Brews & turns mini-summit?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jumper Bones
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Brews & turns mini-summit?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jumper Bones
Preston at Kitteridge for the win. I had good luck with him a few times. Not such good luck at Footloose, though the word is Corry is the one of two guys to use there (I don't know the other.)
Not sure, but perhaps the other person you are referring to is Kevin? He helped me with the purchase of my boots and worked with me several times to get them absolutely dialed, including making additional room for my ridiculously large navicular bone and eliminating some shin bang. He is a stand up guy and very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, I have found it more difficult to schedule times with him recently, not sure if he is reducing his work hours or he is just really popular. FYI I believe there are two Kevins at Footloose, the "older" Kevin is who has helped me in the past.Quote:
Originally Posted by hutash
The only remaining dedicated ski shop that I know of in the LA area is Sports LTD in Woodland Hills. I try to give them my business when I can because they are a family-run ski shop and really the last of their kind. They have done work of my skis multiple times and I've had no complaints. The young guy who works in ski sales (sorry don't remember his name) knows his stuff. I have not had any boot work done from them though. I would love to hear if anybody has had experience in that department. They certainly do a ton of business, it seems there are several people buying boots each time I am there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinned
I skied yesterday afternoon at Baldy. It was cool and windy, which kept everything off-groomer quite firm. I ended up just doing 10 groomer laps and calling it. The groomers were nice, a bit firm in spots but edgeable.
I saw a few people going off-piste, and it didn't look fun. I'd wait for warmer temps, or less wind, or more snow.
The coverage is still great, if it warms up enough to soften things it should be fun. Things have melted out on the lot runs, more snow is needed for those.
Just wanted to say I was out skiing Summit this week ripping hard and fast groomers and Snow Valley was jamming. Looked like a great family place. Packed too!Quote:
Originally Posted by bry
There's that other place down the road that is for snow tubing specifically. That confused me, apologies.
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Baker Street Snow Company in Costa Mesa is legit. They really know their stuff. I know they sell boots, but I don't know anything about their bootfitting. They have done great work on my skis on numerous occasions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ninjax
I'll be out at Baldy late morning if anyone is around.
Baldy was fun yesterday mid-day for around 10 groomer laps.
The off-piste is still pretty bullet proof anywhere I checked. I looked at the entrance to Robin's Trees and the area under Thunder, but even by 1 it did not appear to be getting soft. Andy's and Herb's might have been getting soft towards the end of the day, but I didn't stay to find out. I guess the good thing is that the snow is sticking around. The coverage is still great.
Obviously more snow would be great, but if I don't hit Mammoth next weekend I really hope it is a bit warmer, it would be nice if things softened up so I could ski something other than a groomer. Still, Skyline was a blast. The crew is doing a great job with what they have.
thanks for the conditions update, with how warm the forecast and no wind, I was tempted to go up Sunday, but glad I went mountain biking. The January high pressure waiting game can be tough. Fingers crossed for Feb storm.
Well I'll be out of town for two weeks, so I'd say the odds for that are pretty strong.Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
Honestly, I saw the temperature forecast and thought it would soften up.Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
I left around 2, so Andy's and Herb's MIGHT have gotten soft enough to ski, but I'm really not sure. I was a bit disappointed.
I'm going to go at least one day this weekend, probably Sunday. If it looks like Saturday might soften up I might go then, but given how last Sunday was and what the forecast for this Saturday is it's questionable. There's no surf though, and the groomers should at least be good both days.
I was able to get in an afternoon yesterday, Monday, and it ended up being really fun.
As I was going up the lift from the lot I could feel the wind, so I figured it would be firm and it would be a groomer day.
The upper skyline groomer is awesome, really nice. It makes sense to cut into the Emile's groomer and avoid the bottom of sky line. After about 5 of those I decided to try Emile's bowl. It was not great, it had slightly softened in spots, but the snow was really strange. It was a combination of stuff that was icy and had a weird pattern and stuff that was a bit soft and had a weird pattern. It was actually relieved when it narrowed into the gully and I was skiing stuff which was a bit icy, but more predictable.
