riverc0il
New member
wow, my last day on skis this season is almost a full month earlier than my last day last year. both last days were on the same mountain. before i begin, let's reflect on last year's excellent base depths that kept wildcat open and skiable until the end of april. while the cover was much better than <A HREF="http://www.netway.com/~theway/ski/2003/wildcat2003.htm" TARGET="_top">my last day of the 2003 ski season: april 21, 2003</A>, today showed that base depth is way more important than cover. <BR> <BR>funny story. i skid to a top on middle lynx and chat it up with a couple about the chair lift they removed. i say something like "yea, that's one of the old riblet chairs" to which the man responds "i don't think that was the name of the chair, i think it was..." <BR> <BR>"well, the manufacturer of the lift was riblet." you had to be there. any ways... <BR> <BR>i saw the conga line heading up tuckerman ravine only once through the clouds. i'm expecting a report! if no report appears, take this: sherburne had snow all the way to the base, but looked pretty sketchy down low! i wouldn't expect not to walk your skis across some nasty sections. <BR> <BR>predicted temps were never hit! i never removed my helmet nor my wind breaker as temps musta stayed around the 40s or so. might have hit 50 at the base. but the rain softened things up over night. but no sun to soften things up more, so the snow held out well. it was wet but edgable and generally not mushy except some groomers. <BR> <BR>yea, they groomed. the groomers were ugly. snow was not pleasant to turn on and the base is almost gone, thin cover in many places. <BR> <BR>much better was the ungroomed stuff. lift lines in effect, past and present! old gondi line was primo with nice soft edgable snow and occasional bumps. good bump lines up top under the quad with AWESOME small soft bumpers on a moderate pitch near the bottom of the quad. i'd say they'd be perfect for learning and/or practicing your bump technique. you'd almost swear they were man made! <BR> <BR>could squeeze through the catacomb glade, but not much left in there. bumps on upper wildcat were doable, but pretty blah. lynx wasn't doing anything for me, but was okay middle and lower. catapult was complete crap. <BR> <BR>run of the day hands down was catenary, panther a distant but respectable and well earned second. i spent the morning on panther but should have been banging out catenary every run! damn, just sweet perfect small soft edgable bumps. delightful, excitable, sensational! my legs are burning, i haven't spent a full day in the bumps non-stop all season. 2000 vert feet every run just got my legs in shape for hiking season (which for me probably starts next saturday at monadnock, bare boot!). <BR> <BR>tomorrow should be much like today, so have fun if you're skiing tomorrow! i'm gonna be generous and give wildcat two weeks till they shut down. two more 60 degree days and it won't last that long. they got no base to work with. <BR> <BR>eye candy: <BR>http://www.netway.com/~theway/ski/2004/wildcat2004.htm
