Monthly Ski Streaks Living in the East
- Thread starter salida
- Start date
I rest my case.
Does anyone here know another eastern ski streaker? Much less one who lives in Ottawa, not Vermont?
Frankontour
New member
I remember your very first post on FTO Patrick. You said that my ski day with 4 mountains hiked (april 25, 2003, after season's end) was the crazyiest thing you ever heard from a skier of the East coast.
Let me tell you that today, with your 25th ski month in a row (living on the east coast) and with your SINGLE DAY trip in Colorado for skiing, this is EXTREMELY LARGELY the craziest thing I've ever heard from a skier of the East coast :wink:
Let me tell you that today, with your 25th ski month in a row (living on the east coast) and with your SINGLE DAY trip in Colorado for skiing, this is EXTREMELY LARGELY the craziest thing I've ever heard from a skier of the East coast :wink:
If he knew Patrick's budget and family circumstances, ChrisC might flip his views of the July and October skiing.
I'm a lightweight by comparison. I faced the same decision point (fly to Denver for a WROD to get past 12 months) in October 2005 and decided to pass. Living in SoCal I would have to do that nearly every October to maintain a streak, so I decided not to start down that road.
Patrick will actually get a few cheap eastern turns in October in half or maybe a bit more of seasons. But I also think there are many years (like 2006) where he will have to fly away twice to get July-September.
I'm a lightweight by comparison. I faced the same decision point (fly to Denver for a WROD to get past 12 months) in October 2005 and decided to pass. Living in SoCal I would have to do that nearly every October to maintain a streak, so I decided not to start down that road.
Patrick will actually get a few cheap eastern turns in October in half or maybe a bit more of seasons. But I also think there are many years (like 2006) where he will have to fly away twice to get July-September.
Lucky Luke
New member
Way to go Pat! Pursue your dream, even if friends (including me) tell you that you are nuts! Cause you are :wink:
I can see following skibum4ever's retiree lifestyle and contemplating a streak then. Hit the road for some of the national parks in the fall and catch the October Colorado skiing at the end of that.
There's also the Bob Peters Euro vacation method with a day or two of glacier skiing. I predict Patrick will try this one out before too long :wink: .
There's also the Bob Peters Euro vacation method with a day or two of glacier skiing. I predict Patrick will try this one out before too long :wink: .
Patrick
Well-known member
Thanks EMCS, it’s been great to make some turns with you. However I’m disappointed by Tony’s response. I wasn’t the only skier from Ontario making turns at A-Basin on Monday, there was a number of us on the slopes.
Skibum4ever is right on.
Tony, please refer to this following discussion. I also need to add Frank's TR from St.Bruno and the one from DD at Jay a few weeks ago.
Crazy, Who's Crazy??? discussion from last June.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=3234
I still don’t think that I’m the only one nut around here. The craziest? It’s a matter of opinion. I could have save some money and continued my streak within a 5 minute walk from my place. There are mountains of snow from the ice rink and a slope on the edge of an overpass. That snow wasn’t melting last week and there would have been enough for a 30-40 feet slope. I’ve seen some boarders build jumps with that snow in the past.
Thanks for the support Chris.
What is my budget? Without getting into personal details here, I can tell you that this trip is going to cost me less than the 2 day portion we did together in Chile. :shock: :shock: :shock:
Chile - 2 days / 2 nights. Tourist tour transportations to Val Paraiso en route to Santiago and one day of cat-skiing + meals.
Colorado - 4 days/3 nights. 3 days skiing, plane ticket (on points), drive from Denver to Vail through the Canyon near Glenwood and onto Aspen, car rental, meals and taxi to the airport in Ottawa.
We could also breakdown the cost by vertical. In two and one half days in Colorado, I've gotten 17,100 meters vertical. Ah yes, you can't compare the conditions with the cat-skiing vertical quality? Remove the last run at El Arpa and those first 3 runs snow quality sucked compared to what we've been skiing here.
As someone that has never been to Colorado, I’ve really enjoyed this trip and the cost made sense.
BTW, EMSC and I saw the Ski Day Streak guys. Same speed as in Timberline, off the lift and gone down over and over and over. A real energeizer bunny.
Back on the budget, the turning point is when one co-worker bought a package to see Céline Dion in Las Vegas for 4 days/3 nights with only plane, hotel, concert for almost triple the price PER PERSON of my trip.
Wrong, that was my 3rd post on FTO. My first post was this one was a few years earlier, I had forgotten about it.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... ght=#20048
3 DAYS
YEAH!!!! Looking forward to read about your adventures, as always.