On the next run up I looked over and saw some guys in Andy's and it looked good. I went over and tried to find a good entrance, but couldn't. I ended up taking the groomer down.
I went back up, determined to find the entrance, and while I was poking around the two guys came back, so I was able to follow them in. The entrance I used is about 50 yards to the skier's left of the pole, with the pole being to the skier's left of the pole with the cross, if that makes sense. It is not obvious. It was soft getting in, then bullet proof, then weird rutted slush. Doable but interesting. After you get in you have to cut skier's right and head to the main Andy's gully. That area was awesome, it makes sense to follow the defined path, and that was beautiful, packed down slush as opposed to the unconsolidated stuff, but it ended up being great turns. The coverage is still good, just a couple of rocks showing. These are the best turns I have had at Baldy in a couple of weeks. I ended up lapping that about 4 more times. It is really fun in there if you can find your way in.
The good thing about the wind keeping things firm is that the coverage is still very good.
I got on Thunder at about 1230, banged out about 12 laps and was back in the parking lot at 345. I love being able to get some work done in the morning and then go do that, it's days like yesterday that I feel really lucky.
That Andy's entrance is not easy to find though, and it is interesting in spots.
The crew is doing a really great job, but it would be nice to get more snow. I forgot the gopro so I don't have any footage, but the coverage does not seem all that different from last weekend.
Saturday afternoon, yesterday, was really fun.
I started out with two skyline groomers, which were fun. It was a bit slushy, but far from sticky. I followed that with four Emile's laps, which were awesome. It had loosened up, not really sticky and the stuff in the shape was loose while the stuff in the sun was nice slush. Nothing grabby, just fun. I then finished with four Andy's laps, which were awesome as well. Andy's gets more sun, and it was classic slush. There were rocks present, it is Baldy, but the entrance right by the pole was soft and very easy.
It was the best Baldy day I have had in a while. I though about going back up today, but decided on a surf. If you are debating and don't care about the Super Bowl I would say go.
I will post a video later, but the tide has dropped and I need to get to the HB pier.
EDIT: Here is a video of yesterday. The first two lines are Andy's, the next two are Emile's.https://youtu.be/VYa9U4z2Gsc
Let's hope this next storm gives a bit of a refresh. I'm not expecting anything huge, but everything helps.
wound up skiing Snow Valley two weeks ago on my Indy Pass and have to comment on what a surprising and unique spot it was. It was a Saturday and they started letting skiers load the lift at 8:20 a.m. Got crazy crowded down low by lunch and getting to the base the place looked like the beaches of normandy with bodies scattered everywhere, bizarre lift corral lines, people trying to board the lift carrying their skis, you name it. Up high though, when Slide Peak opened, was fascinating, skiing among the manzanita, and this guy at the top lift shack burning nag champa and playing spacey music from a huge sound system while overlooking whatever part of LA that is 7000 feet below -- never experienced anything like that.
Went to check out Mt. Baden Powell yesterday. Found perfect spring conditions on the east summit face. Cold snow powdery turns in north facing trees down to avalanche crown. Got a little too far east trying to get creative/exploring. Plenty of slide for life zones, and I was near the point of maxing out my aluminum sharps due to my non typical route.
The New Years NE gully avalanche is truly massive, will get some photos and more details up.
Check out the scene at the top of chair 3 at Baldy on a warm sunny Spring weekend, overlooking the LA basin and the Pacific.Quote:
Originally Posted by cloud cult
pov video from yesterday...
East face:
short upper trees:
tree skiing old powder
Nice work, gotta love potato chip touring skis on firm sun cups.
Nice!!
It's funny because in some of those vids you can really hear where the snow changes.
My camera really picks up ski sound, never seems that loud in person, although the carbon skis do seem to make more noise. The east summit was soft, but yeah, sounds firm in the video. I didn't record many of the slide for life zones, but it does sounds extra brutal. Jumping off the crown onto the slide surface is really shocking.
