Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[blazes_boylan]

WP put in a shortcut trail from Zephyr to MJ trail, right through some primo woods . At least they gave it a good name !

B. "the traverse" used to be/still will be called "Do or Die". The new trail in the same place is called "Drunken Englishman".
C. The whole idea is that it will be now easier to get wallets to Lunch Rock. It is fairly retarded in that you'll still have to ski Lower Jane Trail which will suck for beginners. It amazes me that people can't figure out that if you take The Yellow Brick Road/Whistlestop to the High Lo you'll be right at the top of the Jane.

I know I'm a little late to the party on this topic (having been off the grid), but since no one has brought it up, I thought I should.... 3 or 4 summers ago, WP did a major logging project in this area, extensively thinning the trees in this area in preparation for this groomer traverse. It was shocking to see the extent of thinning and this project was why it was thinned so much. This project had been planned for years, and they finally found the $ to finish it. It says quite alot about management priorities that a resort would sacrifice great terrain to sell more $15 burgers, but alas that is today's ski industry. I think the idea is also to get wallets to the base of the Jane, and there are plans for a major remodel of the base area buildings down the road.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Winter Park allows it

Holy ! I just read that. Basically, you can go anywhere anytime. I don't know if this is new but I certainly has not been taken advantage off. I can think of multiple activities within the rules that I'm not sure the ski area would be real fired up about. That said, props to the guy who penned that policy. The management of WP is far from horrible. We'll see what happens.

Blazes...my understanding of what you said is kinda right but mostly not. The heli logging project (at the expense of +/-$10K hour) most primarily for hazard mitigation (insurance) to remove the beetle kill. After the avalanche death a few years ago, there was major pressure to manage the trees (you know...the area between the runs) differently and for the most part it worked out pretty good for the skiers.

[MakersTeleMark]

Anyone been up around Leadville with some beta? Looking for a place to put in some vert and would rather not do it at busy resort uphills. Was thinking something off Rollins, Mayflower gulch / Gold Hill, Mt Arkansas.

Else maybe I'll try Hidden Valley.

And yes -- the skis are $30 early season specials so I'm happy to beat them to fuck.

It's been really cold and dry lately. While you could patch together a tour very easily, I wouldn't count on any turns.

If you are dead set, I'd tour up the Sherman/Sheridan/Dyer area if you are around there.

Here's a pic (not mine) from Ark area recently to give you an idea: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcQJhpGF...n-by=joe.szasz

[blazes_boylan]

Blazes...my understanding of what you said is kinda right but mostly not. The heli logging project (at the expense of +/-$10K hour) most primarily for hazard mitigation (insurance) to remove the beetle kill. After the avalanche death a few years ago, there was major pressure to manage the trees (you know...the area between the runs) differently and for the most part it worked out pretty good for the skiers.

Foggy, from what I've heard, I think both issues were in play. You're certainly right that there has been a big push to manage trees differently, but this logging is much more extensive than other areas worked since the '12 avalanche death (as well as the death from the falling tree the same season). Speaking to several employees seemingly in the know (including the guy who manages this kinda work) the season after the logging was done, when I asked about the extent of the logging, which included "live" (well, at least green) trees being cut, they said they thinned it more because of plans for the traverse. But I guess you never know what's true with this kinda grapevine info. I'd agree in most other areas this logging has really improved tree skiing, but this area is now so open up top it doesn't ski or hold snow nearly as well and its sees much more traffic now that its easier, more open terrain.

[The SnowShow]

Not anymore.

"17/18 Uphill Access Policy Change: Uphill access is no longer permitted during operating hours (8:00am – 4:30pm)"
http://skiloveland.com/the-mountain/uphill-access/

Winter Park allows it.
http://assets.winterparkresort.com/P...rAccessAll.pdf

Any idea why Loveland changed their policy? Too bad since it was so easy to park and head right up.

Wow, Winter Park's new policy looks great. Much like Aspen's.

[Foggy_Goggles]

^^^Yep, its a multi faceted issues. I happen to have 3 friends that all have very different jobs at WP who are all in the know. Whether you work in public relations, risk management or mountain operations, the answer is a little different.

What I want to see is if any changes have been made to the Frenchy Trees egress? If not, good luck 609s with all the goobs funneling down into those sketchy traverses. Have snowboarders learned how to snowplow yet?

