Opening "expert" and rocky terrain with marginal conditions

[Ottime]

I was told by patrol at Alpine that one of the criteria they use is whether or not they think they can get a sled down it. Also, the traverse to Beaver and beyond can be dangerously icy (a fatality some years ago) and that can keep them from opening Beaver even if there's enough snow. I've seen patrol chop that traverse out with axes. I assume that enters into the equation other places as well.

That is basically KIrkwood’s operating procedure. Lifts open when they can build access and ramps for the lift and they can get a sled down the hill. Once they can do that, it becomes your responsibility to determine if you are able to ski it. Some make the wrong call.

[lifelinksplit]

This thread is fucking stupid.

People bitching about having "MORE" things to ski right next to people complaining about covid lines and shitshows. This is a new tgr low.

I will continue to thank my local ski patrol every time they get something open for the season.

[Name Redacted]

This thread is fucking stupid.

People bitching about having "MORE" things to ski right next to people complaining about covid lines and shitshows. This is a new tgr low.

I will continue to thank my local ski patrol every time they get something open for the season.

Agreed.

Our local hill has been opening the good terrain the last few weeks and having a patroller stand there and tell everyone "Be careful, there's rocks and stuff". I might have gotten a little mouthy the other day after hearing it numerous times. Been hitting those same rocks for 25 years bud. Wish they'd just put up a sign and let us have at it. That's what CB would do.

And I have friends who complain about hitting rocks all the time, we don't ski together very much.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

I'm actually a big fan of the rockiness that is persistent at Thin Sky. There are some very reliable shots that are always rocky entrances followed by the deepest snow on the mountain. The rocks keep many away from the goods.

[RootSkier]

This is obvious but people who ski parts of mountains at extreme low tide have a huge advantage when it actually snows, too.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I spend the entire early season memorizing where the snow is. It’s easier now after 17 winters at this rock pile. It changes a little but patterns are pretty reliable. The skiing would be boring here if you waited for good coverage. I don’t think I’ve seen an average base over 50” since I’ve been here.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[hutash]

Isn't this the reason why the "Beware of Obstacles " sign was invented?

[old goat]

When we were at Big Sky a few years ago, Otter Slide would be open one day, closed the next then open again. On one of the open days someone got bad hurt. I wouldn't want to ski it on a closed day.
Standing in line for the tram, my kid says My god, do you see the bottoms of everyone's skis? He added a core shot of his own. It took me a while to figure out there was a marked way from the top of the tram into the backside runs that was (slightly) less rocky, but all the snow that blew off the ridge wound up in Big Couloir, which kept getting refills despite no snow in 5 days. The last day there was so much wind filling that they closed it for avy danger.

[Brownski]

Who was it that said “thin cover is code for fun skiing”? Somebody important I think.

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

When we were at Big Sky a few years ago, Otter Slide would be open one day, closed the next then open again. On one of the open days someone got bad hurt. I wouldn't want to ski it on a closed day.
Standing in line for the tram, my kid says My god, do you see the bottoms of everyone's skis? He added a core shot of his own. It took me a while to figure out there was a marked way from the top of the tram into the backside runs that was (slightly) less rocky, but all the snow that blew off the ridge wound up in Big Couloir, which kept getting refills despite no snow in 5 days. The last day there was so much wind filling that they closed it for avy danger.

Otter is very rarely worth skiing. 95% of the time it's really funky weird sugar on big rocks that don't move much. I will never forget one of my first times skiing it having a good 24" boulder cartwheeling down the face behind me. Doubt that happens too many other places while skiing.

[Bunion 2020]

^^^^ the first 3 years of the tram really did a lot to encourage the wearing of helmets. The amount of those 24" boulders whizzing down Lenin and Marx was frightening. Otter Slide has always been a shit show, I helped to build those snow fences. There was zero forethought or planning on where to site them, we got it pretty much wrong.

I remember one control morning we were working our way down the left side of the Lenin's little gullies and watching my route partner tag a rock, go over the bars and begin star-fishing down the top of Lenin, he was probably carrying 10- 1 KG shots in his pack. Fortunately he hit a little soft snow and was able to stop before he really got a good head of steam.

[mntlion]

Skiing in the rockies is like 70's porn

Lots of bush

Some wood

No faceshots...

[skysos]

I took this one today at Heavenly at the top of North Bowl, which opened today. Personally I love it. There is a little path to the left to get past the rocks and then nicely covered hardly touched snow down below the rock field.

This is the way it's been this year. Everything is open WAY before I expect patrol to drop ropes. I just hope they keep this up in future seasons. Let people take some personal responsibility to not hurt themselves to go along with the masks.

[Ottime]

That is great for Heavenly. Not like them to open things up before there is plenty of coverage. They do have rocks that like to gouge.

Dodge Ridge had a lot open with thin cover. Most tree tops and bush tops. But it was nice to have so much open. Some of the woods were sketch looking. But open.

[old goat]

It's the down boot top high logs that I don't like.

[Name Redacted]

This was me skiing through rocks today:

[Percy Rideout]

Skiing in the rockies is like 70's porn

Lots of bush

Some wood

No faceshots...

Needed to update my sig, thanks.

[goldenboy]

This was me skiing through rocks today:

Haha. Dside nicknamed me the hotstepper. I guess 25 years of skiing in Crested Butte has given me some quick rock dodging feet.

[wolfelot]

I prefer patrol to be fairly aggressive with terrain openings and giving people the choice. I definitely keep it in low gear in the trees early season.

[snowaddict91]

I was at Snowbasin Sunday and I was impressed how much they had open, though skiing terrain you don't know in low tide with 3" of fresh is slightly terrifying. I wanted to open it up in a bad way, but I know better.

Back in CO for a few weeks now and can't wait to smash some rocks at CB tomorrow! Goldenboy, the report says horseshoe is open, is that true?

[telefreewasatch]

My motto about getting terrain open is:
Moguls from the dirt up.
Pays dividends in multiple ways the rest of the winter.
30 years ago we worried about folks bonking their heads on rocks, etc. in low tide terrain.
Folks have proven capable about not killing themselves that the practice endures.
This winter we're seeing ski resorts investing in dividends throughout the west.
So good, eh?

[old goat]

It always helps to know an area well enough to know what's under the 6 inches that just fell.

[DeepHelmet]

I've noticed Snowbird has been a lot more lenient/aggressive/optimistic (you pick the word) with their openings this year than I can ever remember. The Cirque was skiing great a couple weeks ago after that 14" dump, you just gotta be smart enough to either remember where the rocks are, or avoid the untracked stuff that's surrounded by tracks. There's a reason no one ski'd there. Also, get some ON3P's, they appear to be impervious to rock hits that would total a lesser ski. I can't count the number of times I've gotten to the bottom thinking I had a core shot and just had a slight scratch.

[goldenboy]

Back in CO for a few weeks now and can't wait to smash some rocks at CB tomorrow! Goldenboy, the report says horseshoe is open, is that true?

Yes it is, my last few days have just been doing laps on Horseshoe. The number of rocks visible is growing exponentially, be ready to do some hotstepping for sure. Although the trace of snow we have this morning should cover them up just enough to hide them, should be a classic CB day

[whyturn]

Just melted a little ptex today. Just a little though so not bad after 4 days inbounds in shark ville


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums