Smuggs dec 16th, Mad River dec 17th
- Thread starter Lucky Luke
- Start date
Patrick
Well-known member
Thanks for posting those Lucky.
BTW...dates were 16th and 17th. :wink:
Days like the one at Smuggs is one of the best days lifetime, East and West . Can't get any better than that. As good as Jackson, Snowbird or Alta in 2006.
Note, there were no pictures taken in the morning...no friends or pictures when it's so good (and you already know the place). :wink:
BTW...dates were 16th and 17th. :wink:
Days like the one at Smuggs is one of the best days lifetime, East and West . Can't get any better than that. As good as Jackson, Snowbird or Alta in 2006.
Note, there were no pictures taken in the morning...no friends or pictures when it's so good (and you already know the place). :wink:
Nice we have Luke to document Patrick's top ski days!
Patrick
Well-known member
Okay, here is a bit of text to go with those pictures.
SMUGGS - SUNDAY DECEMBER 16TH
Left Bromont at 6:30ish in the morning. Driving a straight line from point A to B, no main highway, mainly country roads. Snow had started falling in Quebec, but it wasn't snowing hard...yet.
Today was D Day for the storm. Calling anywhere between 1-2 feet of snow with high wind. The wind was a concern for the lifts, especially the M1 on Madonna. Arrived in the parking lot at about 8ish, got changed in the van and we were ready to go. Gave our discount vouchers for the ticket ( $48 ) and spoke to the Patrol to asked if the M1 was loading skiers (it was running)? Patrol didn't think so. :?
No one near the lift, but to our surprise, it was open for all to enjoy the joys that Madonna had to offer. \
/ The wind and snow was hitting our faces, it was a bit cold. Coverage on Liftline was extremely good considering the run looks more like a freakshow than a ski run in the McSkiing World. We were disappointed when we reached the upper part of the lift to see that this run, Freefall and Robin's Run were closed. 
FIRST run, FIRST TRACKS in the run...Doc Dempster. Mogul covered with much snow. Wow...Quick, back to M1. Talked to a patrol on top if they were going to open RR, LL, etc. She said maybe later in the day, I told her we were concerned that the lift wouldn't be running later with the forecast of greater winds in the PM. She said that was her feeling also. Great. :roll:
SECOND run, FIRST TRACKS on FIS. WOW!!! Quick, another run.
Started seeing some skiers loading at the bottom. While reaching the summit, we noticed below us a patrol walking towards a bamboo sign. Shit, they opening it... QUICK!!! :twisted: A few skiers noticed it, but turned toward liftline/freefall. Lucky had his eye set on Robin...it was OPEN!!! \/
THIRD run, FIRST TRACKS on Robin's Run. WWWWOOOWWW!!!! We saw the patrol at the first drop and after some small talk with Luc he said after you boys. Thanks!!! \/ Having never skied Smuggs when this run was open, I literally flew down this rollercoaster run with has a series of sharp drops. It seemed that we did run half in the air and half on snow. What a great and fun run. I now understand why Lucky Luke loves it. After finishing Robin, we started heading for the woods until the bottom of the hill.
FOURTH run, pretty much First tracks on upper Liftline. We were flewing and jumping off drops, a behaviour that my chiropractor wouldn't approve. It was cold, wind and snow was building up on our beard, we didn't care. This day was "Priceless". So this run was Upper Liftline then a turn into Freefall. A run that I didn't ski in the last 25 years. I didn't the few rocks drops in it. Great fun. Luc choose the woods. I joined him of the bottom half of the mountain.
What this going to last all day. It was really plunking hard now. Did we make a deal with the Devil? :twisted: We were possessed, nothing was going to slow us down it seemed? Regardless of the Cold and the Icebergs I had hanging down our faces (especially mine), we weren't slowing down.
Not sure what we skied in the Fifth run? Maybe this one was Freefall, I don't remember, I don't recall, it doesn't really matter.
6th run: Lucky is trying to find an old backcountry trail off the summit that he used to ski when he had a pass. He didn't find the entrance to that one, but he found the others. Towards the bottom, I lost a ski for no apparent reason. :shock:
7th run: Recognized Mtngirl from the picture on her blog. A quick Hi before losing my ski after a landing off one of the drops on Upper Liftline. The same thing happened to me in Robin's Run. I was taking this run at the same speed as the first run in it and lost a ski between two drops. I flew off in the air of the second drop with only one ski. I was a bit pissed. :x The landings were definitely not as soft now and I needed to reset my biddings. After Robin, we turned into the steepest part of Liftline that had finally open. Luc asked the Patrol earlier about the main pitch of the Headwall, he said that they were probably leave it closed for snow to build up in it. BUT THEY DIDN'T. \/ The last time I skied it was when I was maybe 16 or 17.
Winds were getting stronger and the M1 Double was running slower, so we headed towards the Sterling lift. Definitely fell off the map on this run. While skiing down the road, we headed for the parking lot. Luc got his lunch and camera. A 30-40 minutes lunch and deicing
of the faces and he were off again. First one on Madonna again to ski Robin's for a third time. It was skied off slightly...he continued into a crazy straight narrow steep line in the woods. Wow...This line is crazy. Probably as Crazy as Octopuss Garden.
Next run including a hike above Sterling/Spruce. Lucky got his camera out and we took some pictures (no pictures in the morning 'cause when it's this good, you don't have time to take pictures). Skied in deep snow, jumps off something crazy.
It was now 3pm and no one was skiing (as if they was any people during the day). Sleet had started falling, once on top we had to go inside the deice our goggles. Big snowflakes started after hard for the ride up on M1. Finished our day on Drifter without heading into the woods. I was well done, you just had to stick a fork in me. :shock:
Next stop, one of the worst Motel I ever sleep in. I had slept at that same motel in Stowe maybe 14 years ago, something DO changed with time. Because this was Stowe, it's called a $65 Motel. :x We were too tired to go back to the office. :roll:
I will remember this day forever...this is why the East doesn't suck. \/ \/ \/ =D> =D> =D>
PS. One or two pieces of skin peeled off my face under my beard today. I guess I got some frostbitten after all. :roll:
More of Lucky's pictures after + MRG's TR.
edit: Here is Mtngirl perspective for the day.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=6065
SMUGGS - SUNDAY DECEMBER 16TH
Left Bromont at 6:30ish in the morning. Driving a straight line from point A to B, no main highway, mainly country roads. Snow had started falling in Quebec, but it wasn't snowing hard...yet.
Today was D Day for the storm. Calling anywhere between 1-2 feet of snow with high wind. The wind was a concern for the lifts, especially the M1 on Madonna. Arrived in the parking lot at about 8ish, got changed in the van and we were ready to go. Gave our discount vouchers for the ticket ( $48 ) and spoke to the Patrol to asked if the M1 was loading skiers (it was running)? Patrol didn't think so. :?
No one near the lift, but to our surprise, it was open for all to enjoy the joys that Madonna had to offer. \
/ The wind and snow was hitting our faces, it was a bit cold. Coverage on Liftline was extremely good considering the run looks more like a freakshow than a ski run in the McSkiing World. We were disappointed when we reached the upper part of the lift to see that this run, Freefall and Robin's Run were closed. FIRST run, FIRST TRACKS in the run...Doc Dempster. Mogul covered with much snow. Wow...Quick, back to M1. Talked to a patrol on top if they were going to open RR, LL, etc. She said maybe later in the day, I told her we were concerned that the lift wouldn't be running later with the forecast of greater winds in the PM. She said that was her feeling also. Great. :roll:
SECOND run, FIRST TRACKS on FIS. WOW!!! Quick, another run.
Started seeing some skiers loading at the bottom. While reaching the summit, we noticed below us a patrol walking towards a bamboo sign. Shit, they opening it... QUICK!!! :twisted: A few skiers noticed it, but turned toward liftline/freefall. Lucky had his eye set on Robin...it was OPEN!!! \
/ THIRD run, FIRST TRACKS on Robin's Run. WWWWOOOWWW!!!! We saw the patrol at the first drop and after some small talk with Luc he said after you boys. Thanks!!! \
/ Having never skied Smuggs when this run was open, I literally flew down this rollercoaster run with has a series of sharp drops. It seemed that we did run half in the air and half on snow. What a great and fun run. I now understand why Lucky Luke loves it. After finishing Robin, we started heading for the woods until the bottom of the hill.FOURTH run, pretty much First tracks on upper Liftline. We were flewing and jumping off drops, a behaviour that my chiropractor wouldn't approve. It was cold, wind and snow was building up on our beard, we didn't care. This day was "Priceless". So this run was Upper Liftline then a turn into Freefall. A run that I didn't ski in the last 25 years. I didn't the few rocks drops in it. Great fun. Luc choose the woods. I joined him of the bottom half of the mountain.
What this going to last all day. It was really plunking hard now. Did we make a deal with the Devil? :twisted: We were possessed, nothing was going to slow us down it seemed? Regardless of the Cold and the Icebergs I had hanging down our faces (especially mine), we weren't slowing down.
Not sure what we skied in the Fifth run? Maybe this one was Freefall, I don't remember, I don't recall, it doesn't really matter.
