schubwa
New member
Wow, what a couple of weeks! It seems like we got our own private storm cycle and I'm losing track of my days. For a skimpy winter things have vastly improved with 142"/162" base and mid-mountain with a YTD total of 389". I thought I saw us having an average of 350" a year but that was probably pre-2000 seasons. The last three of four seasons have been above normal with last season the all time record holder.
Last December at the annual "Snow Ball" Fundraiser there was an auction item that caught my eye: a private tour by snowcat of Mt Bachelor's newest terrain to be served by a brand new chairlift for 8 guests, including lunch and drinks. It didn't get past Dave Stewart either and we were quickly in a bidding war with another group. It sold for $2400 which is $300 per and Mt Bachelor quickly offered another trip to the other guys for the same price so Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation did well on that one. MBSEF has produced a slew of top Alpine and Nordic ski racers including current US Ski Team star Tommy Ford.
We almost went on our tour last weekend but then suddenly we were on for today. Yesterday was insane with 9" new overnight over a weeks' worth of snowfall (over 5' I think) and the Summit opened at 1pm serving up some serious backside action. Another 1" of frosting last night at 15 degrees and we were good to go.
Kurt Reynolds at the top of Rainbow as we prepare to take our first run OB on the mountain's east side. I like the "Caution" sign behind this guy, he makes a Gin & Tonic that will give you a hangover for a week! Bruce Churchill on the right, he got to come thanks to Scott Agnew who was out of town. He had fun Scott!
One of the Ski Patrolmen who escorted us gets to sample some fresh on this wind protected side of this big mountain. The snow on this side is always better, no wind and colder air.
The fellows waiting to take the next drop. The new chair is called Cloudchaser and we hope it gets installed the summer after next.
Mountain Operations guru Tom Lomax shown here gave us the tour along with Mt B President Dave Rathbun and a couple of hard-working Ski Patrolmen. Tom tells me I have skied this terrain more than anyone thanks to Admin, who arranged to have me join his group while he was touring Cloudchaser here recently. Tom, I think we should name that run Cumulus.
While not consistently steep, there are some very fun pitches and natural glades with old growth Mountain Hemlock trees to make for great tree skiing. They will cut very few trees but more importantly there will be a new catchline allowing for over 500 vertical feet more freshies than the old one.
After we broke trail past the new proposed bottom terminal, we skied out to an existing dog sled trail and were hauled out by snowmobile. It was back to Rainbow chair to do another lap. It sounds like the current Sunrise Quad will replace the ancient fixed triple Rainbow Chair (yeah). Sunrise Chair becomes a six pack, the existing lodge becomes a Children's Center, a brand new main lodge is built and the parking lot goes big time. This will vastly improve the visitor experience especially on stormy days (very common) when the west side lifts are wind blasted and in the clouds.
On our last run before lunch, we hiked up several hundred vert to the location of the top terminal. Then it was down "Pot of Gold", back into the sun for more bubbly powder. Sorry for the pics, I forgot my camera and used my Samsung Droid instead.
We got a white tablecloth lunch at the new Umbrella Bar, including pitchers of Red Chair Ale and flank steak. Nice job guys! From the right is Tucker Shannon, Bruce Churchill, Kurt Reynolds, Dave Rathbun and Dr. Dave Stewart.
Last December at the annual "Snow Ball" Fundraiser there was an auction item that caught my eye: a private tour by snowcat of Mt Bachelor's newest terrain to be served by a brand new chairlift for 8 guests, including lunch and drinks. It didn't get past Dave Stewart either and we were quickly in a bidding war with another group. It sold for $2400 which is $300 per and Mt Bachelor quickly offered another trip to the other guys for the same price so Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation did well on that one. MBSEF has produced a slew of top Alpine and Nordic ski racers including current US Ski Team star Tommy Ford.
We almost went on our tour last weekend but then suddenly we were on for today. Yesterday was insane with 9" new overnight over a weeks' worth of snowfall (over 5' I think) and the Summit opened at 1pm serving up some serious backside action. Another 1" of frosting last night at 15 degrees and we were good to go.
Kurt Reynolds at the top of Rainbow as we prepare to take our first run OB on the mountain's east side. I like the "Caution" sign behind this guy, he makes a Gin & Tonic that will give you a hangover for a week! Bruce Churchill on the right, he got to come thanks to Scott Agnew who was out of town. He had fun Scott!
One of the Ski Patrolmen who escorted us gets to sample some fresh on this wind protected side of this big mountain. The snow on this side is always better, no wind and colder air.
The fellows waiting to take the next drop. The new chair is called Cloudchaser and we hope it gets installed the summer after next.
Mountain Operations guru Tom Lomax shown here gave us the tour along with Mt B President Dave Rathbun and a couple of hard-working Ski Patrolmen. Tom tells me I have skied this terrain more than anyone thanks to Admin, who arranged to have me join his group while he was touring Cloudchaser here recently. Tom, I think we should name that run Cumulus.
While not consistently steep, there are some very fun pitches and natural glades with old growth Mountain Hemlock trees to make for great tree skiing. They will cut very few trees but more importantly there will be a new catchline allowing for over 500 vertical feet more freshies than the old one.
After we broke trail past the new proposed bottom terminal, we skied out to an existing dog sled trail and were hauled out by snowmobile. It was back to Rainbow chair to do another lap. It sounds like the current Sunrise Quad will replace the ancient fixed triple Rainbow Chair (yeah). Sunrise Chair becomes a six pack, the existing lodge becomes a Children's Center, a brand new main lodge is built and the parking lot goes big time. This will vastly improve the visitor experience especially on stormy days (very common) when the west side lifts are wind blasted and in the clouds.
On our last run before lunch, we hiked up several hundred vert to the location of the top terminal. Then it was down "Pot of Gold", back into the sun for more bubbly powder. Sorry for the pics, I forgot my camera and used my Samsung Droid instead.
We got a white tablecloth lunch at the new Umbrella Bar, including pitchers of Red Chair Ale and flank steak. Nice job guys! From the right is Tucker Shannon, Bruce Churchill, Kurt Reynolds, Dave Rathbun and Dr. Dave Stewart.
