WOOT WOOT! Nukin' in Missoula

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Originally Posted by mercuryhg

Just remember, we have to love everything we hate about the bowl. It's what keeps the crowds down. Or smaller than they could be. Or something like that. They do the best that they can within their own self-defined constraints, and those constraints will always be their own noose. Good for us, it keeps the crowds down. As long as they don't follow in Marshall's footsteps, we don't want the crowds down so low they close, although there seems to be no threat of that any longer.

Looks like more snow is on the way (after this glorious crowd-culling rain:eek:), maybe a christmas present for us, yippee!

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I hear you on Snowbowl's inadvertent(?) crowd control.

As for your take on the rain, it reminds me of the first thaw/refreeze we had last January, my reaction to the conditions was to say to our head liftie, "That ought to send them packing."

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Originally Posted by Rasputin

I've never heard of those trees being called "Tommy's Temple", but Grandstand is frequently referred to as "The Homo Highway". :biggrin:

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So at least that part of the bowl hasn't changed in 20yrs :D

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Originally Posted by RootSkier

STFU, JONG.

Let's talk waterskiing.

6" wet ass snow up top, 1.5" of rain down low. Rugged. At least today should be the last day we have to worry about rain for awhile.

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Yeah, I heard a bunch of adult men complaining about how wet it was when I arrived. Once I got up to Lavelle and saw a bunch of 10 year olds on old straight skis ripping it up having a great time, I figured it can't be that bad. It was nice to me.

So, for those who have ears to hear, the Bowls opened around 2pm today, and they rated a "fuck yeah!" They didn't get tracked out much. Chicken Face skied like five inches of sandy spray on a Styrofoam base. I'll be there early tomorrow.

BTW, I attribute part of my enjoyment today to the razor sharpness I honed my edges to last night. Angel Face has some brutal hardness, and without a good edge, the gully is a vexation. The Outrun is wicked fast, and it's hard to hold and edge at the top of the final ramp. :eek:

Thanks, good on ya!

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Originally Posted by Rasputin

Angel Face has some brutal hardness, and without a good edge, the gully is a vexation.

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Sorry I missed it. :eek:

Today was the best skiing of the season (woot woot), but there was a price to pay for it (:eek:).

Some Christmas Eve day pics. Merry Christmas.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1261766887

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1261766887

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1261766887

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1261766887

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1261766887

Stuart Peak -- Christmas Day.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02068.jpg

A 4.5-mile approach breaking trail through 2 inches of snow. Put skins on at 5500 feet and found quite good snow and stable conditions above 7000 feet. Fast skiing on very light snow. Hell of a return, though, and a long walk to the trailhead. A dawn-to-dusk outing.

St. Mary's Peak -- Dec. 26.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02084.jpg

St. Mary's Road features a mile of hard ice which starts at 4,200 feet. When I got out of the truck to check the road surface I could not stand up. I ended up parking at the first switchback and walking up. One truck made it past using monster chains. People had driven the road last week when it was warmer and many got to about 5,500 feet. Very good skiing found on the southeast faces above 7,300 feet on 5 feet of snow and only minor weak laywers. Below 7,300 is a melange of crusts and dust on crust; skiing the road down was not as bad.

Lookout Pass: Dec. 27

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02113.jpg

4.5 feet of snow in sheltered spots at 6000 feet. Good fast skiing on light snow down to 5400 feet, where a variety of crusts and obstacles makes turning difficult.

Think i made the right decision this year getting out of Missoula and heading down to LCC for the winter. Good luck, Missoulians.

yesterday was fun up top at snowbowl, but today was the day I had been waiting for all week. Report claimed 2", but it was a thick 2" so pleasure was found. ;)
Broke my stupid old cable tele binding 1/4 down w. ridge on the first run and had to ski to top of bowl outrun on one ski. Luckily got it fixed at the rental shop.
Made good turns in the bowls, west ridge, and finished the day off at 4 after a couple griz to lower out house.

gonna be at snowbowl tomorrow for first time EVAR, might be goofing around in the sidecountry if conditions are OK. if you see a Finn with green pants, black jacket, helmet and dreadlocks don't be afraid to say hi (and show me around), i'm not a smelly hippy. is there a one ride lift ticket and would it be worth it at all tomorrow?