6th run: Lucky is trying to find an old backcountry trail off the summit that he used to ski when he had a pass. He didn't find the entrance to that one, but he found the others. Towards the bottom, I lost a ski for no apparent reason. :shock:
7th run: Recognized Mtngirl from the picture on her blog. A quick Hi before losing my ski after a landing off one of the drops on Upper Liftline. The same thing happened to me in Robin's Run. I was taking this run at the same speed as the first run in it and lost a ski between two drops. I flew off in the air of the second drop with only one ski. I was a bit pissed. :x The landings were definitely not as soft now and I needed to reset my biddings. After Robin, we turned into the steepest part of Liftline that had finally open. Luc asked the Patrol earlier about the main pitch of the Headwall, he said that they were probably leave it closed for snow to build up in it. BUT THEY DIDN'T. \
/ The last time I skied it was when I was maybe 16 or 17. Winds were getting stronger and the M1 Double was running slower, so we headed towards the Sterling lift. Definitely fell off the map on this run. While skiing down the road, we headed for the parking lot. Luc got his lunch and camera. A 30-40 minutes lunch and deicing
of the faces and he were off again. First one on Madonna again to ski Robin's for a third time. It was skied off slightly...he continued into a crazy straight narrow steep line in the woods. Wow...This line is crazy. Probably as Crazy as Octopuss Garden.Next run including a hike above Sterling/Spruce. Lucky got his camera out and we took some pictures (no pictures in the morning 'cause when it's this good, you don't have time to take pictures). Skied in deep snow, jumps off something crazy.
It was now 3pm and no one was skiing (as if they was any people during the day). Sleet had started falling, once on top we had to go inside the deice our goggles. Big snowflakes started after hard for the ride up on M1. Finished our day on Drifter without heading into the woods. I was well done, you just had to stick a fork in me. :shock:
Next stop, one of the worst Motel I ever sleep in. I had slept at that same motel in Stowe maybe 14 years ago, something DO changed with time. Because this was Stowe, it's called a $65 Motel. :x We were too tired to go back to the office. :roll:
I will remember this day forever...this is why the East doesn't suck. \
/ \/ \/ =D> =D> =D> PS. One or two pieces of skin peeled off my face under my beard today. I guess I got some frostbitten after all. :roll:
More of Lucky's pictures after + MRG's TR.
edit: Here is Mtngirl perspective for the day.
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=6065
Attachments
Patrick
Well-known member
riverc0il":2cvcxvyd said:
Now for the Encore!!!
MAD RIVER GLEN - MONDAY DECEMBER 17TH
More snow fell overnight. Still a bit cold and windy. Conditions? Great again.
What a bargain...Mad River Glen sells lifttickets midweek for only $35. What a deal!!! How much does Stowe charge again? :wink:We showed up early again, however there were a few more car in the parking lot than the previous cars than at Smuggs (parking lot was eventually going to fill up, much more than on the Saturday - guess some people have the right priorities). Even the Meatheads car was there. Everyone knew that today was going to be another great day. We were told that the lifts might have to be shutdown if the winds picked up and there were no refunds. No problem, the previous day was priceless, so we were already ahead financially.
If the risks were greater to lose the single, I decided to show to Lucky part of the "off-map" goodies right away. He also had his camera out right away. A few pictures by him and a few missed pictures by me.
Once back on the run, we could feel the cold wind on our face. Geez, all the things you have to put up with for skiing. :lol: We finished our first run down Lower Antelope. The snow was windblown and untracked on the run, not the easiest to ski. Heading further off-map for longer on the second run. Lucky was very pleased and the fact that the snow was real good probably had something to do with it also.
Once at the bottom, we noticed that the single line was pretty long so we decided to take the double a few times. There some good off-piste stuff here also. The Single line was about 12 minutes at around 11am. Started on Paradise then somewhere in the woods towards Glades. All fresh tracks. One more run on the double before lunch. We took care of a few things over the lunch time. Lucky Luke brought his camera to the car, I picked up my camera as I felt bad that I wasn't able to capture so good pictures of Lucky in action, plus I had to carry a souvenir back to Lucky's minivan. One hour later, we were back on the slopes or should I say in the woods?
Four more runs on the Single after lunch. The funniest part of the day was probably when I got tripped by a branch near the bottom of Paradise (not in Paradise). I fell chess first downhill and it was impossible to get up or freed from the ski under the branch. Felt like an upside down turtle, impossible to get out or up. Then I decided to take off my skis in other to get up, snow level was belt high. Impossible to get my foot in my biddings without sicking deeper.:roll: Eventually I decided to crawl my stomach on my skis and slide out of the woods onto the groomed trail 30 feet below. :lol:
We ended our day with one final run down Liftline almost top-to-bottom, Tower 3 being the exception. What another fun day this was. 8)
Attachments
I'll bet Patrick used his B3's (bought for Chile) for this trip.
Vert + powder at Smuggs = at least 45K. I have only 2 lift served days lifetime more than that.
