When (no BS) Do Eastern Powder Days Compare to Utah?

[Admin]

when you come ski some pow days in maine

That started in the 1970s and continued into the 2000s.

then we can go back and forth and make comparisons. since you'll probably never come to maine to ski pow, then you'll never know and continue making calls on things you know nothing about first hand and that's how some people are and i know many like you.

You know many like me? Apparently not as well as you think. Be careful about making presumptions there, sonny boy, for growing up in New England and skiing there from age 5 to age 39, I was skiing Maine pow for decades before you were born. :lol: At least for the 15 minutes before it was tracked out. :wink:

As I recall, I first vacationed at Saddleback in the winter of 1973/74. Hell, I still remember when the Kennebago t-bar was installed. I therefore speak from experience when I know that 127 New England acres remaining completely untracked into the afternoon is a physical impossibility, and that's how I know full well that there's no way that the in-bounds anywhere in the Northeast remains untracked longer than here, in-bounds or sidecountry. It's just more hopelessly optimistic crap that has no foundation in any sort of reality. I admire people who are always optimistic, but I pity those whose optimism leaves them blind to the truth.

So yeah, I guess that I know many people like you, too.

 

[Marc_C]

3rds?! you gotta start gettin east coast starts to get yer 1st's out there. stowe style!

The first two were likely ski patrol.

patrolers don't leave tracks in snow? 3rds is 3rds, not to take anything from what was a well earned run.
rog

Now you're just arguing for the sake of arguing. Of course patrollers leave tracks. But you sure aren't going to be there before them, and it's sure not going to be open before they go down. You're saying to get up early to get first tracks on something like Main. It's not gonna happen 'cause you're not getting up there before patrol. So please give us a f-ing break on this kind of BS.

 

[Marc_C]

a big reason our stuff doesn't get tracked as fast is cuz alot of folks don't ski pow here like they do there. here, a group of folks will just follow their buds right in their tracks leaving untracked for the taking. another thing is those 50 skiers weren't there right away in the morning, there were 6 skiers ahead of me and they all took the same trail once at the top. i went the other way for 3 runs, went back to ski their run and they left like 30ft onone side and 20 feet on the other untracked, they don't ski the sides, funny.

In another post you said that if it wasn't 100% untracked, then it isn't untracked. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Overnight the knee ballooned up to twice its normal size and I can barely bend it, much less walk on it.

Having been there and done that twice, I'd recommend seeing the ortho ASAP. I urge you to expedite the process because you will lose muscle tone while waiting around, and as soon as you're diagnosed you can start rehab. It took me 3 weeks from injury (torn meniscus in Feb. 1995) to MRI results, therefore 6 weeks rehab after that before I was back on skis. The pro athletes who get the MRI immediately are often back in action in only 2-3 weeks after a similar injury.

Of course I can't resist wading into the powder debate . I'm in general agreement with MarcC's comments from another thread. I tend to define "powder turns" as flotation vs. skiing on a subsurface underneath the snow. A few other tracks usually don't bother me, and in fact help to define a line when the visibility is bad. When the snow is heavy, the tracked snow sets up; then it's more important not to turn in any tracks. When the snow is high quality it can be quite tracked and still ski like powder, the days Patrick and I had at Jackson being a noteworthy example.

Thus I'm inclined to agree with admin's call, but with a slightly different take. Sugarloaf averages 175 inches of snow per season. By the formula I developed over the summer that translates to only 8% of days (12/1 - 3/31) with 6 inches or more new snow. By general consensus Saddleback gets more snow than Sugarloaf but Sunday River gets less. And Sunday River did not report any new snow between Dec. 1 and Dec. 7. I think icelantic was skiing a thin surface of something quite enjoyable over the groomed base last week, but I don't think many of us westerners would have called it powder.

While we're :snowball fight: Catherine's laps are almost by definition ~50% of Supreme's vertical in powder due to the traverse getting over there and the long runout getting back to Supreme. Not that I wouldn't have made the same choice given snow quality.

 

[salida]

Everyone is forgetting that it was 4 days after the storm at this video came from... Hence, the snow had 4 days to get tracked before this video was taken.

And Ice... bethel is one of the least snowiest places in Maine. Why not go up to Saddleback or the Loaf? Bethel is always getting snow shadowed by the presis.

Admin, the way you were getting around I would really doubt a torn ligament. I would see an ortho to appease your mind. You've got it better than some. A friend we were skiing with yesterday poped her acl entering glory hole. Really to bad, one hell of a patrol ride out from there.

Here's to another foot or two on the way.

 

[Skidog]

skied daily at solitude and found a night and day difference. it still lasts way longer at solitude from my experience.
rog

WAY shorter shots...slow ass lifts...WAY hard to get to Honeycomb and back...no wonder its tracked out slower...