[hatchgreenchile]

They don't want randos hanging around, they want bootlickers!
Checked out Eldora on Sunday - that new 6 pack chair is nice! That things chews through lines and makes the front side much better for hot laps.
All trail maps are going in the freezer. Bring on the snow.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Oh..back to the weather. I just drove over The Pass. Don't believe the snow report. Find something better to do. It might be winter but it's not ski season.

[adrenalated]

Any idea why Loveland changed their policy? Too bad since it was so easy to park and head right up.

My best guess is that people were skinning up then riding the upper lifts for free, and it's a lot cheaper to limit uphill access than to add a lifty at every chair.
But I have no idea, that's just speculation on my part.

[doebedoe]

Wow -- fuck the new Loveland uphill policy. That's dumb. Going in the wrong direction in one of the few growing areas of the sport.

[summit]

I know there were some downhill/uphill user conflicts last year that ski patrol had to intervene in...

[The SnowShow]

I know there were some downhill/uphill user conflicts last year that ski patrol had to intervene in...

Easily fixed with better signage. Seems to work just fine at ABasin and Aspen...

[Name Redacted]

Skinning up open groomed runs is fucking stupid. I don’t care if skimo is the hot new shit, it is just asking for some dumbass gaper who can’t stop to run into a spandex clad lung with legs who never signed a liability waiver.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[summit]

Easily fixed with better signage. Seems to work just fine at ABasin and Aspen...

My understanding is that there were a few aggro skinners yelling at tourists (AKA paying customers) on the greens for getting too close or whatever.

Playing devils advocate... you want them to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying and installing signs for nonpaying customers?

I don't think ski hills owe anyone free uphill access during lift hours so long as there are adequate BC access gates and free after-hours uphill is reasonably permitted.

[JaytaeMoney]

Playing devils advocate... you want them to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars buying and installing signs for nonpaying customers?

Aspen uses bamboo poles with plastic "uphill route" signs attached. That's a pretty small capital expenditure for most ski areas.

[Foggy_Goggles]

You guys know there is the sport called cross country skiing. It is even considered acceptable to where tights. It is totally free of avalanche hazard. The equipment is totally light weight. If you prefer, they offer groomed trails.

I heard it is the only growing segment of the sport.

[Soups]

It probably had more to do with skinning all of 15min to 4, 9, or Ptarmagin and then skiing for free

[Foggy_Goggles]

Holy Hell! Are you people those people? What is it even called when you go backcountry skiing on a groomer? You know that a ski area is a business right? So..they..like..charge money?

I think I'm totally gonna take up riding the lifts. Seems like so much more of a sensible activity.

[adrenalated]

What is it even called when you go backcountry skiing on a groomer?

"skimo"

[Name Redacted]

Funny how they call it "Ski Mountaineering" but it's really just a simulation of ski mountaineering which allows for competition and lighter weight gear. If they were in a real mountaineering environment they wouldn't last long on that gear.

[MakersTeleMark]

My understanding is that there were a few aggro skinners yelling at tourists (AKA paying customers) on the greens for getting too close or whatever.

I just fly by them screaming, "JAAAAACCCCKSON POLLLLLLLLLLOCKKKKK!"

[adrenalated]

Funny how they call it "Ski Mountaineering" but it's really just a simulation of ski mountaineering which allows for competition and lighter weight gear. If they were in a real mountaineering environment they wouldn't last long on that gear.

Yeah I've never understood this. There's no mountaineering, and minimal skiing. I think we should call it "grape-smugglers ski running" or grsm skiru for short.

[ffmedic84]

My best guess is that people were skinning up then riding the upper lifts for free, and it's a lot cheaper to limit uphill access than to add a lifty at every chair.
But I have no idea, that's just speculation on my part.

I'd bet that has something to do with it. I see a lot of people doing this at Abasin now. Skinning up to Lenawee and just staying up there all day.

[doebedoe]

Funny how they call it "Ski Mountaineering" but it's really just a simulation of ski mountaineering which allows for competition and lighter weight gear. If they were in a real mountaineering environment they wouldn't last long on that gear.

I don't know about that. Killian Jornet has skied bigger shit than most anyone on this forum on a regular basis and he seems to do ok on ski mo gear. Lots of guides in the Alps are on relatively wimpy looking gear and still ski well.

[MakersTeleMark]

Funny how they call it "Ski Mountaineering" but it's really just a simulation of ski mountaineering which allows for competition and lighter weight gear. If they were in a real mountaineering environment they wouldn't last long on that gear.

I think we need to establish some boundries on nomenclature:

Skimo:



Spandomo:



Sidecomo:



Ski mountaineering: