2016-2017 ORYGUN - Annual Pow, Beer, and Duct Tape Thread

[wyeaster]

but other chairs are fair game?

#frozen #snailtrail

i did not know my brain could go there

[Tap]

Is that Ms Tap on far right?

Nope. Mrs Tap rolls high class

[FatKidFromFL]

Please let us know what the snow conditions are like. I'm really curious what things look like after this rain cycle. I'm hoping to get a big tour or climb in on Sunday but it's going to be VERY dependent on what happens to avy conditions when this system passes through Fri/Sat

let me preface this report with this caveat: "I'll never complain about a day on the mountain"

conditions from 6k to 6350: 2-4 inches of heavy wind affected new snow. From 6350-7k wind scoured rain crust, with pockets of pow in lee spots. Wind was blasting directly out of the west. Crust was in breakable by ski, but could be broken with boots. Boot crampons yeilded a mix of supportive and no supportive crusts. Ski crampons made travel simple. I skinned to the top of the little salmon canyon, but bailed due to severe wind loading on e aspects and obv signs of cornice failure/activity. Spindrift coming off the ridges was intense. I traversed over to just above Silcox, and transitioned to freak mode. A passenger-cat was there with a large group taking photos. 3 people were geared-up. I asked and was informed that they were a group from Columbia sportswear that was on a team-building trip; they spent the night at Silcox. Only 3 were brave enough to ride down the skating rink. Two on skis and one, in shorts, on a snowboard. Let me state that it was 20ish degrees and blowing sustained 20knts sideways. He kept taking diggers and doing endos, breaking through the crust with his back and bare knees. The snowcat crawled along and escorted these guys with coworkers in the cabin watching the whole thing go down. The skiers managed to stay up, but the lone boarder was having such a great time that the snowcat driver wound up calling the fight and loaded them back up. On a personal note: I confirmed that my salomon czars are my all-mountain ski of choice when ice is possible; they handled 10000x better than my JJs did @ bbi17 on "blue Friday". And the only thing that sucks more than ice, is ice with flat light, which I encountered on this descent as well.

[Fallenberg]

Shorts huh?

[OregonDead]

Tell us more about this freak mode.

let me preface this report with this caveat: "I'll never complain about a day on the mountain"

conditions from 6k to 6350: 2-4 inches of heavy wind affected new snow. From 6350-7k wind scoured rain crust, with pockets of pow in lee spots. Wind was blasting directly out of the west. Crust was in breakable by ski, but could be broken with boots. Boot crampons yeilded a mix of supportive and no supportive crusts. Ski crampons made travel simple. I skinned to the top of the little salmon canyon, but bailed due to severe wind loading on e aspects and obv signs of cornice failure/activity. Spindrift coming off the ridges was intense. I traversed over to just above Silcox, and transitioned to freak mode. A passenger-cat was there with a large group taking photos. 3 people were geared-up. I asked and was informed that they were a group from Columbia sportswear that was on a team-building trip; they spent the night at Silcox. Only 3 were brave enough to ride down the skating rink. Two on skis and one, in shorts, on a snowboard. Let me state that it was 20ish degrees and blowing sustained 20knts sideways. He kept taking diggers and doing endos, breaking through the crust with his back and bare knees. The snowcat crawled along and escorted these guys with coworkers in the cabin watching the whole thing go down. The skiers managed to stay up, but the lone boarder was having such a great time that the snowcat driver wound up calling the fight and loaded them back up. On a personal note: I confirmed that my salomon czars are my all-mountain ski of choice when ice is possible; they handled 10000x better than my JJs did @ bbi17 on "blue Friday". And the only thing that sucks more than ice, is ice with flat light, which I encountered on this descent as well.

[plurpimpin]

let me preface this report with this caveat: "I'll never complain about a day on the mountain"

conditions from 6k to 6350: 2-4 inches of heavy wind affected new snow. From 6350-7k wind scoured rain crust, with pockets of pow in lee spots. Wind was blasting directly out of the west. Crust was in breakable by ski, but could be broken with boots. Boot crampons yeilded a mix of supportive and no supportive crusts. Ski crampons made travel simple. I skinned to the top of the little salmon canyon, but bailed due to severe wind loading on e aspects and obv signs of cornice failure/activity. Spindrift coming off the ridges was intense. I traversed over to just above Silcox, and transitioned to freak mode. A passenger-cat was there with a large group taking photos. 3 people were geared-up. I asked and was informed that they were a group from Columbia sportswear that was on a team-building trip; they spent the night at Silcox. Only 3 were brave enough to ride down the skating rink. Two on skis and one, in shorts, on a snowboard. Let me state that it was 20ish degrees and blowing sustained 20knts sideways. He kept taking diggers and doing endos, breaking through the crust with his back and bare knees. The snowcat crawled along and escorted these guys with coworkers in the cabin watching the whole thing go down. The skiers managed to stay up, but the lone boarder was having such a great time that the snowcat driver wound up calling the fight and loaded them back up. On a personal note: I confirmed that my salomon czars are my all-mountain ski of choice when ice is possible; they handled 10000x better than my JJs did @ bbi17 on "blue Friday". And the only thing that sucks more than ice, is ice with flat light, which I encountered on this descent as well.

Sounds sporty, kinda what I expected but not what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for the detailed writeup. Will be interesting to see how this storm sets up on top of the rain crusts...

[FatKidFromFL]

Tell us more about this freak mode.

Prior to freak mode, it is usually the case that one has to make one's gat explode. It is imperative, however, that one lays all dem bustas down. Then, and only then, can one truly switch one's mind BACK into freak mode; because lets not forget: we begin in freak mode... so this is merely a return to that from which we came.

Sounds sporty, kinda what I expected but not what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for the detailed writeup. Will be interesting to see how this storm sets up on top of the rain crusts...

How far north does this evil go? I assume Saint Helens is equally dismal at present.... I want to get in a day trip before I go to the tropics... running out of time quick.

[homeeey]

Meadows HD webcams are really paying off.

[irratator]

Its a windy sob in central oregon this pm, warm too

[jonesy]

Sharp edges are your friend

[mattig]

Pretty crunchy today. Blue skies and 39 degrees at the lodge.



Demo day redesignated Jong rental day.

Tailgate pad Thai is officially dialed.

[wyeaster]

no pain, all over the mountain. thank you, ullr.

[puma]

no pain, all over the mountain. thank you, ullr.

Great news!

[wyeaster]

see you in april at bachy -- and not on the bunny hill!

post-ski school goof. loved his first lesson so much we extended from half day to full.

[Tap]

Mattig....table for two, with a view?

[mattig]

Mattig....table for two, with a view?

I thought you'd never ask. New location opening in Bend mid April. Best place to eat on any mountain with a crowded lodge.

Speaking of crowds, here's what you guys missed at MHM demo.

[wyeaster]

make it so

[Fallenberg]

I thought you'd never ask. New location opening in Bend mid April. Best place to eat on any mountain with a crowded lodge.

Speaking of crowds, here's what you guys missed at MHM demo.

Now I require pad Thai. ON3P demo up there today?

[klauss]

Pretty crunchy today. Blue skies and 39 degrees at the lodge.

Demo day redesignated Jong rental day.

Tailgate pad Thai is officially dialed.

My tailgate wok is much larger. I would have liked to be up there today.

haven't been able to hit the hill in weeks. have 3 days planned at crystal next week. looks a bit dreary but could pan out.

ON3P has been verboten by meadows management as their skis are too local

[Tap]

Full McGovern down the Summit headwall yday. Best I've had in years. Might have been the big photo pack messed up my balance. The nice skiers brought my hat and goggles back to me.

[Tap]

LOF'L

[mattig]

Now I require pad Thai. ON3P demo up there today?

No, much to my dismay. Maybe someone can confirm, but judging by the fact that only the biggest factories are represented, one might conclude "money" is involved. They must have spent a lot to be there because they clearly didn't have anything left to pay for basic sales training or interpersonal communication 101--especially Dynastar.

Pad Thai is on the rotation. Any time I post up, feel free to stop by, though it sounds like the party is at the Klaussmobile.

Tap, I totally know that trick! Usually need a few drinks to work up the courage to attempt. I agree I notice a big difference without the pack. (You OK?)

[josef]

Pretty crunchy today. Blue skies and 39 degrees at the lodge.



Demo day redesignated Jong rental day.

Tailgate pad Thai is officially dialed.

Were you in an EcoDiesel in the main lot?

[iggyskier]

Now I require pad Thai. ON3P demo up there today?

Unfortunately ON3P is not invited to demo at Meadows anymore. They limit it to only brands sold in their HPC, hence no more 4frnt, Armada, etc. We've been working on trying to get into the HPC so we could demo up there often (we would be there likely 1x/month if we could) but to date, our efforts to get in there have fallen pretty flat.

It isn't abnormal to have mountains turn us down for demos if we are not sold by their on hill stores. I would say that is the response we get from maybe 1/3 of mountains out there (generally this is at larger corporate resorts - Vail, Jackson, Squaw - but it is the case at Meadows & Bachelor too). Just sucks that Meadows is our home mountain and they are the two resorts we would likely demo at the most given the chance, but that's business.

We used to be allowed to demo 2x per year at the large demo days there, but that changed for the spring demo when Meadows had a ton of inventory to clear at the HPC during that crazy bad season 2 years ago (which, we understood) and we've just never been allowed to come back.

When the fleet is in town, though, we do offer free demos out of the factory.

[mattig]

Just sucks that Meadows is our home mountain and they are the two resorts we would likely demo at the most given the chance

Understatement. I bet the HPC could sell a few too!

I wonder if this same scenario play out for other indies near their home resorts.