Rog just for shits and giggles how bout a link to the fresh you skied all day the "da rivah" with some pics or vid?

Thanks.

M

 

[icelanticskier]

And Ice... bethel is one of the least snowiest places in Maine. Why not go up to Saddleback or the Loaf? Bethel is always getting snow shadowed by the presis.
Here's to another foot or two on the way.

rob, i ski my hills on a case by case basis. each day is a bit different and sometimes one spot will get more than another only a short distance away. now, saddleback and burke are in a whole other league as far as untracked preservation goes, and there are others that are even better but, i'll never talk of those. on this day, i knew the riv would get snow vs vermont turning to rain early and at the loaf it didn't get started till later which meant only 2-3 inches for 1st chair vs 6 at the riv. i've also spent more time at the riv, know most of the midweek retirees and locals and know the trail go-to patterns on pow days. fortunately at the riv for others there are friends on pow days and most just ski in each others tracks leaving sides of and sides of sides of runs a clean canvas. 4 days after a storm does make a difference and that was overlooked, i focussed more on the catherines opening and the first tracks frenzy.

good one on main btw, and yes i know getting to stuff before patrol out there is alot different than out here where ya can just slap on the skins early and go hit whatever ya want up high whether it be mansfields summit ridge, or the loafs backside, it's free reign out here which i like.
rog

 

[Skidog]

And Ice... bethel is one of the least snowiest places in Maine. Why not go up to Saddleback or the Loaf? Bethel is always getting snow shadowed by the presis.
Here's to another foot or two on the way.

rob, i ski my hills on a case by case basis. each day is a bit different and sometimes one spot will get more than another only a short distance away. now, saddleback and burke are in a whole other league as far as untracked preservation goes, and there are others that are even better but, i'll never talk of those. on this day, i knew the riv would get snow vs vermont turning to rain early and at the loaf it didn't get started till later which meant only 2-3 inches for 1st chair vs 6 at the riv. i've also spent more time at the riv, know most of the midweek retirees and locals and know the trail go-to patterns on pow days. fortunately at the riv for others there are friends on pow days and most just ski in each others tracks leaving sides of and sides of sides of runs a clean canvas. 4 days after a storm does make a difference and that was overlooked, i focussed more on the catherines opening and the first tracks frenzy.

good one on main btw, and yes i know getting to stuff before patrol out there is alot different than out here where ya can just slap on the skins early and go hit whatever ya want up high whether it be mansfields summit ridge, or the loafs backside, it's free reign out here which i like.
rog

Pics of this "untracked pow" you skied at "da rivah"???? Still waiting. I saw some stuff (sunday river promotional video) from Dec 3, but didnt look like any pow that I could see...wondering if you had some magical dump.

 

[chris062]

Icelantic, you are definitely right about the rush to track up powder at Alta as I experienced that last year my first time there. However, later in the day I found some untracked and I bet there was a lot more to find. With the size of the resorts here in Utah, knowing where the stashes are makes all the difference. Also, from that video you linked, I would take a powder day in Utah any day of the week, regardless of whether there are a few tracks. That didn't look deep or steep. You can get powder like that for many days after a storm, just by going into the trees off any easier run. Believe me, I ski those runs a lot with my wife and am always taking short cuts through trees for plenty of powder. I'm glad that you enjoy the skiing there, but I agree with the flag!

 

[icelanticskier]

Icelantic, you are definitely right about the rush to track up powder at Alta as I experienced that last year my first time there

that's my point. thank you
done
rog

 

[Skidog]

Icelantic, you are definitely right about the rush to track up powder at Alta as I experienced that last year my first time there

that's my point. thank you
done
rog

Way to pull what works for you out of a pervious post..the OP states right after that he was able to find much untracked even hours later in the trees....he also calls BS..

Im still waiting for the pics/video "untracked pow" at "da rivah" on dec 6.....

I mean I can understand if you cant produce pics as we left the "untracked pow" that we skied out of the video too... :roll:

I am calling too!

M

 

[Skidog]

So you're agreeing with Icelantic that you'll get more untracked lines at Sunday River?
:lol:

well, i must say, it's nice to hear people agree that alta get's hit hard and fast. funny that people would question me on it as i did live right at the bottom of high rustler in 95, and it got tracked way too fast for my taste then, and that was with slow lifts putting less folks on the hill. even more funny is that when i lived there 13 years ago, all of the locals then would say how overun with powder hounds the place had become in recent years to then. don't get me wrong, alta has wonderful terrain, one of the most natural feels of any hill out there and i love it on refill days, it's just changed so much, but i guess change is inevitable. terrain aside, i do get more complete untracked on a given day at some resorts on a regular basis out here than i did at alta with no competition for it or lift lines of any kind and i prefer that atmosphere. gonna be a good weekend to be a wasatch skier, eastern skier? very amusing at this time. good to have a good sense of humor and know that it'll dump again soon.
rog

Cross post from another board...