WROD? If this is WROD, you've never skied WROD. :roll: These conditions aren't crappy. Much better than I initially expected.
You’re wrong on both counts Tony.
October
Frank mentioned that he had October turns in 4 of the last 5 season. Out of which, he only crossed the US border once. Oh yes, I forgot, he’s nuts. Crazier than me? Never. All this and he doesn't have a ski streak going. :roll:
July
I didn’t need to fly in July 2006, I just wanted to return to Mammoth on that record year and be there for the July 4th closing. However there were some July 4th Eastern turns that we’re made at Tuckerman Ravine. Check out these youtube videos from other crazy folks from T4T. I'm I crazier than Harkin Banks and PWDR8S???
Here is a sample of there craziest on July 4th in the EAST.
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I still believe that a Ski Streak can be done in the East with only one flight trip per year. As for me, 24 was to young to die for this streak, especially after getting #22 in July. I was ready to have it end at month 13 (October 06) or 22 (July 07), but not so close to the new season. Not sure where it will end.
To finish this long reply started many miles away, I think it’s only fitting the quote mister Ski Streak myself, Endless Season. This is what he had to say my trip to Colorado on TGR. I believe that Endless was also a member on FTO?
Although I'm tired today, this has definitely added a spring to my step.
skibum4ever":yeig0k0l said:Hey people, we've been having a lot of fun out here in CO. (...)
It may not be mid-winter packed powder, but it is real skiing and a great way to work on our ski legs. And besides that we're having a GREAT time - smiles all around.
Skibum4ever is right on.
Tony Crocker":yeig0k0l said:
Tony, please refer to this following discussion. I also need to add Frank's TR from St.Bruno and the one from DD at Jay a few weeks ago.
Crazy, Who's Crazy??? discussion from last June.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=3234
I still don’t think that I’m the only one nut around here. The craziest? It’s a matter of opinion. I could have save some money and continued my streak within a 5 minute walk from my place. There are mountains of snow from the ice rink and a slope on the edge of an overpass. That snow wasn’t melting last week and there would have been enough for a 30-40 feet slope. I’ve seen some boarders build jumps with that snow in the past.
Chris C":yeig0k0l said:
Thanks for the support Chris.
Tony Crocker":yeig0k0l said:
What is my budget? Without getting into personal details here, I can tell you that this trip is going to cost me less than the 2 day portion we did together in Chile. :shock: :shock: :shock:
Chile - 2 days / 2 nights. Tourist tour transportations to Val Paraiso en route to Santiago and one day of cat-skiing + meals.
Colorado - 4 days/3 nights. 3 days skiing, plane ticket (on points), drive from Denver to Vail through the Canyon near Glenwood and onto Aspen, car rental, meals and taxi to the airport in Ottawa.
We could also breakdown the cost by vertical. In two and one half days in Colorado, I've gotten 17,100 meters vertical. Ah yes, you can't compare the conditions with the cat-skiing vertical quality? Remove the last run at El Arpa and those first 3 runs snow quality sucked compared to what we've been skiing here.
As someone that has never been to Colorado, I’ve really enjoyed this trip and the cost made sense.
BTW, EMSC and I saw the Ski Day Streak guys. Same speed as in Timberline, off the lift and gone down over and over and over. A real energeizer bunny.
Back on the budget, the turning point is when one co-worker bought a package to see Céline Dion in Las Vegas for 4 days/3 nights with only plane, hotel, concert for almost triple the price PER PERSON of my trip.
Frankontour":yeig0k0l said:
Wrong, that was my 3rd post on FTO. My first post was this one was a few years earlier, I had forgotten about it.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... ght=#20048
Frankontour":yeig0k0l said:
3 DAYS
salida":yeig0k0l said:
YEAH!!!! Looking forward to read about your adventures, as always.
Tony Crocker":yeig0k0l said:
WROD? If this is WROD, you've never skied WROD. :roll: These conditions aren't crappy. Much better than I initially expected.
Tony Crocker":yeig0k0l said:
You’re wrong on both counts Tony.
October
Frank mentioned that he had October turns in 4 of the last 5 season. Out of which, he only crossed the US border once. Oh yes, I forgot, he’s nuts. Crazier than me? Never. All this and he doesn't have a ski streak going. :roll:
July
I didn’t need to fly in July 2006, I just wanted to return to Mammoth on that record year and be there for the July 4th closing. However there were some July 4th Eastern turns that we’re made at Tuckerman Ravine. Check out these youtube videos from other crazy folks from T4T. I'm I crazier than Harkin Banks and PWDR8S???