Consecutive days look very comparable to the weekend at Jackson in January 2006. =D>
Vert + powder at Smuggs = at least 45K. I have only 2 lift served days lifetime more than that.
Consecutive days look very comparable to the weekend at Jackson in January 2006. =D>
riverc0il
New member
Hopefully they brought their camcorders. Last few seasons, these guys missed some of the best days of the season because they were busy touring in the Fall (perhaps not missed but not highlighted in the videos). They need a LOT more powder, terrain, and non-park/jib/rail scenes in their videos, IMO. The last two releases have been very unbalanced and had noticeable absences of some of the best days of the year.Patrick":3u68tuq3 said:
Don't you guys ever wear face masks? Maybe sometimes it's better to be a "western wuss," as admin once called me.
Patrick
Well-known member
Okay, here is my last update of the night. :mrgreen:
Looks like someone got a new scanner yesterday :-" + one of the only advantages of being on the DL during vacation. ](*,)
FIRST OFF...
SUNDAY STORM AT SMUGGS.
Recap...storm, cold, drive from Bromont-Smuggs, in parking at 8ish am. Someday like on this Powder day, you leave the camera in the van. Here is one of the reasons, check out my only two of my 3 pics of that day.
Lucky got his camera after lunch and took his pics in the slackcountry.
Arrival in the lot with Lucky checking the beautiful weather outside.
Yes, this is morning. The walk from the lot to the Lodge. Good visibility, no wind, warm and clear blue bird day..NOT. One of the best days EVER.
Looks like someone got a new scanner yesterday :-" + one of the only advantages of being on the DL during vacation. ](*,)
FIRST OFF...
SUNDAY STORM AT SMUGGS.
Recap...storm, cold, drive from Bromont-Smuggs, in parking at 8ish am. Someday like on this Powder day, you leave the camera in the van. Here is one of the reasons, check out my only two of my 3 pics of that day.
Lucky got his camera after lunch and took his pics in the slackcountry.
Arrival in the lot with Lucky checking the beautiful weather outside.
Yes, this is morning. The walk from the lot to the Lodge. Good visibility, no wind, warm and clear blue bird day..NOT. One of the best days EVER.
Patrick
Well-known member
MRG MONDAY UPDATE.
Lucky took the pictures for maybe 1-2 runs in the morning. Unfortunately I couldn't deal with his digital camera, so after lunch I got my camera and let him be the photoslut for 2 runs. :mrgreen:
First run, not sure where that was taken? :-k The rest are on Liftline.
Lucky is flying on Liftline. Less trees to hit, I guess?
Tower 10...before
Tower 10...during. Where is he? :shock:
Tower 10...after. There he is.
Last jump before the bottom. Just seeing this give me a big smile and ...sore back.
Instant reply with close-up of Tower 10.
Lucky took the pictures for maybe 1-2 runs in the morning. Unfortunately I couldn't deal with his digital camera, so after lunch I got my camera and let him be the photoslut for 2 runs. :mrgreen:
First run, not sure where that was taken? :-k The rest are on Liftline.
Lucky is flying on Liftline. Less trees to hit, I guess?
Tower 10...before
Tower 10...during. Where is he? :shock:
Tower 10...after. There he is.
Last jump before the bottom. Just seeing this give me a big smile and ...sore back.
Instant reply with close-up of Tower 10.
Patrick
Well-known member
Last update...
Going to Paradise.
This is Paradise???
Lucky "Black Knight" Luke entering Paradise.
Lucky over the "shorten" waterfall.
Lucky making the ice disappear.
This IS Paradise!!!
This is not Paradise!!! Must have taken the wrong turn in Albuquerque? :mrgreen:
That's all folks...
Going to Paradise.
This is Paradise???
Lucky "Black Knight" Luke entering Paradise.
Lucky over the "shorten" waterfall.
Lucky making the ice disappear.
This IS Paradise!!!
This is not Paradise!!! Must have taken the wrong turn in Albuquerque? :mrgreen:
That's all folks...
yak
New member
Nice to hear you had an epic day at Smuggs.
Reminds me of when I was going to school up there in 78 and the "blizzard" hit lower New England. We only got a couple feet out of it. Me and a buddy skied nothing but liftline in the storm top to bottom all day with our tracks getting filled in after each run.
Reminds me of when I was going to school up there in 78 and the "blizzard" hit lower New England. We only got a couple feet out of it. Me and a buddy skied nothing but liftline in the storm top to bottom all day with our tracks getting filled in after each run.
Patrick
Well-known member
yak":vavzou23 said:
Smuggs gets often overlooked, but it's a great place in a storm.
Not sure if you noticed, because Lucky didn't put a year on the title. This was a report for a epic blizzard on December 16, 2007. I'm just adding some of my pics with my new scanner (one compatible with my computer). :-"