Last ski day of the year at Elk Mt.

[midwif]

Jim and I decided to  go to Elk's closing day this year on 3/26/11.

They had received 8 inches of new snow on the previous thursday, so we were
hopeful that there would not be too many dirt patches and bare spots given he previous week of warm days and heavy rains.

What a surprise! Beautiful conditions (for the northeast). Packed powder, no real bare spots and
hardly any ice!

As a local on the lift put it "January weather with spring sun, NICE!".
Yes, the temps were in the 20's and chillier than expected.

A wonderful way to say farewell to a great ski season.

For those of you who have more ski days ahead, PLEASE SHARE your TR's.
I like living vicariously.

[meput]

Snow storm forecasted for Sugarloaf this upcoming Friday into Saturday. Entire mountain is currently open. Planned last day of regular season is May 1st. Since snow pack is good, they are planning weekends being open through May 15th. Will keep you updated.

OBTW bought a ski house at the loaf 2 weeks ago  .

[jim-ratliff]

OBTW bought a ski house at the loaf 2 weeks ago? .

Hmmmmm -- I guess that tells us all where next years PMTS gathering will be.

Seriously, congratulations!!
Sounds like you will all get a lot of use out of it.

[jbotti]

I have 1 more ski trip in the works. I will be back in Montana with the family for Spring Break from 4/8 through 4/17. That will most likley be it for me unless I end up doing the HSS race camp in May (but I think that is unlikley right now). Montana in mid April fits into the "life is like a box of chocolates" comment. It can be anywhere from slush to 2 feet of fresh powder and mid winter conditions. I have skied hard this season and I have made some great progress with my skiing (and as always I see much further to go!!). I look forward to the end of the season as a time to do lots of drill work as I attempt to solidify the changes in my skiing that I have attempted to make this year. With this in mind, spring conditions are actually welcome because for me there is no urge to charge because there is nothing to charge at (no fresh pow etc).

I hope all have had as satisfying a season as I have had. I skied some great terrain, in some amazing conditions, but mostly, I have enjoyed the beauty and the great company I have had with me (my family and friends) throughout the ski season!! Amazingly, I am even ready for spring and summer, perhaps a first for me since I started skiing 9 yeras ago!! I guess as we all get older next season actually gets here sooner and sooner every year!!

[LivingProof]

Lynn,

I was there on Friday, 3/25 and the mountain was exactly as you described, only I did not find any ice except on Tunk. Mostly sunny, flurries in the morning. It was just great skiing. Mostly, I just cruised the entire mountain at high speed as it was groomed perfectly. Elk left the blanket of snow on Tunk for skiers to goom. 2 Inches of boilerplate over 6 inches of fluff over whatever was underneath. It was a handful until skied by fools like me. I fully intended to return Saturday and I'm kicking myself for at least not touching base with you and Jim. A bunch of friends were going to Camelback and I decided to join them. Big, big mistake as the lift lines were 20 minutes plus - I left at 12:30. How were the Elk lines? If there were not any, you'll hear my scream in NYC.

In the last 10 days, I've been at 3 Pa. mountains (Blue, Camelback and Elk) on the weekend they closed. All had really great snow combined with great closing day weather. The operative word is closed. Most on this board are not familiar with our local mountains, but after mid-March, the crowds just stop coming and the mountains close for lack of cash customers. This year we had a wet, warm early March that ended the season for many skiers but, it got cold again and the mountains skied great very late in the season. The snow Lynn mentioned was rain south of the Pocono's so it rained in the population centers.

It is just so frustrating to know all that good snow just sits unskied. Not fair, our season is too short at 3 months. I leave Sunday for the Epic Gathering and that should be my last 5  days, but, this season just refuses to die in my heart and mind. Who knows, I just might link up with meput at the 'loaf. Whatever summer holds, nothing replaces skiing on good snow with friends.

[gandalf]

How were the Elk lines? If there were not any, you'll hear my scream in NYC.

Sorry LP, but scream away.? There were a couple of times when we might have been as far back as 7th in line right at the base lodge, so we went around to the second parallel lift because no one was using it.

The only negative was that it was chilly.? Since there were so few people getting down took so little time that it didn't generate any body heat, and the slow ride back up seemed chillier.? BUT I AM NOT COMPLAINING.? It was a great day and HAS been a wonderful season. We've had powder every time we've gone west, even starting way back in December.

