Wachusett 2/24/06 (And Into 2/25/06)

[Zand]

Date(s) Skied: 8:00 PM 2/24/06 - 8:00 AM 2/25/06

Resort or Ski Area: Wachusett Mountain, MA

Conditions: LSGR, PP, WNDBLN

Trip Report:

Wow. 12 straight hours of skiing is pretty tiring, being up all night doing it puts the icing on the cake. Place was pretty busy until around 3 AM. I'll start with the trail-by-trail and then do sort of a timeline.

First, I must say: Many of us have skiied during a sunset, but how many of you have skiied during a sunrise?

Conifer: Some ice at the top, but good the rest of the way around midnight. No rangers patrolling (they were all in bed lol). Some good air to be had off the mounds at the bottom.

10th: Skiied it many times. Tried the moguls once, which were all ice and irregularly shaped (IMAGINE THAT!). Got first tracks around 6:30 AM today after it's 3rd grooming in less than 12 hours.

Smith: Also skiied it many times. It was GREAT overnight. Very fast and the conditions held up well. I went back down around 6 this morning and it was pretty icy on the headwall. It didn't recieve the morning grooming due to race training, so it might be pretty bad today.

Hitchcock: Some random humps to get air off of. It was pretty icy before it got groomed around 3 AM, and then no one went down it so it was great right through the morning.

Look Mom: Most of the jumps and rails are the same. A quarter-pipe was added as well as a few new jumps. They groomed around 3 AM and after that it was mint.

Challenger: Great the whole time. I went down it at 7:30 this morning and it was still rippable. Probably the best consistent trail, but Smith had the best conditions around 2.

Ralph's: Took a few runs down it. Pretty good for the most part, but VERY crowded with beginners and icy after 3. They didn't groom it, so it might notbe so well today.

Timeline:

8-12: Skiied in the big crowds. Lines were 5-10 minutes.
12:30: Made a fool of myself after wiping out right in front of the lidge and managing to double-eject.
2:00: Raced down Smith and came in second. Damn that was fast.
4:00: Took some nice runs in the park after grooming.
5:15: First signs of daylight appear to the east.
5:30: Took a major spill in the park. Ski pre-released going off a jump and I came down hard on my ribs. I'm okay, but it knocked the wind out of me big time.
6:15: Sun starts rising. Many people hike to summit or watch from Smith. I waited at the top of 10th for fresh tracks.

Well, I'm pretty tired right now. Nice fresh 3-6" on the way today. I'll be back at Wawa Wednesday.

 

[Mark_151]

Yeah, great night! I was there from 4:30 to 7:30, much bigger crowd than last year. The place really shined after they groomed the summit trails around sunrise. Conditions on 10th and Conifer were great, can't do no wrong hero snow. I only saw one other telemarker while I was there.

Mark

 

[Zand]

I definitely saw you if there were 2 telemarkers. 4:30-7:30 was probably the best period, but Smith was awesome from 1-4. The rule of thumb usually is that if Smith has good conditions, the whole mountain besides the parks is probably good.

Wawa really oughta stay open til midnight or 1 every midseason Friday and Saturday. They won't do the 24 hours more than once a year because it is pretty tough for the employees, but a few extra hours on a weekend night would be great.

 

[Mark_151]

I was wearing a black helmet, goggles, plum parka and black pants. I'd like to see them at least match Crotched and do a Midnight Madness and stay open until 3AM. There WOULD be a market for it! These 24 hour events should prove that. I said it last year and I'll say it this year -- Wachusett is the only mountain where you can stand in a lift line at 3 in the morning....

Good times!

Mark

 

[Zand]

Or, "Wachusett, the only mountain where you can ski during a sunrise." Heh, they should change the name of Sundowner to Sunriser and have a big parade at sunrise for the 24 hour events. What will next year's be, considering it will fall on the 23rd? Last years was a 25 hour skiathon for the 25th, and this year was 24. They'll probably just keep it 24 now.

 

[teachski]

...Conifer: Some ice at the top, but good the rest of the way around midnight. No rangers patrolling (they were all in bed lol). Some good air to be had off the mounds at the bottom...

...and that's supposed to be a GOOD thing! Think again! The rangers and the patrollers keep YAHOOs from killing themself every day. More important than that, they keep the YAHOOs from killing innocent people who are at the area to ski or board and following the rules and the Responsibility Code.

If you are that excited about the rangers not being there you probably FIT the YAHOO category.

