 

[severine]

Very good stuff, thanks Mister Moose!

Agreed! That was a nice trip down memory lane!

 

[Trekchick]

The voice of someone who has never been to Sundown, I have really enjoyed this thread.
The love you all show for this ski area shows in your sense of community. Almost makes me want to go there and let 2knees kicks my ass in the bumps.

 

[Greg]

The love you all show for this ski area shows in your sense of community.

Little hill, but for much of the season, it's simply home for me.

 

[bvibert]

Little hill, but for much of the season, it's simply home for me.

Same here!

TC, I doubt you will, but if you ever found yourself at Sundown I guarantee you could hook up with several AZer's for a 'tour'..

 

[Greg]

TC, I doubt you will, but if you ever found yourself at Sundown I guarantee you could hook up with several AZer's for a 'tour'..

Bring your avi beacon and an ice axe.

 

[bvibert]

Bring your avi beacon and an ice axe.

:lol:

 

[Trekchick]

Will I need a compass and a passport?

 

[bvibert]

Will I need a compass and a passport?

Passport, yes. You'll have no use for a compass though, they are rendered useless in the mighty vortex that is Ski Sundown.

 

[WJenness]

Passport, yes. You'll have no use for a compass though, they are rendered useless in the mighty vortex that is Ski Sundown.

He's right.

I heard if you bring a compass there all it will do is point North.

What use is that?

-w

 

[Greg]

Gunbarrel Bumps

Someone needs to dig up some old school pics of Gunbarrel with bumps on it. That would stoke the ski jones for damn sure!

 

[2knees]

Someone needs to dig up some old school pics of Gunbarrel with bumps on it. That would stoke the ski jones for damn sure!

i wish i skied with a camera when i was younger. It was a somewhat common occurence to have it bumped.


anyway i did find this pic which i thought was cool.

 

[2knees]

I was messing around with that pic and you can see the impact seeding gunny would have on our bump pleasure. The lengh of temptor is actually shorter by quite a stretch then that of nor'easter. something i was kinda torn with last year. I know the top 1/3rd of temptor at least offers something resembling a decent pitch but the skiable (read: not complete runout) bumps didnt last very long. Even though nor'easter is flatter then the top of temptor, the bumps went on quite a bit longer. The green trail is my dream scenario!