Morning halfday , you have to ask nicely. Ski the Bowls! Stay off my lawn!

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Originally Posted by 406

Broke my stupid old cable tele binding 1/4 down w. ridge on the first run and had to ski to top of bowl outrun on one ski.

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I offered to carry your broken ski....

keksie, no one rides these days I don't think. The bowl is not really skiing all that hot right now. It beats not skiing, but the coverage is not good.

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Originally Posted by keksie

gonna be at snowbowl tomorrow for first time EVAR, might be goofing around in the sidecountry if conditions are OK. if you see a Finn with green pants, black jacket, helmet and dreadlocks don't be afraid to say hi (and show me around), i'm not a smelly hippy. is there a one ride lift ticket and would it be worth it at all tomorrow?

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do you know the sidecountry up there?

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Originally Posted by RootSkier

I offered to carry your broken ski....

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Oh, thanks. Was that near the bottom of far east? I think I mentioned to you how I was trying to use the broken ski by holding it with my hand. Worked ok for getting down chicken chute.

Think I might take today off and hope it snows more and Sunday will be good.

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Originally Posted by keksie

gonna be at snowbowl tomorrow for first time EVAR, might be goofing around in the sidecountry if conditions are OK. if you see a Finn with green pants, black jacket, helmet and dreadlocks don't be afraid to say hi (and show me around), i'm not a smelly hippy. is there a one ride lift ticket and would it be worth it at all tomorrow?

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I saw some giant huge dude with dreads in the bar today, around noon, is that you? If it is and I see you again, I'll say hi. I'll give you a local's tour of Snowbowl. I'm not going into off the backside until it gets a lot more stable though.

I'm easy to spot, 6'4" all in black, with long beard in a braid.

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Originally Posted by 406

yesterday was fun up top at snowbowl, but today was the day I had been waiting for all week. Report claimed 2", but it was a thick 2" so pleasure was found. ;)
Broke my stupid old cable tele binding 1/4 down w. ridge on the first run and had to ski to top of bowl outrun on one ski. Luckily got it fixed at the rental shop.
Made good turns in the bowls, west ridge, and finished the day off at 4 after a couple griz to lower out house.

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Heh, I watched you skiing out of the tube on one foot, strong work. :smile:

The two inches came within the space of an hour or so last night, around 7pm. It was coming down in giant clumps falling like rocks out of the sky. It was so heavy that there was only about 75-100 feet visibility driving down the road.

Today was the bomb, Griz Chute opened, and was Spatulated, though it's brushy, it was outstanding. It was getting pretty tracked out and heavy by the time I left, but I got the best of it, including skiing it last run yesterday. Fuck yeah! :biggrin:

I was in the lodge at about noon but thats probably not the same thing as bar. and I'm not a big guy (6' but thin)

now I also understand the love/hate relationship most of the locals have going on with Snowbowl.. if the snow is soft there's not too much to complain about, its steep enough and there's enough terrain. and I can see how much it can probably suck if its all icy coral reef. and if you ever get a good dump it'll probably be a lot of fun. i think we'll be moving on to canada before that happens though

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Originally Posted by keksie

I was in the lodge at about noon but thats probably not the same thing as bar. and I'm not a big guy (6' but thin)

now I also understand the love/hate relationship most of the locals have going on with Snowbowl.. if the snow is soft there's not too much to complain about, its steep enough and there's enough terrain. and I can see how much it can probably suck if its all icy coral reef. and if you ever get a good dump it'll probably be a lot of fun. i think we'll be moving on to canada before that happens though

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Sweet, if you go looking for snow elsewhere, we are SURE to get a dump.:wink:

3 days of WIN!!!!!,even the parking lot is skiing well.

Thank goodness last week's inversion is gone, it was a bit sunny today, but none of this:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1262594252

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Originally Posted by senior researcher

3 days of WIN!!!!!,even the parking lot is skiing well.

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I'm not so sure I'd go that far but I too am stoked to finally ski back to the car.

