The 2020-21 Ski Thread - The mountains are calling and I must go

Moguls make me roll down the mountain, too.

207s in the bumps–ahh the good ole days! You’re a better man than I! I’ve got a pair of Volkl race skis–168s. I asked the salesman if that was long enough–he looked me over and said “You’re a pretty big boy, you’ll probably be able to flex them!”

I do get some funny looks. Been using my short skis the last few seasons.

204’s.

Anyone planning on using a van or other mobile personal basecamp at ski areas to avoid needing to use the lodge to warm up, or eat on the lift? We’re looking at renting a van, pulling the middle seats (or fold flat) and using it to boot up, eat lunch, warm up (we’re older now, can’t ski all day without a break) and even apres-ski.

Figure a cooler, thermos, and maybe a insulated crock pot. Run the engine for some heat and power, could be fun, no?

I just bought a little cheap mini-wagon thing, but more for the selectable AWD. The bonus is the room for all the gear. Would have preferred something smaller, but the price was right.

I have a full-sized SUV (Toyota 4Runner) with selectable 4WD. I may spring for the closer parking (which costs extra) this season so I can retreat to the vehicle if necessary.

When they make me pay to park, I shove my 40 years worth of passes up somebody’s ass.

Not as thick a stack as you would think. I had a good picture, and just let it roll over for a long time. Vail aint as pertickular as the DMV. But you get the idea.

I hear you. I’ve never actually paid to park, and would have a fit if ski resorts started routinely charging for parking. Also, I’m going skiing, I don’t usually mind a little hike. I’ve never had to go back to my vehicle during the day, so a little hike has never really bothered me.

But with all that said, I have seen that most ski resorts have a VIP parking area much closer that costs something like $20 or so. If I’m going to want to go back to my vehicle during the day this upcoming season to avoid the lodge, I might consider that this year only.

Yeah, Heavenly started that VIP shit a while ago. I’ve been skiing there for 40 fucking years, and the way in is drive up Keller and into the entrance off that road. Well, they put up a gate there the last few years. I routinely drive right the fuck around it. I always find a choice spot right by the tram or up against the wall. Parking Lot Full, my fucking ass! There is ALWAYS a spot for my little shit car.

I’m dreading this Brave New World. It has left me behind.

Awww–just got notice that Powder magazine is ceasing publication. I’ve subscribed for 25 years. Excellent photography, good writing, some pretty good humor. I guess my only source for ski porn is now Youtube. They’re fulfilling the rest of my subscription with Men’s Journal. Yay.

My niece wrote for them, she conducted the recent interview with Lindsey Vonn. But she is in grad school now so wasn’t going to the ski test this year. Still, pretty big bummer.

Are there any other ski magazines that you or anyone else would recommend?

Not really. Freeskier is ok (if it’s still around). Backcountry is ok, but very self-righteous (touring oriented, if the name didn’t give it away). Wildsnow does a good backcountry-oriented site. Powder was kind of unique in that they were pretty non-commercial and very photo oriented.

Just watched the first half of Huck Yeah from Matchstick while working out. Definitely worth it for some stoke (it’s on Amazon Prime). Fun mix of new kids and old fogies.

I finally got off my ass today and made it up to the slopes. Had to reserve my spot for the day in advance, and that was tideous, being a computer thing and all, but got it done with email confirmation.

Took the new 4wd ski-car up and had a blast. Squeezed it inbetween to big SUVs who were taking up 3 spaces. This thing is the automotive equivalant of a Weasel.

Snow not too bad, for what it is this ‘early’ (normally, I’d be skiing a month already). The Covid restrictions are minimal and seem to have kept the place pretty empty. Not a second waited in line all day (except to download, can’t ski to the base yet). Got to see all the folks that run the lifts and tram that I’ve known for the last 20 years and had nice brief chats. They recognize me by my old skis, even with a mask.

First run of the first day, fell into a Black Diamond, but managed it well, despite the loose snow. The two other options were closed and too late to turn back. Anyway, that’s kind of a ritual with me anyway.

Went higher, did a few cruisers, then hammered a few more blacks and started to feel a burn pretty quick. Managed to not hit any rocks, thank goodness, because they opportunity was high. Then it started snowing. Not in the forecast, to be sure. Supposed to be sunny and nice. Wrapped it up and headed home. Snow was better than I had hoped, and more on the way tomorrow night. A couple hours, a dozen or so runs. Short and sweet. Good Recon Mission.

Heater in the ‘new’ car sucks. All the energy and warmth of a sleeping baby’s breath. Gonna put some cardboard over half the radiator. Those pieces that seperate the top and bottom of a 36 pack of Bud work perfect!

Which mountain? Bridger Bowl opens tomorrow with reservations necessary. I skinned up Sunday and it is THIN! We really need snow. I’ll probably ride the dirt bike (with studded tires) instead of ski for a bit.

I’m jealous.

First time in a decade that we won’t be away skiing over christmas and New Year. The snow on the Kitzsteinhorn is looking good already.
The kids ski’d the Black Mamba last year on the last run down and didn’t get a chance to buy the t-shirt and were hoping to do so this year.

We’ve done the best we can. We’ve imported a case of Stiegl Goldbrau, fermented some sauerkraut and brushed up on my Schnitzel technique. It won’t be the same though.

No skiing yet for me either. My wife’s having knee surgery this year and she hopes to get back on snow before the end of the season. In the meantime, travel restrictions and poor snow coverage means staying home for now. If we get some good snow out of this storm here in MA I may use my Indy Pass out at Berkshire East just to get on snow.

So I actually had my first day on the slopes this season last Friday. I could have gone up with a friend, but prudence dictated that this would be a solo day trip. (My son who is quarantining with us had to work that day.) I made a reservation online in advance.

Upon arrival, my original plan was to carry my skis and boot bag and change outside (and to then drop my bag off inside), but there was a large sign telling skiers to boot up in the car and that no bags could be left in the lodge. So I got dressed in the car, adding a KN95 mask to my ensemble. I hate trudging through a muddy lot in ski boots, so I slung them around my neck instead, then changed boots outside. I left my hiking boots outside under an overhang, trusting that nobody would bother them.

It wasn’t very crowded. I skied with a KN95 mask for half the day, until it warmed up and my exertion level increased to the point that I couldn’t really breathe (plus my goggles were fogging up). So I switched to a surgical mask and just pulled it down when I was alone (either on a chair lift by myself or on the slopes by myself).

I took a couple of runs on the beginner hill to make sure I remembered how to ski, then headed over to the peak lift. Here I hit my first real line. I got in the singles line. There were signs telling everyone to wear a mask and social distance, which everyone appeared to be doing. Another sign said that there needed to be two empty seats between parties on chairs. This seemed to work out well.

At the top, I went into the lodge at the peak to use the restroom. An employee was scanning ski passes at the entrance (maybe for contact tracing?). The lodge was practically empty (3-4 people instead of the hundreds of people that is more typical). The restroom was empty, too. Leaving the peak lodge, I headed for a blue trail that turned out to be closed, and so ended up on a steep, icy black diamond trail—which was fine. All in all, only about 20% of the mountain was open, but the open trails were pretty good.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I got some great runs in, and by early afternoon the lines were gone, so I was riding the lifts up by myself. I carried a small ski backpack with a bottle of water and a granola bar (and spare masks), so I never went into another lodge.

When I got home, my son told me he didn’t feel particularly inclined to deal with any of this. He’ll join me for our weekend trip next month to Sunday River (where we’re staying in a slopeside hotel), but I’d be surprised if he comes along on a day trip like this, where there’s no opportunity for breaks in a lodge.

@robby, which ski area were you at?