EMSC
Well-known member
Extreme Skiing - well, Extreme Wind anyway.
Mostly sunny day until the very end. But huge winds on the upper 1,500 verts - where the best snow was of course. We started off going up Super B as usual, only to find the poma closed. We tried out resolution which was OK, but not nearly as good as either of us had expected given the week long set of storms that should have refreshed everything.
Instead we did hit soft snow on E chair before heading over to R&S lifts via the enchanted forest traverse. Heading up R to see if copper bowl was even open - it was. We headed into it and checked, finding a line for the Tucker cat and deciding the wind was a bit much to do the 30-40 min hike required post-cat. Instead we went to the mtn chief lift and were told we were the last two and they were shutting that lift down (blackjack stayed open). Generally the whole copper bowl area was practically deserted. As we rode up we saw the cat reach the bottom of the bowl and send everyone waiting away as it was also closing up for the day.
So given our 'perch' on the ridgeline we decided to try out Union bowl. Excellent snow - soft wind deposited talcum powder. We ended up lapping S (or sierra) lift for most of the day. With HUGE winds slamming us in the face riding up, but skiing superb talcum powder snow over and over. The wind limiting those willing to ski up there to about every 3rd chair, though 4 Patrollers were exactly opposite us on the pitch for about 6 laps in a row to tell how fun the snow was. I hiked up to Union bowl one time from the top of S, during which I was nearly slammed to the ground twice by gusts. I was kind of surprised the lift was even open, but the wind direction lined up with the lift so no cross wind to swing the chairs. One of the windiest days I've ever spent skiing which is saying something coming from an Eldora skier IMO... And super lucky my wife was actually willing to put up with the wind (and me) too :lol:
Eventually we tired of the howling winds up top and skied down in to the bottom where wind was relatively minimal with only occasional gusts (but none of the fun pitch or snow either). Heading back up Eagle and E chairs and skiing down A lift terrain to end our day around 3:45. Lots of fun all in all and the wind providing an 'extreme' element to the day.
Mostly sunny day until the very end. But huge winds on the upper 1,500 verts - where the best snow was of course. We started off going up Super B as usual, only to find the poma closed. We tried out resolution which was OK, but not nearly as good as either of us had expected given the week long set of storms that should have refreshed everything.
Instead we did hit soft snow on E chair before heading over to R&S lifts via the enchanted forest traverse. Heading up R to see if copper bowl was even open - it was. We headed into it and checked, finding a line for the Tucker cat and deciding the wind was a bit much to do the 30-40 min hike required post-cat. Instead we went to the mtn chief lift and were told we were the last two and they were shutting that lift down (blackjack stayed open). Generally the whole copper bowl area was practically deserted. As we rode up we saw the cat reach the bottom of the bowl and send everyone waiting away as it was also closing up for the day.
So given our 'perch' on the ridgeline we decided to try out Union bowl. Excellent snow - soft wind deposited talcum powder. We ended up lapping S (or sierra) lift for most of the day. With HUGE winds slamming us in the face riding up, but skiing superb talcum powder snow over and over. The wind limiting those willing to ski up there to about every 3rd chair, though 4 Patrollers were exactly opposite us on the pitch for about 6 laps in a row to tell how fun the snow was. I hiked up to Union bowl one time from the top of S, during which I was nearly slammed to the ground twice by gusts. I was kind of surprised the lift was even open, but the wind direction lined up with the lift so no cross wind to swing the chairs. One of the windiest days I've ever spent skiing which is saying something coming from an Eldora skier IMO... And super lucky my wife was actually willing to put up with the wind (and me) too :lol:
Eventually we tired of the howling winds up top and skied down in to the bottom where wind was relatively minimal with only occasional gusts (but none of the fun pitch or snow either). Heading back up Eagle and E chairs and skiing down A lift terrain to end our day around 3:45. Lots of fun all in all and the wind providing an 'extreme' element to the day.
