Whiteface, NY 11/24/02

[Jimski]

It takes a day like Saturday to appreciate Sunday. <BR> <BR>I was really intrigued to see what conditions higher up on Whiteface were like after getting skunked Saturday. After taking care of A.M. commitments I decided to get spontaneous and do something really wild and far out. I went skiing two days in a row in the month of November. This is another personal first for me and my butt was on the gondola by 1:17. It was warm and melting around base level and dripping off roofs, cars, etc. Temps were in mid thirties and the snow around the lodge was squeaky and packy. I was worried that my fleece and windbreaker might be too warm. I found out that a little altitude makes a big difference. <BR> <BR>The first thing that stood out to me was that every inch of woods from base to the top of LWF was white, and some of the smaller scrub brush and bushes were actually drifted over. It seems like for as long as I can remember, except for that big el nino year a couple of seasons ago, the woods at the face have been brown almost up to Christmas. You would drive by and see a totally brown mountain with white trails scattered about from the snow making. It was good to see snow in the woods even if it isn't yet sufficient to utilize. <BR> <BR>There was good man made cover at the summit of LWF and even enough to off load the double chair also which was running. That top ridge line of Excelsior is always blown away and today was no different. There was an edgeable pourousness to the surface sufficient to maintain control until hitting that first curve where Peron's meets it. Then I was able to find various down wind lines where it had blown in to get some good carving and to be able to stand on the edges of my little Elans without fear of blowing out a turn. I quickly got back any semblance of timing and balance that I had from last season and really started to get into it. The continuity of decent surface continued all the way to mid station. I was warm and opened up the pit zips and was contemplating removing my helmet for the chair ride up. <BR> <BR>The snow was cold and hard at mid station, no sign of any melting or run off. I didn't see a thermometer anywhere but it was definitely below 32 degrees F. They had guns blowing off every spigot on Mountain run and the grass and rocks were just starting to get covered over. They also had guns set up on Approach and I believe lower McKenzie. They are definitely looking to create as many different ways off the gondola as possible to get down to have some variety over the coming holiday and weekend. Some of the guns were running a tad juicy and I protected my goggles with gloved hands as the wind swirled the spray around on the ride up. I don't think it was that it wasn't cold enough, I get the feeling they had the mixture a little too rich. Sometimes the wind gusts would hit those guns head on and turn the spray back 180 degrees right off the nozzle. That was kind of impressive considering the wind was nothing like what it was yesterday. It takes some pretty sticky goo to hold up on those bare ledges. Any who, I was glad I had my gore tex on and the warmth created by the skiing quickly dissipated on the rides up. <BR> <BR>I did a total of six runs from mid station up only going all the way down on the seventh and last run. I uploaded my last run at 3:27 with a closing time for last ride @ 3:30. I pushed myself hard and enjoyed every minute. It didn't matter that it was basically only one trail. Each succeeding run got me more and more psyched and I really didn't want to stop. Granted it was only two and a half hours but I got in six runs at 1500 ft vert.and one 2500 footer. I'll take it.