Enjoy EPIC.

[LivingProof]

I am so pi____ed!

Hey, my only complaint was the wind was blowing up the mountain. pickey, pickey, pickey.

Lynn, you and I need to touch base in the future when going to Elk!

Remember the first Friday in January '12 is demo day. YEAHHHH!

[ToddW]

Sunday was probably my last day in Vermont for the season.? The PSIA-E Spring Academy was at my home mountain on Sunday, and one of the examiners tracked me down and said "Dude!? You've got a wicked retraction move going on.? Awesome skiing."? Not a bad way to start winding down the season? .

This weekend, I'm off to the (currently snow-deprived) slopes of Austria for the HSS European Camp at Hintertux.? If I get too desperate, I may sneak out to A-basin for a weekend or three in May.? Then it's time to make friends anew with my bicycle and Harb Carvers until mid-October when Loveland opens its WROD.? ?

LP,  have a great time at the EpicSki meet up.

[Gary]

WOW...sounds like all have made turns in some great snow...

Our local mountain, Bristol is still open and will be through the first week in April. They close ealrier than the snow would dictate cause they doing some significant improvement to the main lodge and ski rental shop. SHould be a nice outcome.

Will ski there on the weekends until I head out for the last planned trip back to Calgary to ski Sunshine and Lake Louise. Snow there is in good shape and really looking forward to it.

JB I concur as well...great friends and family ski events. Felt more solid on my skis this season enjoying more variety in terrain....wow what a season. Still not ready to see it go but I have brought up the sand iron from the basement and am hitting plastic balls over the kitchen counter.....eek...j ust gotta love my wife.

The wind down is kinda sad but it's been one of the best I can remember in a long time! 

[jim-ratliff]

Sunday was probably my last day in Vermont for the season.? The PSIA-E Spring Academy was at my home mountain on Sunday, and one of the examiners tracked me down and said "Dude!? You've got a wicked retraction move going on.? Awesome skiing."? Not a bad way to start winding down the season? .

This weekend, I'm off to the (currently snow-deprived) slopes of Austria for the HSS European Camp at Hintertux.? If I get too desperate, I may sneak out to A-basin for a weekend or three in May.? Then it's time to make friends anew with my bicycle and Harb Carvers until mid-October when Loveland opens its WROD.? ?

LP,? have a great time at the EpicSki meet up.

I'm pretty impressed that he recognized and called it retraction.  How does it feel to be a PSIA poster boy??   

[LivingProof]

Sunday was probably my last day in Vermont for the season.? The PSIA-E Spring Academy was at my home mountain on Sunday, and one of the examiners tracked me down and said "Dude!? You've got a wicked retraction move going on.? Awesome skiing."? Not a bad way to start winding down the season? .

This weekend, I'm off to the (currently snow-deprived) slopes of Austria for the HSS European Camp at Hintertux.? If I get too desperate, I may sneak out to A-basin for a weekend or three in May.? Then it's time to make friends anew with my bicycle and Harb Carvers until mid-October when Loveland opens its WROD.? ?

LP,? have a great time at the EpicSki meet up.

Todd,
Hintertux, you are the man! I aways said I would like to do a HH Race Camp, but, deep down in my heart, Id choose Hintertux.

I was skiing last weekend with a PSIA trained instructor who is an excellent skier with a PMTS style that he developed on his own. He was talking about retraction turns, but, could not define it. Go figure. BTW, he just ripped on 5 year old Blizzard 155 SL skies. Fastest person on the mountain, just leaving RR tracks. One of his "secrets" was to make weighted release turns.

[ToddW]

I'm pretty impressed that he recognized and called it retraction.? How does it feel to be a PSIA poster boy??? ?

You can't always choose your friends...  He was a nice fellow and I'd gladly make some turns with him and his crowd.  I just wouldn't talk technique.

[meput]

Todd,
Off to Hintertux, I am envious.

You can't always choose your friends...? He was a nice fellow and I'd gladly make some turns with him and his crowd.? I just wouldn't talk technique.

Of course you would talk technique, you've got what he wants - technique?
Jim

[jim-ratliff]

Excellent observation.   

[jim-ratliff]

Did I mention that Lynn lives in a gated community upstate.    (not obviously)






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