Having skied the NE gully of Mt. Baden-Powell dozens of times, I was very interested in the large New Year's avalanche. I haven't seen a detailed write up or many good photos on the internet. It has been awhile and I'm no expert, but sharing a few observations from Sunday February 13th. From watching the weather, the xmas-ny storms ended warm after a good amount of snow and wind loading, but started out cold. So guessing that triggered a r4d4 storm slab at deep weak layer. Month and half later, snow settled crown heights of ~2 ft found between 8500-7900 ft and almost all aspects running the entire NE massif. Based on photos found online taken early January, significant melting of debris, but still several meters deep and runs down to around 6000ft elevation, containing a significant number of old growth and younger trees.
Oh, and the summit cornice is starting to crack.
Last photo is from Jan 5th @socalsnow post.
https://umtgriz.com/forum/2022/ski/P..._195623406.jpg
Standing at location of dirt road to mine:
https://umtgriz.com/forum/2022/ski/P..._211040058.jpg
https://umtgriz.com/forum/2022/ski/P..._211107155.jpg
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https://umtgriz.com/forum/2022/ski/P..._180945781.jpg
video pan, full resolution:
https://umtgriz.com/forum/2022/ski/P..._211255725.mp4
Couldn't motivate to get out to baldy today I bet it's going to be a good day.
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I was actually hoping to go this afternoon, but I had a 2 pm zoom meeting. Friday afternoon zoom meetings should really be illegal.
I will almost definitely be there tomorrow and then on Sunday if it is good.
Did anyone make it up today? It would be great to hear a report.
Baldy did not suck today. Groomers are holding up great. Tube received some drifted snow and was quite decent. Heard the same for Goldridge. Didn't try Herbs or Andy's. South Bowl is closed until we get more snow, heard the upper half is really rocky, and some minor dry hiking on the exit.
Nice.
I'm in Big Bear with wife and kids for ski week. Brought my AT gear, but lot less snow in San Berdo's than Gabe's.
What’s your beta for Big Bear? After relocating to SoCal last year I’ve only been to BB once but keep going back to Mammoth…it’s just the one time I went (a month ago) the conditions were icy and the lift line etiquette was terrible—made the extra 2.5h drive seem worth it (granted I cheap out on lodging and camp near Mammoth)Quote:
Originally Posted by 406
Also, anyone have a good rec for a bootfitter? I need a punch and even in Mammoth, Footloose is saying they currently work on only boots they’ve sold
Priapism, I wouldn't bother with big bear resorts(or mammoth) if not for young kids. But do love skiing with them and good work out for me tele skiing the groomers. Spring conditions are best bet.
Baldy was fun on Saturday.
I got there around 1215, did my standard 10 laps and headed home.
First two were groomers. I followed with Emile's Bowl, Andy's, Robin's Trees, Emile's (the part right under Thunder), Herb's and Goldridge. I ended with two more laps in Emile's bowl.
Emile's Bowl and Andy's were by far the best. The only line I repeated was Emile's bowl, but I thought about doing another Andy's lap.
Emile's bowl was fun. It was wintery, but the stuff in the sun that was a bit crusty loosened up to the point where it could be fun.
Andy's was also fun. The new snow from last week had not really set up, so it was a bit sticky and could use some consolidation, but it was still fun. There are some crusty spots getting in.
The area under the Thunder lift had some good turns, but also some bare and crusty spots. Like lots of the off-piste it could use some skier traffic.
Robin's Trees was probably the worst area I skied. There is a strange, crusty base layer in there, the layer is rough and bumpy. Even with the new snow it still was not fun.
Goldridge was crusty, but a few decent turns. It has a similar base to Robin's but it was not as bad.
Herb's was really interesting getting in, and then had some strange spots and some good turns. It needs skier traffic to consolidate the snow. I was more interested in going back to Andy's than Herb's.
But overall Emile's bowl was by far the best skiing I got.