Here is a sample of there craziest on July 4th in the EAST.
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<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FBILBE1o7CA&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FBILBE1o7CA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
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I still believe that a Ski Streak can be done in the East with only one flight trip per year. As for me, 24 was to young to die for this streak, especially after getting #22 in July. I was ready to have it end at month 13 (October 06) or 22 (July 07), but not so close to the new season. Not sure where it will end.
To finish this long reply started many miles away, I think it’s only fitting the quote mister Ski Streak myself, Endless Season. This is what he had to say my trip to Colorado on TGR. I believe that Endless was also a member on FTO?
Endless Season":yeig0k0l said:
Although I'm tired today, this has definitely added a spring to my step.
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
Patrick, being married with two girls too, your real genius is in your ability to convince your wife to let you take these trips. Many kudos to you .
I second jasoncapecod's comment.
I understand Patrick's comments about the cat skiing in Chile. I've had 27 days cat skiing, and there are no guarantees of conditions. Recall that I spent nearly $2,000 for 3 days of cat skiing in heinous conditions after the January 2005 Tropical Punch. And in that season I scored powder on most of my cheap drive-up Sierra trips.
Cat skiing will always be very expensive relative to lift service, though Arpa is cheap compared to Canada. The Chile trip should be considered as a whole anyway. My hat is off to Patrick there. He gave it 2 weeks, got around a lot, and I think his 2 powder days at Chillan more than offset any subpar conditions he got elsewhere.
Like Patrick I am a sucker for "new ski experiences." I think Arpa was much more a new experience than October manmade in Colorado, but that's just me.
In assessing the viability of maintaining a ski streak from the East, I did conjecture that you could get October at least half the time, though I'm not sure it would be as high as 80%. Is July at Tucks over 50% and how much over? In order to avoid a second high cost trip you must get both July and October at home. That's no better than 50% (assumes 70% for each).
Patrick and I share many aspects of ski obsession. When you're in the position, "I just have to do this for one month, then I'll get 7 or 8 more after that," I can understand how the pull might be irresistable. I was looking for an excuse in October 2005 and didn't quite come up with one.
I view the ski streak somewhat like my own vice of counting vertical. Worth thinking about, but don't let the tail wag the dog. I won't rack vertical on groomers if there's more interesting terrain/snow available. Similarly, will 3 the October days in Colorado reduce your chances of spending the same number of days and less $ to join Riverc0il on short notice for a 2+ foot midwinter Vermont dump? If not, go for it!
No. There is an opportunity cost to using points. Probably about $400 for 25,000.
I understand Patrick's comments about the cat skiing in Chile. I've had 27 days cat skiing, and there are no guarantees of conditions. Recall that I spent nearly $2,000 for 3 days of cat skiing in heinous conditions after the January 2005 Tropical Punch. And in that season I scored powder on most of my cheap drive-up Sierra trips.
Cat skiing will always be very expensive relative to lift service, though Arpa is cheap compared to Canada. The Chile trip should be considered as a whole anyway. My hat is off to Patrick there. He gave it 2 weeks, got around a lot, and I think his 2 powder days at Chillan more than offset any subpar conditions he got elsewhere.
Like Patrick I am a sucker for "new ski experiences." I think Arpa was much more a new experience than October manmade in Colorado, but that's just me.
In assessing the viability of maintaining a ski streak from the East, I did conjecture that you could get October at least half the time, though I'm not sure it would be as high as 80%. Is July at Tucks over 50% and how much over? In order to avoid a second high cost trip you must get both July and October at home. That's no better than 50% (assumes 70% for each).
Patrick and I share many aspects of ski obsession. When you're in the position, "I just have to do this for one month, then I'll get 7 or 8 more after that," I can understand how the pull might be irresistable. I was looking for an excuse in October 2005 and didn't quite come up with one.
I view the ski streak somewhat like my own vice of counting vertical. Worth thinking about, but don't let the tail wag the dog. I won't rack vertical on groomers if there's more interesting terrain/snow available. Similarly, will 3 the October days in Colorado reduce your chances of spending the same number of days and less $ to join Riverc0il on short notice for a 2+ foot midwinter Vermont dump? If not, go for it!
DD Powder
New member
Patrick":1u60jpmh said:
I couldn’t agree more. You can almost always find something in October in the East if you know where to look and are dedicated enough. Whether it’s on man made after the first snow gun tests of the season, early snow in the northern Greens/Whites or the Autoroad turns can be made. Like Frank I have also had 4 out of the last 5 Octobers in the East.
