Mark Renson
New member
I was disappointed in the clear night skies on the way up I-89. But as I approached The Granville Gulf Line, that changed as snow fell and treacherous driving ensued. <BR> <BR> On Saturday, App Gap Effect winds were making squally conditions and light untracked <BR>covered the surface. I suspected that this would <BR>be very light on top of boiler plate which would <BR>mean potentially miserable conditions. I drew <BR>the difficult Partridge-Slalom Hill for trail <BR>check. Dropping in from the top of Gazelle, I <BR>was pleasantly surprised to find great untracked <BR>and I schussed into Partridge where I looked <BR>forward to some great virgin snow and more great <BR>conditions. But, my first 3 or 4 turns scraped <BR>the powder down to bare ground ..... and then <BR>Slalom Hill had its "moments" and that's what <BR>most of the weekend was about - where I thought <BR>conditions would be great, it was lousy; where I <BR>thought conditions would be lousy, it was great. <BR>You never knew what you would get. <BR> <BR> The woods down the gut of the mountain <BR>were great. I led some unknown pinheads into an <BR>area I had worked on for public relations and had <BR>a generally great time. Dickie Hall said some <BR>nice things about our patrol and that got me <BR>motivated. It was NATO Telefest weekend, so <BR>there was a festive atmosphere and the party in <BR>the Basebox at the end of the day was a lotta' <BR>fun. Dickie Hall puts on a great show. <BR> <BR> But by Sunday, the snow was pretty beat. <BR>We made some turns in the woods which was pretty <BR>hammered and lousy. Much better snow was to be <BR>found on the mighty green Duck. <BR> <BR> Lifts were kept running 'til 4:30. For <BR>sweep, I was assigned Panther. When I descended <BR>down the bump line on the right on the headwall, <BR>I found great snow and I thought to myself "gee, <BR>last run of the day and it looks like it will <BR>turn out to be the nicest ski run; certainly the <BR>snow will be great all the way down to Snail". <BR>So, when I landed at the top of the headwall that <BR>splits to Slalom Hill, I found glare ice unlike <BR>anything I've ever seen there before and raw <BR>crap. Like I said, ya' never know what you were <BR>gonna' get this weekend. It sure kept things <BR>entertaining. <BR> <BR> Snow this week???? Ya' gotta believe!!!!