Let's hope this storm adds a bit and comes in stronger than expected.
Here is a video from Saturday. It starts with an Andy's lap, then two from Emile's bowl. After that the other laps are in there, other than Robin's.
https://youtu.be/vbKd-sbSC6E
I was just thinking of Baldy the other day. Tahoe has been so dry for so long I was thinking Baldy must look like the high desert. Glad to see your report and Baldy still rolling
The two early storms made Baldy's year, 100%. Wouldn't have even opened this season without those dumps of super-dense snow.
It's amazing what Baldy is able to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcski
1000-Oaks is 100% correct. Those first storms were very dense, and put down a solid base. There is still a fair bit of coverage, although the runs to the lot have been toast for a long time.
Another factor, I'm guessing, has been the wind. Even on some days where it has been somewhat warm, there has been a fair amount of wind to keep certain areas somewhat firm. While that is not always great for the skiing on that day, it keeps things going for the season.
The groomers have done an amazing job this year. Even on the days where things have been firm the groomers have been great.
Fun day tele skiing snow summit during the storm, couple inches of new.
If you are there today you are there at the right time.
Snow Summit says more than a foot.
Baldy is reporting 2-3 inches. That really sucks. I guess this storm just hit the San Bernardinos harder.
If anyone hits Summit/Bear or Baldy post a report.
I do hope the Baldy report is based on the bottom of chair 1....Unfortunately I don't think it is.
Yeah, I would say about foot. Fun day. They started loading lifts early, nice change from a typical Baldy powder day :-)
Posted a few pov videos on instagram, if interested in seeing conditions. All taken after 10, having taken a few runs and cleared off a little(put camera on during chair ride).
Very nice 406!!
I can't swing anything tomorrow, but I might have to do Friday afternoon at Summit and Saturday at Baldy.
I guess this one hit the San Bernardinos and just missed the Gabriels.
Mt. High is reporting 5 inches.
Went up to Summit on Friday afternoon and had fun. The new snow made the groomer off of chair 1 lots of fun. We did a few laps there, then went over to chair 6 and lapped the skier's left side of the Wall. It was kind of fun, in an east coast butternut/bealleayre Berkshires/Catskills way. Some bumps, with a scraped off section between the bumps. It was better to ski the sections where the bumps were close together. Overall it was a good time. It stayed pretty cold, so the snow on the groomers was wintery.
Saturday afternoon I hit Baldy, bummed that they had only gotten 3 inches while the San Bernardinos got a foot.
It ended up being lots of fun. It stayed cool, so the only off-piste stuff I hit was Emile's Bowl. The skyline groomer was awesome. I ended up doing 3 laps on it, then 6 laps down Emile's Bowl, followed by a Toilet Bowl lap.
Emile's was excellent, as it has been. It was a bit firm in spots, but edgable, and with some really nice loose, wintery snow. It has been the goods for a while now. I didn't venture into any of he south facing spots, Andy's and Herb's, as I don't think they were close to softening up due to the wind. Overall it was a really fun day with wintery snow. I didn't head into Robin's Trees or Goldridge either. Those areas have a base that had a weird, bumpy crust. They will need either full-on spring conditions or more snow.
Here is a video with three of the lines down Emile's. The first and third are down the skier's left gully of the bowl, the second is down the skier's right gully.
It should be nice today. I hope some of you guys are out there getting after it.https://youtu.be/-JaDUpN7qn0
Anybody know what the hell Waterman's deal is? Are they trying to sell the mountain? They haven't opened once this year, and lord know there's enough snow. I hiked Kratka a few weeks ago and skied from the top all the way to the road, no problem. They have such an absurd bag of excuses: broken lifts, not enough snow, rinse and repeat...
Obviously these owners suck, but it's a special place when it goes, and the skiing is dope. Legit would be down to try to organize some sort of co-op to buy these guys out.
Thinking of hitting up baldy tomorrow. Know if this past storm dropped any snow? Looks pretty light.