tseeb
Well-known member
It was my 4th day this season at Kirkwood and first day I was there for most of the day. Kirkwood must have really been hammered by NE wind on Tuesday and Wednesday, when I heard they only ran chairs 5, 7 and 11 (plus probably beginner chairs 1 and 9). I parked in corner of lot closest to chair 7 and had my first fall of the trip putting on my 2nd ski boot next to passenger’s door where it was very icy. I warmed up taking chair 7 at 9:45 before moving to Cornice for three laps. Look Out Janek was smooth and fast early. Sentinel was very good, but Zacharys, the main E-facing run next to chair seems to be getting over-groomed and is firm. Pictures are Janek. It was not busy.
I took two early laps on the Wall. Some of it was so wind-affected that it looked like it had been bombed. Maybe it was. This is Headwaters.
But there were also good places. First picture is skier on snow moved by the wind on main Wall run and second is above top of Reut that I skied a few times. I have yet to go into Wagon Wheel Bowl this year, but it may have been a good day to check out Notch Chute for windsift.
I rode T-bar above chair 2 for the first time this season. Not only is the 2nd half after the turn steep, unqualified riders are kept off it with hike of almost 100' vertical above top of chair 2. I used to take hike with slightly less vertical from chair 3, but that is no longer allowed.
Not only did I have to remove skis to continue along ridge for the first time I can remember, but I didn't find much expected blown-in snow. I did find a flag that I had to look up.
I meant to come down NW-facing gully that is around corner behind rock on right, but I came down too firm W-facing in center.
Chair 4 runs were in great shape in afternoon. I had 3 long slow rides, with a Stella on the second one. Wind was blowing straight up run.
I exited via main Thunder Saddle run which goes to the left after drop-in and ends in small bowl. Both were good. I rode chair 2 and skied ungroomed W-facing High Whiskey. While it was somewhat smooth, it was too firm. To return to where I’d parked, I rode Reut and skied right edge of the Race Course which was still in sun and in great shape to took another run on Cornice where they had added sign warning about firm conditions, maybe after injury I’d seen earlier on Sentinel. I finished my day with at 3:30 ride on chair 7 for 26.2K according to my watch which counted chair 2/T-bar as one run. EpicMix vertical was lower as it skipped the T-bar, but I liked the number it had.
With a quick stop at Lockeford Meats for chorizo and sausages and in Manteca for rare in CA gas for under $4 gas, even with debit card, I was home before 7:30.
I took two early laps on the Wall. Some of it was so wind-affected that it looked like it had been bombed. Maybe it was. This is Headwaters.
But there were also good places. First picture is skier on snow moved by the wind on main Wall run and second is above top of Reut that I skied a few times. I have yet to go into Wagon Wheel Bowl this year, but it may have been a good day to check out Notch Chute for windsift.
I rode T-bar above chair 2 for the first time this season. Not only is the 2nd half after the turn steep, unqualified riders are kept off it with hike of almost 100' vertical above top of chair 2. I used to take hike with slightly less vertical from chair 3, but that is no longer allowed.
Not only did I have to remove skis to continue along ridge for the first time I can remember, but I didn't find much expected blown-in snow. I did find a flag that I had to look up.
I meant to come down NW-facing gully that is around corner behind rock on right, but I came down too firm W-facing in center.
Chair 4 runs were in great shape in afternoon. I had 3 long slow rides, with a Stella on the second one. Wind was blowing straight up run.
I exited via main Thunder Saddle run which goes to the left after drop-in and ends in small bowl. Both were good. I rode chair 2 and skied ungroomed W-facing High Whiskey. While it was somewhat smooth, it was too firm. To return to where I’d parked, I rode Reut and skied right edge of the Race Course which was still in sun and in great shape to took another run on Cornice where they had added sign warning about firm conditions, maybe after injury I’d seen earlier on Sentinel. I finished my day with at 3:30 ride on chair 7 for 26.2K according to my watch which counted chair 2/T-bar as one run. EpicMix vertical was lower as it skipped the T-bar, but I liked the number it had.
With a quick stop at Lockeford Meats for chorizo and sausages and in Manteca for rare in CA gas for under $4 gas, even with debit card, I was home before 7:30.