And Lolo needs snow as much as the Bowl.

LTP Thursday. Boots hurt and it was a shorter-than-expected day.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02124.jpg

My truck was vandalised NYE so that put a damper on things.

Did get out Sunday to MSB.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02141.jpg

They reported 2 inches new but it was very nice conditions.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02191.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...x/DSC02138.jpg

Please feel free to do your thing

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1262654051

So when I got to work today my boss informed me I'd be in a yearly training class on Thursday and Friday, which are usually my ddays off, but that instead I'm off tomorrow and Wednesday. It bites that I'll miss two days of skiing, but at least Ill get to hit the freshies brought by this storm cycle.

BTW, The Bowl was skiing great today. It'll be better tomorrow. :smile:

I've left Missoula and returned back to Iowa from vacation, thus you should get a dump soon. I did get two back to back days (26th, 27th) of hard core, non-stop, ice-chunk then soft turn madness in. Also introduced my 11yr old twins to the bowl on the 3rd, they had as much fun skiing Paradise as I had watching them. Mellow runs on that day, but the conditions looked great. Was surprised that few were taking laps on upper Griz, it looked great. Enjoy the rest of the year.

Woot, woot! Freshie Tuesday!

1 photo tr of my brief return last week. Not epic like last xmas, but good turns were found. Think this one is from the 1st:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1262730627

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Originally Posted by Rasputin

Woot, woot! Freshie Tuesday!

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This is posted at 11am? Fail.

I got wet, cold, and couldn't see a damn thing all day. In other words....best turns of the year. :yourock:

I met with a couple mags today in the Last Run; Boomer, and Mongo. Mongo is a ski builder who's skis drew much interest in the bar tonight, mostly awe at the sheer size of them. However, a certain resident curmudgeon shouted out "Fat skis are bullshit!", among other such cogent statements :rolleyes2.

I suggested that they work very well indeed for the purpose they were designed for, but that was met with the suggestion that I didn't know how to carve a turn on 203 pencils, because I "muscled" my turns (heh, heh :rolleyes2), and, I shit you not, A CHALLENGE TO A SKI OFF ON 203s!

He demanded that he could outski me in any conditions on the aforementioned 203 straight skis; I was in stitches, and I suppose egging him on, by first suggesting spring corn, which are the conditions I've seen him ski most often, however he again asserted that he can out ski me in any conditions on 203s! I am cracking up at the absurdity of an actual call-out for a ski-off in real life, and say, OK, why not in the worst possible conditions? How about dropping into West Bowl on a coral reef refreeze morning (which I secretly love, being somewhat masochistic). He once again loudly expounds on how I cannot carve a turn! Gold!

I will not mention the name of the involved party, but I will bust out my 203 Salomon F9.1 2S when the snow gets wicked again, and see if he's up to his talk, it will be good for a laugh.

WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ter.

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Originally Posted by Rasputin

I met with a couple mags today in the Last Run; Boomer, and Mongo. Mongo is a ski builder who's skis drew much interest in the bar tonight, mostly awe at the sheer size of them. However, a certain resident curmudgeon shouted out "Fat skis are bullshit!", among other such cogent statements :rolleyes2.

I suggested that they work very well indeed for the purpose they were designed for, but that was met with the suggestion that I didn't know how to carve a turn on 203 pencils, because I "muscled" my turns (heh, heh :rolleyes2), and, I shit you not, A CHALLENGE TO A SKI OFF ON 203s!

He demanded that he could outski me in any conditions on the aforementioned 203 straight skis; I was in stitches, and I suppose egging him on, by first suggesting spring corn, which are the conditions I've seen him ski most often, however he again asserted that he can out ski me in any conditions on 203s! I am cracking up at the absurdity of an actual call-out for a ski-off in real life, and say, OK, why not in the worst possible conditions? How about dropping into West Bowl on a coral reef refreeze morning (which I secretly love, being somewhat masochistic). He once again loudly expounds on how I cannot carve a turn! Gold!

I will not mention the name of the involved party, but I will bust out my 203 Salomon F9.1 2S when the snow gets wicked again, and see if he's up to his talk, it will be good for a laugh.