All skiers and boarders have a CODE they are supposed to follow. Unfortunately, many teens and young adults could care less about it and think only of themselves and not the others around them.

Someday you will need the safety patrol and/or the ski patrol and will be glad they are there, I only hope for your sake it is later rather than sooner.

Your Responsibility Code

Skiing can be enjoyed in many ways. At ski areas you may see people using alpine, snowboard, telemark, cross country and other specialized ski equipment, such as that used by disabled or other skiers. Regardless of how you decide to enjoy the slopes, always show courtesy to others and be aware that there are elements of risk in skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Observe the code listed below and share with other skiers the responsibility for a great skiing experience.

-Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
-People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
-You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
-Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
-Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
-Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
-Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

KNOW THE CODE. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Remember, this applies to ALL persons sharing the snow regardless of how they decide to enjoy the slopes. (alpine skis, snowboard, telemark, adaptive equipment and other devices).

 

[Marc]

...and that's supposed to be a GOOD thing! Think again! The rangers and the patrollers keep YAHOOs from killing themself every day. More important than that, they keep the YAHOOs from killing innocent people who are at the area to ski or board and following the rules and the Responsibility Code.

If you are that excited about the rangers not being there you probably FIT the YAHOO category.

All skiers and boarders have a CODE they are supposed to follow. Unfortunately, many teens and young adults could care less about it and think only of themselves and not the others around them.

Someday you will need the safety patrol and/or the ski patrol and will be glad they are there, I only hope for your sake it is later rather than sooner.


Remember, this applies to ALL persons sharing the snow regardless of how they decide to enjoy the slopes. (alpine skis, snowboard, telemark, adaptive equipment and other devices).

1) I saw nothing in his comment that indicated he thought the lack of rangers was a good thing, I believe he thought it was funny that they had all gone to bed because of the hour.

2) I think it is mighty presumptious and reactionary to insultingly stereotype Zand as a "YAHOO" based on a nine word, passing comment (expressed over a medium such as the internet where you've never met the guy, no less)

3) I've never seen a Ranger save anyone's life at Wachusett, yahoo or otherwise, much less everyday, although they're mighty good at being hypocritical by skiing faster than they let anyone else, and by yelling at in control, good form, moderate to slow speed skiers such as myself, just because making fast, short turns gives the illusion of speed.

4) No one denigrated rangers, much less patrollers. That was way out of line to lecture Zand about an attitude you wrongly interpreted from his comment. I'd wager that he's the exact opposite and probably respects and thinks very highly of patrollers ready to help those in need and is glad we have them willing to volunteer.

5) I think you owe him an apology.

6) Lighten up, Clarence.

PS- I was up there from 5p-7p myself. It was a bit icier than yesterday but not bad all things considered.

I hit up the moguls on tenth as well. I could make it down the whole way, but they were a little scraped off. The only way to burn speed off was to really absorb with the knees. I didn't think they were all the irregular though. I think they just re-seeded them this week. Wednesday maybe. It's pretty cool you got to see a sunrise though.

 

[teachski]

Maybe I over-reacted a little, but I have reason to. My great niece got taken out by a YAHOO getting "Some good air ...off the mounds at the bottom." that are in a slow zone. She is 8 years old. The YAHOO came over the lip and crashed right into her, hit her in the head. Fortunately, she had a helmet on and suffered a concussion and some bruises only.

Maybe the rangers don't save a life after something happens, but their slowing people down in certain areas potentially saves a life each time they do so.

Maybe Zand is not a Yahoo, If not, I appologize to him, but he seemed to be rejoicing the absence of the rangers.

 

[Mark_151]

Gee, maybe it was the early time I was up there and my senses weren't that great, but I seem to recall going down Conifer right after it was groomed, around 6AM, taking time to enjoy the nice conditions. I came around the bend right at the "headwall" where the "slow" sign was, and there's 3 partollers standing next to it. I decided to stop and enjoy the view, and while I was, the three of them set off strait down the fall line, really smoking, if you ask me. I know if that had been a set of civilians that went by those same patrollers like that, they would've caught hell. Oh well, maybe I was imagining things, it was aweful early.....

 

[MichaelJ]

I couldn't make it Friday night; I'm glad to hear it was a fun time!

However, I was there Saturday night to reap the benefits of the snow that fell all day, and it was gorgeous! Then, this past Monday night, nobody was there at all; I guess they felt 5° summit temps were too cold. All it meant for me was an opportunity to go everywhere and enjoy demoing a set of Rossi Bandits.

Oh, and it's not Clarence ... it's Francis.