July snow is also pretty much a sure bet in Tucks, albeit sketchy with very little vertical most of the time. So with a well planned trip elsewhere at the end of August/beginning of September you are set.
I am still waiting for that huge May in Tucks to provide a few August turns (It’s happened before) followed by a late September upslope at Jay. I’m holding out hope for a turns all year in the East. Crazier things have happened.
salida
New member
DD Powder":15r8wniu said:
It sure has happened before. If I'm not mistaken there have even been year round turns (summer of 69, like the song) in tucks in some long ago winters (68-69), according to some of the old timers I've talked with.
Mount Washington had 566 inches of snow that season. That winter also recorded monthly max snowfall in November (86.6 in), December (103.7 in) and February (172.8 in). I'm looking at a picture on page 20 of the Journal of the New England Ski Museum (Summer 05, Issue 63) showing the based of the catapult chair at Wildcat completely buried from those snows.
DD Powder
New member
This is starting to get a little off topic but yeah I always wondered if there was enough snow around in September 69 for skiing in Tucks. In the recent past I know that people got out in August 97 after that 100 inch may.
September turns in Tucks equivalent to what the last few Julys have been like were possible according to this pic from 1861!
September turns in Tucks equivalent to what the last few Julys have been like were possible according to this pic from 1861!
Patrick
Well-known member
Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
There is an opportunity missed into not using points also. The new policy is closer to "use them or lose them". :shock:
Aeroplan (Air Canada) has set a 7 year expiration date on their points last year. I've been accumulating points on flights with Air Canada (and partners) and the now defunt Canadian Airlines (and their partner) in 15 years. Never used or had the opportunity in using their points.
Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
Yes, I agree about the new experiences and Arpa was one of them. However I don't have any regrets at all with this Colorado trip. The cost of it was minimal when compare to other expenses, the exploration and the skiing.
Colorado is like a combo of Laurentians ski area commercialism with real mountains.
Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
I think that July at Tucks was fairly easier in the past, especially if I compare with the low snow coverage that was at Tuck in May 06.
Exactly. Plus Colorado was new for me, regardless of the season.Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
There is also the fact that I was able to take time off from work now, this Winter I might not have the green light to take off. So better "go when you can" attitude prevails here.
Ah, you are wise Tony. I definitely need to think about places that run lifts in July, August and September.Tony Crocker":9xu1axyc said:
Just in case. :wink: salida":9xu1axyc said:
I'm psyched just going it. Psyched as a powder day at MRG. Psyched as your favorite sport team victory. Hard to explain. The quote from Endless reflect how I feel about it. \
/ salida":9xu1axyc said:
$1 CDN = $1.06 US - this morning. I'll be down in Vermont for sure, however again, my abilities to take time off is out of my control. Now I was able to take 2 days off, don't know for sure about this Winter. Well see when we get there. However the priority (although I would love to down to the US) is hoping to team up with Lucky Luke ski trip out in BC.
DD Powder":9xu1axyc said:
That's how I see it.
DD Powder":9xu1axyc said:
Check the old post on FTO (2001?). Chromer and Lftgly have done it in August. :shock: They also posted pics.
salida":9xu1axyc said:
You could ask Lftgly, he would probably know. I was under the impression that year-round turns at Mt.Washington were much more recent. There is a post here somewhere where Lftgly (I think) mentioned the guy that skied x consecutive months on Mt. Washington.
DD Powder":9xu1axyc said:
This wouldn't be the first time. There was a discussion on a Killington ski report back in 2003 that had something like 145 replies. Let's just say, that we went off on a tangent with that one. :roll: :lol:
I have the Mt. Washington data and 1968-69 is definitely an outlier season. The 97 inches in May 1997 was quite unusual too.
Another thought for you die-hards: Does the snow in the Chic-Chocs last longer than in the Presidentials? I suspect summer weather is substantially cooler (latitude and ocean proximity) in the Chic-Chocs.
I speculated that the odds of getting both July and October in the East were about 50%. While that may be a bit pessimistic, the fact remains that Patrick took two fly-away trips in both low seasons of his streak so far.
In winter 2006 Patrick had the 2 weeks in Montana/Wyoming/Utah but last year never left the East. If streak-maintaining trips are substituting for winter destination trips West or to the Alps, that's the tail wagging the dog IMHO. I'm pleased to hear that Luke will likely drag Patrick off to some remote B.C. pow this winter.
Another thought for you die-hards: Does the snow in the Chic-Chocs last longer than in the Presidentials? I suspect summer weather is substantially cooler (latitude and ocean proximity) in the Chic-Chocs.
