Smuggs 12-11-02

[TimW]

(if you want a ski report, skip a few paragraphs) <BR> <BR>It was guinea pig day on Madonna 1 today, this being the first day it being open since the big retrofit. There were a few problems, <BR>but nothing that was too annoying to me. The derailer sensor on Tower 26 was a bit loose or something, and twice the chair I was on <BR>tripped it and they had to send a guy up on a snowmobile to poke at it with 2 bamboo poles taped together.... Beside various slow <BR>moments, it only broke one other time for about 15 minutes (I was to get on the next chair) <BR> <BR>As for the difference, the top doesn't look like Madonna any more as some of the top was blasted out to make it a bit flatter. The <BR>ski patrol shack is now about 30 fett up from the unload level and has stairs leading up to it. The blasted rock was pushed into <BR>berms along the back side and the right were the bullwheel and weights used to be. All in all the top and unload area is rather nice <BR>and looks like it should help on windy days..... <BR> <BR>The impact to Liftline leaves a bit to be desired. Most of the towers seemed to have been lowered and there are perhaps 3 new towers <BR>that hold the cable down towards earth. There are atleast 4 pinch points on the skiers left above mid station. The first is right at <BR>the top, as the unload area is a flat bullwheel. The next is atop the cliff band before the entrance to the blackhole. Cutting out a <BR>few lines and different ways down that cliff band. The next to are directly before and after Robins run cut over to Freefall, this <BR>are should not affect much. The last is at the top of the long steep section. At this point you are no more then 3-4 feet above the <BR>trail. Since the trail drops off faster then the lift, it shouldn't get in the way much. I think Smuggs may have gone for a if we <BR>are going to do this, we are going to make sure it works attitude. I'm not sure in a few of those places the chair needs to be that <BR>close to the trail. <BR> <BR>As for skiing today, it was great. All ungroomed areas high up on Madonna were a good 3-4 feet of windpacked powder. (you sank a <BR>good 6-8 inches) FIS was all natural but more windblown then Docs which was perfect. Even the head wall was covered with barely any <BR>obsticles to be seen. By the end of the day it was somewhat packed down into a nice packed powder base. (Stick your pole down <BR>through it and it went a good 3 feet down) Another great run was Three Mtn Glades that still held some untracked lines till the end <BR>of the day. The groomers were hard and fast, but still fun. <BR> <BR>I got my ex's car with bald tires.. not sure if I'll venture out to smuggs tomorrow. I'll be checking tickets on Fri and Sat... <BR> <BR>TimW