Friday, Friday, Friday. Ever notice how the weekend loses a bit of emphasis when you're on vacation (and every day is Saturday)? Pam and Dave and the kids had to leave today, but that didn't stop Dave from dragging me out for a few runs this morning. That's dedication.
As we were getting ready to go out, it started snowing (we got dusted the night before). Lightly at first, as it is wont to do, but by the time we suited up, it was falling pretty heavy. Sideways (not a good sign). But we persevered and hit the lift shortly after it opened (well, 9:30 anyway). A few green runs to warm up were in order—even the busiest runs still had good powder left. As it got later, it was time for the fish or cut bait runs—the blues to the house. We took Tippy's Tumble to warm up, then back down Silver Knife, which is the most direct to get to the house (leads to the road). Dave was doing really well, and is now officially a Shredder.
They left with Jane and I went back out around noon. Still snowing like…well, you know. I tried an old standby blue and a new one that had looked good, but was disappointed in both. Who knew the powder would have been ridden out by lunch? This place is unbelievably empty. So I said to myself, self, if I were a powder hound, which I am, where would I look for fresh untracked powder late on a snowy day like today? Only one answer: Lone Moose.
As we were getting ready to go out, it started snowing (we got dusted the night before). Lightly at first, as it is wont to do, but by the time we suited up, it was falling pretty heavy. Sideways (not a good sign). But we persevered and hit the lift shortly after it opened (well, 9:30 anyway). A few green runs to warm up were in order—even the busiest runs still had good powder left. As it got later, it was time for the fish or cut bait runs—the blues to the house. We took Tippy's Tumble to warm up, then back down Silver Knife, which is the most direct to get to the house (leads to the road). Dave was doing really well, and is now officially a Shredder.
They left with Jane and I went back out around noon. Still snowing like…well, you know. I tried an old standby blue and a new one that had looked good, but was disappointed in both. Who knew the powder would have been ridden out by lunch? This place is unbelievably empty. So I said to myself, self, if I were a powder hound, which I am, where would I look for fresh untracked powder late on a snowy day like today? Only one answer: Lone Moose.
This is a peculiar set of runs under a short lift, and very hard to get to. The only access is a long, flat trail that even goes slightly uphill for about 60 yards. It has only about 5 runs (not counting the access track), with 2 green and 3 black. The mountain has too many other black trails to justify coming over, and the green skiers don't care to expend such energy for two runs. Hence, it is hardly used at all. This means lots of powder goes to waste. But not by me…I rode the dickens out of those two green runs this afternoon. Even the runout to the lift had broad expanses of soft snow all along it…very unusual. One run—the higher one—was so unpopular there were only 3 or 4 tracks on the entire run; it was pure powder, from the sides to the middle. I was in heaven. Nothing is so wonderful to a free-ride snowboarder than a clean sweep of deep powder. Some of this stuff was up to my knees as I ripped through it—fantastic! However, some of it came up to my elbows as I collapsed into it from time to time. All in all, I probably spent about 30 minutes extricating myself from the holes I made in the powder with my butt. Fun to ride, but tiring, and if you hit a bump that isn't obvious, sploosh. My last ride down to that lift, I was happily running through the edge of the trees in the deep stuff and missed the turn I needed to make; instead, I shot up over a little mound and landed in a small crevice, jamming my front foot and spilling me yet again. As I look back on that, it could have been so much worse than the temporarily sore toe I got. Many thanks to the snow gods (once again).
Here are some shots from Lone Moose:
Top of the hill
Halfway down the run
Feeling utterly exhausted and rubber-legged (I got some relief by Reikiing my thighs for a while), I hooked up with Mike, who had come out late. A few blue runs and time to go in. Mike is doing well, but needs confidence… and a lesson. Not this trip.
Came home, had a beer, took a nap….now time for bed. I need to be fresh for the 2 hours I have in the morning before heading to the airport to drop off the Coyles and pick up my darling children and grandchildren. Can't wait.
Came home, had a beer, took a nap….now time for bed. I need to be fresh for the 2 hours I have in the morning before heading to the airport to drop off the Coyles and pick up my darling children and grandchildren. Can't wait.
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