Whiteface Mt. 3-2-03

[Jimski]

Marc, Michael and I teemed up to start the day with the Jim B. family and grandpa Denis joining us later in the AM. <BR> <BR>I picked up Marc and Michael in order to leave their vehicle for the Mrs. and headed out in rainy drizzle and almost snow coming down. We booted up at Kids Kampus that was very un-busy for a super saver Sunday and headed over to the main area in a steady drizzle. We jumped the gondi and after climbing about 500 ft encountered pure snow and not very wet but the kind that stuck pretty well and would prove to enhance surface conditions somewhat from yesterday. From about 3000 ft and above there were fog and socked in cloud conditions besides the snowfall that hindered visibility and filming somewhat but not totally. After several runs we met up with the Bauman clan and tried to keep together as best as possible considering the range of ability from two years to sixty two. The highlight of the day was watching Connor smoke through the High Country glades. Michael! was just burning them up also with cries of let's do it again. It's getting hard to keep up with the kids anymore. We got some pretty good film footage but your's truly botched trying to use Marc's camera not once but twice today and consequently we had a hard time getting him into the shots. Finally on the last run I got it figured out and got a couple of clips of Marc and Michael in the fog through the snowfields on the summit. <BR> <BR>The ultimate highlight of the day for me was finding a little jewel of a chute shot that I never knew about. Twice we were cruising down Excelsior when I noticed people exiting the woods in one particular location. The second time I followed a young girl and her father or uncle or whoever down to where they stopped. I eagerly asked the gentleman where he started skiing in the woods to come out where he did. He looked startled and thought I might be the pass pulling police. When he realized I was harmless he explained he was from Ohio and just following (the girl's name I don't recall) and she could explain, which she did. The next time up Marc and Michael and Kathleen B and Denis and I tried it out much to the liking of Kathleen, Michael and myself. I guess Denis and Marc thought it was a little *tight*. After that excursion Denis was beat and the Bauman clan had to head back with the little ones so Michael and I coerced Marc into doing the summit one more time and , gasp, doing the same chute/gorge shot. Marc asked me how I could even consider doing something like that again. This came from the guy that almost killed me in a drainage cut at Sutton on the first Swampfest. Finding something like that at the Face that resembles a miniature version of that waterfall trail at Orford was just too cool. Having an exciting reason to get back to Whiteface ASAP is a bonus. Tomorrow doesn't sound like a great day to be outdoors but there appears to be more snow in the upcoming week. Long live winter, summer will get here soon enough. Jimski