schubwa
New member
After last weekend's icing event I resigned myself to go nordic skiing a lot to work on my fitness and blow off some frustration. But the reports from the guys were encouraging saying the groomers were stellar and fast, perfect for skiing. Plus there was talk of finally opening the Summit Chair after a lean start and the aforementioned ice storm Sunday night. I arrived at a relaxed 10 AM and the place was jammed. Lots of Cali plates here too, I guess we get the Nothern California crowd that is willing to drive (probably 6-7 hours). We are suffering under the same blocking high but we do have a 60"/74" base, and even with firm surface conditions, those are respectable base depths anywhere in the west this season!
So I get a lap on Summit and notice the line of skiers going out to Cow's Face, a long sustained pitch that faces due east…Hmmm. So low and behold it's like perfect May corn ripening in the January sun. You go skier's left and it's crusty but carve able, you go right and it's soft and forgiving, you go straight down and you can rip it. I was skiing today and I sought out what looks like frozen crust, the kind that shines but is sun-softened, and just turn on the afterburners and blast it!
Random snowboarder carving down the upper part of Cow's Face. You drop way down and then catch the East Catchline to the bottom of Sunrise, about 3000 vert each run.
Looking down at what looks like loud frozen crust but it is not.
Lower down the snow had this shiny crust and if you aimed down just the right compass heading you were rewarded! This is in the "Wanoga" area that will feed into the new lower catchline we hope will open next season with the new Eastside chair.
I'm really tempted to hit the similar aspects on Kwohl Butte tomorrow, seen in this pic. You ski down to the base and skin up for some laps. But both our "local" NFL teams are going to be battling it out around mid-day so all bets are off (on).
So I get a lap on Summit and notice the line of skiers going out to Cow's Face, a long sustained pitch that faces due east…Hmmm. So low and behold it's like perfect May corn ripening in the January sun. You go skier's left and it's crusty but carve able, you go right and it's soft and forgiving, you go straight down and you can rip it. I was skiing today and I sought out what looks like frozen crust, the kind that shines but is sun-softened, and just turn on the afterburners and blast it!
Random snowboarder carving down the upper part of Cow's Face. You drop way down and then catch the East Catchline to the bottom of Sunrise, about 3000 vert each run.
Looking down at what looks like loud frozen crust but it is not.
Lower down the snow had this shiny crust and if you aimed down just the right compass heading you were rewarded! This is in the "Wanoga" area that will feed into the new lower catchline we hope will open next season with the new Eastside chair.
I'm really tempted to hit the similar aspects on Kwohl Butte tomorrow, seen in this pic. You ski down to the base and skin up for some laps. But both our "local" NFL teams are going to be battling it out around mid-day so all bets are off (on).