Our outing was scheduled for Wednesday, so we went. NCP be damned. Arrived about 9:40 and the South Ridge lot was empty. Maybe 15 cars. The place was a ghost town. Chondola out of South Ridge was undergoing tests, and looked sharp; four 6 pack chairs, then a Gondola car. The bookends, White Cap (White Heat, etc.) and Jordan weren't open yet, but enough of the lifts in the middle were. Unfortunately, each lift had only one or two trails open, so the total amount of terrain was actually fairly limited. Additionally, the Barker HSQ (the one that goes across the pond) didn't run, so we weren't able to access that terrain either. The explanation was a breakdown, but I'm guessing Boyne was just trying saving money. I'd have preferred they closed Aurora, the one trail open over there really wasn't worth the slog over and back. Overall, everything had been groomed flat. Didn't see even a hint of a mogul anywhere, but the surface itself was pretty good. SR is known for the quality of its snowmaking and to a lesser extent their grooming. Additionally, skiing in the r*in is always nice, as long as you're prepared. Their base isn't nearly as deep as Killington's and it didn't appear that any natural terrain was open. They seem to have concentrated on getting blue cruisers open, so the overall experience was not as challenging as I'd have liked. On the plus side, in addition to the Chondola, they've added lights down from North Peak. They came on about 3PM, and the last 45 minutes we lapped Escapade under the lights which was pleasant. Over the years, I've really enjoyed SR, however right now I think they're a bit off their game. Not having more blacks and double blacks open this time of year is a tactical mistake. Still, I had a great time, and the Foggy Goggle is always a fun slope side bar.

Interesting that he states "no natural" terrain open...wonder how you were claiming that you were skiing untracked all day last week at the same resort that seems barely opened???? Was this poster skiing a different sunday river? Cant be? Killingtons base right now is listed somewhere in the 18" range and "da rivah" has less according to this poster...

Tall tales?
:lol:

M

P.S. Altas base is currently 36" and TONS coming this weekend...Enjoy "da rivah"

Ha...that post is yours isnt it ROG??? from Killingtonzone??? Or is it just a coincidence that the OP name is "rogman"?

 

[icelanticskier]

no gaperdog rogman is not me. and that report must've been more recent as all of northern ne lost alot of snow into yesterday due to hot rain. the day i skied untracked all day was open trails only (25) with 10-14 inches of new on top of soft groomed at the end of the day. barker lift was closed today, a friend told me. i was at sunapee today for a demo and i'll be at cannon tomorrow with a forecasted 10-14 inches overnight ending at noon tomorrow.
rog

 

[jasoncapecod]

cannon tomorrow with a forecasted 10-14 inches overnight ending at noon tomorrow.
rog

where do you get theses forecasts.. as of 5am it is raining on top of the rock pile aka: Mt Washington

 

[Patrick]

cannon tomorrow with a forecasted 10-14 inches overnight ending at noon tomorrow.
rog

where do you get theses forecasts.. as of 5am it is raining on top of the rock pile aka: Mt Washington

No rain here. :mrgreen:

 

[Skidog]

cannon tomorrow with a forecasted 10-14 inches overnight ending at noon tomorrow.
rog

where do you get theses forecasts.. as of 5am it is raining on top of the rock pile aka: Mt Washington

He pulls them out of his ARSE!!!! That report I posted was from like 2 days ago man...boy you like to drum up some TALL TALES!!!! Thats ok though i know people who try their best to make the situation they are in seem as rosey as it can be.

Oh yeah....we have FEET yes plural on the way.....I think we'll find plenty of "untracked" all weekend at alta/bird...FREE REFILLS!!!

enjoy your weekend rog.

M

 

[Skidog]

i'll be at cannon tomorrow with a forecasted 10-14 inches overnight ending at noon tomorrow.
rog

Hmm predicted, but NEVER fell...im betting freezing rain on top of those "wet inches" that did actually fall.

You know we too can check the web sites of the resorts you ski. You REALLY should remember that.

http://www.cannonmt.com/snowreport.html

M

 

[jamesdeluxe]

He pulls them out of his ARSE!!!!

:lol:

 

[chris062]

Looking at the Cannon website, I gotta ask - is that really a mountain? I don't believe that you can compare those little resorts back east to what we have here in the Wasatch. Heck, even the local Socal resorts are steeper and bigger than that flat hill! :dead horse:

 

[Skidog]

Looking at the Cannon website, I gotta ask - is that really a mountain? I don't believe that you can compare those little resorts back east to what we have here in the Wasatch. Heck, even the local Socal resorts are steeper and bigger than that flat hill! :dead horse:

There is really only one person claiming that it compares in any way (though james has eluded to the fact that he might agree at least in part).

I think he's just butthurt he doesnt live here anymore! :wink:

M