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OK, assuming the fellow's been around a long time, guessing here, are the initials TW? He's the only one I can think of that is anti-fatty still, but I don't think he frequents the bar anymore, I'm not sure since I haven't been around much in a few years. Or else JS who I know frequents the bar, and is of the personality to do what you say.

Heading up soon...

Edit - Point 6: 4 below at 9 AM. Brrr!

bowl was rad yesterday. how is it today fellas?

different, but great,not as............................................

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Originally Posted by mtskier

bowl was rad yesterday. how is it today fellas?

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Um, cold and clear. :smile:

^^^but was it soft and light, or a frozen mess?

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Originally Posted by mtskier

^^^but was it soft and light, or a frozen mess?

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It was good in most places, great in many. Another great day at the Bowl. :smile:

The aspects that got the strongest sun, started to set up into a crust rapidly in the later hours.

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Originally Posted by Rasputin

I met with a couple mags today in the Last Run; Boomer, and Mongo. Mongo is a ski builder who's skis drew much interest in the bar tonight, mostly awe at the sheer size of them. However, a certain resident curmudgeon shouted out "Fat skis are bullshit!", among other such cogent statements :rolleyes2.

I suggested that they work very well indeed for the purpose they were designed for, but that was met with the suggestion that I didn't know how to carve a turn on 203 pencils, because I "muscled" my turns (heh, heh :rolleyes2), and, I shit you not, A CHALLENGE TO A SKI OFF ON 203s!

He demanded that he could outski me in any conditions on the aforementioned 203 straight skis; I was in stitches, and I suppose egging him on, by first suggesting spring corn, which are the conditions I've seen him ski most often, however he again asserted that he can out ski me in any conditions on 203s! I am cracking up at the absurdity of an actual call-out for a ski-off in real life, and say, OK, why not in the worst possible conditions? How about dropping into West Bowl on a coral reef refreeze morning (which I secretly love, being somewhat masochistic). He once again loudly expounds on how I cannot carve a turn! Gold!

I will not mention the name of the involved party, but I will bust out my 203 Salomon F9.1 2S when the snow gets wicked again, and see if he's up to his talk, it will be good for a laugh.

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To all those parties myself and Boom Heir encountered at SnowBowl in the past 72 Hours, we thank you for a remarkable experience.

Having only limited knowledge of Rasputin, and a chance meeting at The Last Run Tuesday evening, his hospitality and graciousness led us to fantastic last day in Missoula. Paradoxically, our then proximity to the lift caused us a roughly 19 minute delay in meeting the first bell. Bless the SnowBowl patrol for their 9:18 A.M. initial bomb.

In closing, many thanks to Rasputin, the Old Guard, the New Guard, Lot 2, SnowBowl patrol, and the irately angry cat groomer at approximately 2:50 A.M. Wednesday morning. We are currently in Whitefish for the hell of it. It was great meeting the community, and hope to be back soon. Here are a couple of pics of skis I build and good times in Lot 2. A 190 Explosiv is there for ref.

THATS RAD! WAY to have a good time!

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Originally Posted by Mongo

To all those parties myself and Boom Heir encountered at SnowBowl in the past 72 Hours, we thank you for a remarkable experience.

Having only limited knowledge of Rasputin, and a chance meeting at The Last Run Tuesday evening, his hospitality and graciousness led us to fantastic last day in Missoula. Paradoxically, our then proximity to the lift caused us a roughly 19 minute delay in meeting the first bell. Bless the SnowBowl patrol for their 9:18 A.M. initial bomb.

In closing, many thanks to Rasputin, the Old Guard, the New Guard, Lot 2, SnowBowl patrol, and the irately angry cat groomer at approximately 2:50 A.M. Wednesday morning. We are currently in Whitefish for the hell of it. It was great meeting the community, and hope to be back soon. Here are a couple of pics of skis I build and good times in Lot 2. A 190 Explosiv is there for ref.

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It was good to meet you guys, too bad I didn't get to give you the full tour. Perhaps next time you shouldn't buy the bar's entire stock of PBRs. :wink: