Ski Season 2023/2024

[UTexasFight 9,427]

On 3/1/2024 at 8:50 AM, Frank Drebin said:

Going to Whitefish in a week.  We bought a house there in the fall.  This will be first time skiing there.  I have heard it is often foggy/overcast this time of year.  Any reccos on the ski mountain?

I just ski blue and black groomers at this stage of life.  

Recs on a realtor? Been on my wishlist to buy something in those parts since spending a summer there during Covid,…even if just an empty lot to build something on later.

[Frank Drebin 5,654]

9 hours ago, UTexasFight said:

Recs on a realtor? Been on my wishlist to buy something in those parts since spending a summer there during Covid,…even if just an empty lot to build something on later.

https://revel.realestate/agents/amy-stevens/

[texasdago 7,562]

19 hours ago, huge said:

Worst line I experienced at Squaw last Sunday was like 15 minutes.

Nothing like the 30+ you used to have in the 80-90s before high speed bangers.

Fixed grip lifts are a beating and when you come across them, its torture.  CB replaced their 2 seater fixed grip Teocalli POS with a four-seater... still fixed grip.  Now twice as many people can suffer at the same time.  #ThanksVail 

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

It would be cool to make some turns at Cape Smokey someday.  

 

 

 

 

[JCHIL 414]

Classic spring skiing in Taos this week- higher elevation runs still holding up well. Lower trails turning to mash potatoes after lunch …..strong and cold storm supposedly headed to Rockies on Sunday 

Edited March 23 by JCHIL

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

When you see boarders ride with an ice ax, it's for self arrest.  

 

 

[HiggyBaby 2,529]

Took my oldest to Heavenly for a few days last week. The snow was great but the problem was 1)weekend crowds and 2) winds. The Gondola was closed both weekend days. Access between the Nevada side and California side was closed on Saturday. So we spent the whole day on the Nevada side. Crowds weren’t as bad as they were on Sunday. Sunday we did the California side because most of the lifts were closed on Nevada for winds. Super crowded day and long lines. Monday was perfect. The whole mountain was open and the crowds were light. Still one of our favorite places to go but will try to avoid weekends in the future. Can’t beat the views. 

[HiggyBaby 2,529]

On 3/13/2024 at 9:01 AM, NWBuck said:

Well, I've decided that it's time to buy a helmet (enough brain damage already, thankyouverymuch... it's why I'm on the Surl).

Getting to be the end of the season, so there should be some decent options on closeout and such- any recommendations or things I should keep in mind (MIPS is mandatory, according to the Mrs.)?

'Preciate the insight...

 I just burned some REI credit on this one.

https://www.rei.com/product/225171/anon-oslo-wavecell-snow-helmet?color=BLACK

[blacklab 11,926]

3 hours ago, HiggyBaby said:

Took my oldest to Heavenly for a few days last week. The snow was great but the problem was 1)weekend crowds and 2) winds. The Gondola was closed both weekend days. Access between the Nevada side and California side was closed on Saturday. So we spent the whole day on the Nevada side. Crowds weren’t as bad as they were on Sunday. Sunday we did the California side because most of the lifts were closed on Nevada for winds. Super crowded day and long lines. Monday was perfect. The whole mountain was open and the crowds were light. Still one of our favorite places to go but will try to avoid weekends in the future. Can’t beat the views. 

Favorite place in the world

[texasdago 7,562]

Just saw Copper Mountain's close date is first weekend of May.  Loveland is the same.  WP is now May 19th which is one week later than usual.  A-Basin looking at June 2nd.  All based on conditions, of course.  I would love to figure out how to do a late season day at Loveland and a day at A-Basin.

[JCHIL 414]

Taos is getting a serious dumping!  Glorious powder skiing yesterday - I was maybe 30th person in lift line at 9 am for fresh tracks and I made fresh track runs on backside blues and easy access blacks for over an hour before those runs got tracked out….Snowed all day yesterday (too bad I had to leave) and all night - too bad it’s only open 2 more weeks ….

[texasdago 7,562]

All that snow and they shut down 

[brown water 3,775]

Just booked next February for a week in Banff. 7 nights at Fairmont Lake Louise + 2 5/7 day lift tickets for US$3,700.  5% down. Refundable until 14 days before. Good through 3/31 in case anyone is interested 

Edited March 26 by brown water

[JCHIL 414]

13 hours ago, texasdago said:

All that snow and they shut down 

Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year.  I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

[texasdago 7,562]

16 minutes ago, JCHIL said:

Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year.  I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

Sounds like CB... they apparently do something like that where they are limited in how long they can stay open but I think part of it is skier numbers drop big-time since there's no big population center nearby.

[texasdago 7,562]

3 hours ago, JCHIL said:

Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year.  I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

So... I saw 44" in the past three days.  Dude... 

[Chewbacca 7,766]

2 hours ago, texasdago said:

Sounds like CB... they apparently do something like that where they are limited in how long they can stay open but I think part of it is skier numbers drop big-time since there's no big population center nearby.

Even the resorts near Denver have a huge dropoff in skier numbers after March.  People are ready for warmer weather by April.

[texasdago 7,562]

6 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

Even the resorts near Denver have a huge dropoff in skier numbers after March.  People are ready for warmer weather by April.

Yeah, I've been reading about people in Denver bitching about the recent snowstorm... despite the fact that March is typically the snowiest month.

[Chewbacca 7,766]

5 minutes ago, texasdago said:

Yeah, I've been reading about people in Denver bitching about the recent snowstorm... despite the fact that March is typically the snowiest month.

Which one?  We've had 2 in the last week.

[JCHIL 414]

1 hour ago, texasdago said:

So... I saw 44" in the past three days.  Dude... 

Sometime in next 2 weeks - Road trip! 

Edited March 26 by JCHIL

[JCHIL 414]

 

 

My buddy sent me this pic from this morning - his car is on the right ❄️

Edited March 26 by JCHIL

[LonghornJones 837]

[texasdago 7,562]

2 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

Which one?  We've had 2 in the last week.

Whichever one I can parlay into a late season trip

[ftf82 485]

7 hours ago, JCHIL said:

Yeah...I think TSV has a public use agreement with Carson National Forest that sets a limit on the amount of user days in a ski season so since Taos chooses to open on Thanksgiving weekend every year, the days run out by first week in April every year.  I have seen them extend the season on some years by a week when the snow is good and this year it would seem like they would,,,,,

Can they staff it if they stay open? My understanding is that Angel Fire hires quite a few contract seasonal workers from South America with hard end dates, so it's not feasible for them to stay open after the contracts run.

Looks like from their webpage AF is already closed. Their webcams show they still have a shitload of snow. 

https://www.angelfireresort.com/weather/

Edited March 26 by ftf82

[Upgrayedd 5,810]

Back in Vail for probably my last trip of the season.  Had a surprise 5” overnight which mad e things fun.

Ouzo into Gamecreek Bowl

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5J2gLlP2hB/?hl=en

 

Aaahhhh to be a sponsored athlete. 

 

Quote

ingridbackstrom

 

Last week I went to @skitaos for a three day spring ski trip and ended up staying for 8 days and catching a 49” storm with a bunch of awesome people and dogs. Can’t figure out why they call it The Land of Entrapment though!

 

[Upgrayedd 5,810]

Well- most likely that’s a wrap on the season.  13 days.  238,000 vertical feet.  168 lifts ridden.  415 miles of runs.  All stats per the garbage epic app.  
 

Riva Ridge/Tourist Trap from today.

Keep getting after it y’all.

[texasdago 7,562]

I'm at 8 for the season... really trying to figure out how to get to 10.  I mean, I can do it... just have to book it... but trying to save money so I need a client to visit in Denver.  Any client. 

[Upgrayedd 5,810]

11 minutes ago, texasdago said:

I'm at 8 for the season... really trying to figure out how to get to 10.  I mean, I can do it... just have to book it... but trying to save money so I need a client to visit in Denver.  Any client. 

SIL living in Avon helps 😎

Edited April 1 by Upgrayedd
And no pics

[Frank Drebin 5,654]

What is the best app for tracking your ski activity?

[texasdago 7,562]

I use Ski Tracks

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3_OQd3onJ3/

 

 

 

[texasdago 7,562]

15 hours ago, PRONG HORN said:

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3_OQd3onJ3/

 

 

 

a) Gotta work on learning how to self-arrest, my dude

b) WTF... that first turn was literally right into a rock.  Ok... ok... ok... I see lots of open snow on my right, lemme put my tip on this shark fin over here on the left.

[JCHIL 414]

 

Still skiing! Today  makes 20 days this year…season ends tomorrow…already scheming to make 25-30 days next year!

[texasdago 7,562]

J E A L O U S 

[Chewbacca 7,766]

 
Still skiing! Today  makes 20 days this year…season ends tomorrow…already scheming to make 25-30 days next year!

I'm going to try to Mayville you next year. I'll be full time at Winter Park.

[texasdago 7,562]

On 4/30/2024 at 12:12 AM, Chewbacca said:

On 4/21/2024 at 8:38 AM, JCHIL said:

 
Still skiing! Today  makes 20 days this year…season ends tomorrow…already scheming to make 25-30 days next year!

I'm going to try to Mayville you next year. I'll be full time at Winter Park.

you going to work at WP?

[Chewbacca 7,766]

you going to work at WP?

Nah, but I'll be living up there full time.

[texasdago 7,562]

32 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

5 hours ago, texasdago said:

you going to work at WP?

Nah, but I'll be living up there full time.

Nice!  I am running out of time this season unfortunately (I could try but I'd piss off my wife) but I normally make a May trip to hit up A-Basin and Mary Jane.  May have to ping you next year.  I meet up with a buddy who lives in Boulder who has an Ikon pass.

 

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

[texasdago 7,562]

I hate all of you...

 

 

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

[texasdago 7,562]

That's cool

[Hard Times 302]

On 5/4/2024 at 3:06 AM, PRONG HORN said:

 

So how does this happen? I don't get going skiing when there's a chance of an avalanche.

2 Skiers Killed in Utah Avalanche, 1 Rescued After Digging Himself Out (people.com)

[texasdago 7,562]

On 5/10/2024 at 10:13 AM, Hard Times said:

So how does this happen? I don't get going skiing when there's a chance of an avalanche.

2 Skiers Killed in Utah Avalanche, 1 Rescued After Digging Himself Out (people.com)

It happens because people will go to great lengths to ski great untouched terrain.  You have to be smart and know the avalanche report so you make decisions that won't put you in (too much) danger.  But, honestly, sometimes nature does what it wants.  Even extremely experienced people end up dying (see background and some pretty kickass footage from a guy who dies earlier this year near CB)

https://www.gunnisontimes.com/articles/eric-freson/

Eric enjoyed skiing, snowmobiling and ice climbing in the winter months. He combined all three passions frequently in pursuit of placing turns at obscure places and times. Eric rallied his friends to start skiing at night to get more hours in during the day. Nighttime second bowl laps became a weekly occurrence. His ski equipment frequently included ropes, crampons, ice axes, and deep trust between partners as essential tools for skiing the lines he was interested in. Eric would patiently scout lines, sometimes for multiple seasons, until conditions aligned, but would also be up for a quick strike mission when the snow was good. For Eric, the people and the places were just as important as the snow conditions to have a good ski day.

 

 

[PRONG HORN 3,130]

 

[gyroprotagonist 2,592]

Made it in today!

 Portillo is absolutely gorgeous. 

Edit. I suck at inserting pics

 

Edited July 21 by gyroprotagonist

[texasdago 7,562]

Bad ass

Get on that Condor lift 

[gyroprotagonist 2,592]

got back on Sunday.  what a trip!  no doubt one of the best  trips I have ever been on.  

even though no new snow while we were there, still was excellent skiing.  It felt like our own private mountain with how few others were there out on the slopes.  no lines, no crowds and you could do the condor lifts continuously until your lungs burst.  Such a different feeling than CO resorts.

First day was high winds and lifts were touch and go.  but we still got tons of skiing but the main lift that goes up to Tio Bobs was shut down most of the day.  after that it was smooth sailing.  We stayed in one the chalets just off the main hotel and while the building was past due for a renovation by about 10 years, waking up to that view of the lake every morning made up for it.  Bathrooms were tiny but we really cared about the living room which was spacious and the kids fought over who got to sleep and hang out in the 'wedge' (windowed part in the first pic).

you are kinda forced into a slower pace as all meals are provided with the hotel fee.  Full sit down breakfast, 3-course lunch, 3 course dinner.  So a far cry from grabbing a coffee on the way to get in line before the lift opens at a stateside resort, then either scarfing a homemade sandwich or getting ripped off at a crowded on-mountain lunch spot.  We got out later than we liked, but it just did not matter due to empty runs and non-existent lift lines.  The only down side was the Chilean army or reserves was training some of the days and 10-20 soldiers were on the runs at any given time.

we missed the wine week (started this week i think) but they still had a 'test-run' wine tasting from Vik in the hotel which was excellent if all in Spanish.  

The condor lifts were cool 

I was not prepared for how fast they drag you up the mountain.  took a little getting used to on my snowboard.  kids and wife had no issue with skis.  But you could get dragged up the mountain, ski down and be hooked up for another run in like 2-3 minutes.  repeat until fried.

The boy and i took this one down

a little rocky on top but not too bad after that.  he set a PR for speed (at least on ski tracks ap) at 68mph.  again the lack of crowds meant you could really go all out.  here is a pick mid-day on a cloudless blue-bird day.  it's practically empty

Everyone was really friendly.  We had to lean on our broken Spanish a lot more than i thought we would though.  not many Americans %-wise that we ran into.  

We killed a few hours before our flight home walking around the Plaza de Armas in Santiago but that was about the only excursion we did.  you are pretty trapped at the hotel once getting there.  It is astounding that so many 'local' tourist take cars, buses etc... to just get into the parking lot and public area of the hotel to see the Inca Lake and take pics.  Saturdays were a zoo getting in and out but the hotel transpo did a great job of getting us in and out.

Everywhere you looked, it was just stunning.  view from our deck.