I speculated that the odds of getting both July and October in the East were about 50%. While that may be a bit pessimistic, the fact remains that Patrick took two fly-away trips in both low seasons of his streak so far.
In winter 2006 Patrick had the 2 weeks in Montana/Wyoming/Utah but last year never left the East. If streak-maintaining trips are substituting for winter destination trips West or to the Alps, that's the tail wagging the dog IMHO. I'm pleased to hear that Luke will likely drag Patrick off to some remote B.C. pow this winter.
Patrick
Well-known member
I spent sometime on researching this possibility last year. I was told by a local that there was possible snow in July, however the remaining would have in the "restricted areas only." Mt. Washington was the easiest option.Tony Crocker":5nfsdgqf said:
Tony Crocker":5nfsdgqf said:
I could have gamble and waited for snowmaking operations to start (a few die hards skied at Kmart on October 29-30 + Frank at St-Bruno) or gone on the October 13-14 weekend to Jay like DD Powder, however the forecast had turned and I was hoping for better conditions. But I could have made it in October without flying, however I preference was Colorado over marginal conditions.
Tony Crocker":5nfsdgqf said:
The 2005-06 season (first season of this streak) involved 3 trips out West, hardly the tail wagging the dog. [-X
In 2006-07, I cancelled one trip out West and went to Chile. IF the streak was the only factor, it would have been cheaper just to go for one week trip out West or one ski day in Colorado, n'est-pas?
In 2007-08, Lucky isn't draging me.
Never been out West with him, this would definitely be a blast, however I STILL need to get a number of green lights (as for the other trips) in order to make this happen. :?
2 of the 3 western trips were low season for the streak.
This also sounds like favoring the streak, but as I recall the events were independent. The western trip was cancelled for work/family schedule conflicts, and when time was available in September, Patrick grabbed it.
Perhaps Patrick's work/family schedule inadvertently plays into the streak by constraining him more than he'd like in the winter; thus he has more time and $ available in summer.
I can relate. When I met my ex-wife in 1982, we wanted to do an exotic ski trip. Since she was a teacher we couldn't do it during prime northern ski season, so we went to New Zealand when she was off work.
After skiing August/September in 1982 I did note that I might ski every month of the year, but it did not occur to me then to try to make it consecutive. July at Mammoth was no problem in the huge 1983 season. When I went to a business meeting in Boston in late October 1988, my ex knew right away what I was going to do afterward.
skibum4ever
New member
There is nothing I can add to all this discussion. Today was another great day at the Basin with 3 inches new snow to make it a bit smoother. Tomorrow we will conquer the WR of Keystone as they are opening a week early just for us.
We count our # of days skied, count our vertical, rate each day on a 1-10 scale. So far we have about 20 million vertical feet rated at about 8.0 overall. Our motto is "ski 'til death" and hope that after that, we get more endless light powder. We'll let St. Peter do all the calculations. Some of us will ski in the lightest and deepest powder and some of us will watch our skis melt on the molten lava. :twisted:
BTW, we rate ever vertical foot that we skied with Patrick as a 10. There's nothing better than doing something with a friend who loves it as much as you do. :wink:
We count our # of days skied, count our vertical, rate each day on a 1-10 scale. So far we have about 20 million vertical feet rated at about 8.0 overall. Our motto is "ski 'til death" and hope that after that, we get more endless light powder. We'll let St. Peter do all the calculations. Some of us will ski in the lightest and deepest powder and some of us will watch our skis melt on the molten lava. :twisted:
BTW, we rate ever vertical foot that we skied with Patrick as a 10. There's nothing better than doing something with a friend who loves it as much as you do. :wink:
Patrick
Well-known member
Tony Crocker":7bnbmufz said:
COME ON TONY, give me a break. There is NO way I could have added another ski vacation week in prime season of that season and still having a job. I took 3 weeks in prime ski season (2 weeks West + 1 week Spring Break + odd days). :roll:
Tony Crocker":7bnbmufz said:
Chile has been on a list of things I wanted to do...I just did it regardless of the streak. I recall a one person told me a few years ago not to spend that money out West, but head to South America instead. That is viable option, streak or not.
Tony Crocker":7bnbmufz said:
Not only Patrick's. :roll: Some people only have 2-3 weeks vacations (I have a bit more), I might not have taken one week vacation out West last year in prime season, but look at the number of days off I took during the Winter: 1 week at Christmas plus an odd 7 days on weekdays. Days on some of these where the skiing was second to none, regardless where they occured. The fact that I didn't go out West means absolutely nothing here, I got my days elsewhere (and not crappy days).