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Curious how much is a season long program for the wee lad? At $1000 it was worth it for us. Owen got a lesson any day if the week. He learned a lot more from his coach than we could have taught him at 4. Kristen and I got to ski together a lot. I was able to bring him to work with me. Pretty much same deal on race team except for we get to travel to races 1-2x a month. I really think a kids' program then a race or freeride program is the way to go. $$ well spent. Check it out.
Squaw was full on GNAR today... as in, make it back down the cat track through the mashed potatoes without blowing out your knee. You can tell it rained a ton up there last night. There were some good pockets of snow but you couldn't really trust it.
KW does not offer any year long programs. JETS is about 10 weeks, and requires one to be 6 years old. They do not offer any multi day packs (like they used to) for the little kids. I was told over the phone that Vail just can't afford to, that they are basically losing money on the classes already. Funny, how a small little hill like Dodge Ridge can figure out how to make it happen, but a big corp like Vail does not seem to be able to. Or maybe want to.Quote:
Originally Posted by telemike
We would be happy to pay a grand for a program like Dodge Ridge has. The mrs. and I were talking last night about how we should be taking a look at DR or BV, for next season instead of KW. We love the hill, but Vail just does seem to care about their old loyal customers as much as trying to attract their richer customers. Prior to the acquisition, you could get a ten pack of lessons for $755, now that would cost you $1580 for the same service. Totally different price point.
Seriously, KW, please figure this out. The only discount they offer is like $11 off if you do two days in a row (but then they don't include lunch anymore). Hell, I'd be happy with a 10 pack for a grand. But yeah, maybe next season we will be seeing more of you Mike. That program sounds sweet.
I fully expected 6 to pop. I'm also just happy I can ski. Can't sit to drive, or I'd show up for a few race course laps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
I might ski with the kid for a few hours, if he's cool
Oh, he's cool. I'm actually stoked to ski with him a bunch this year. Planning a bunch of boys trips. But he needs coaching for sure.
What's your ailment? I've had a pinched nerve since May. Barely could walk in July. Driving sucked. Yoga and foam rollers saved me. But I've got to stay on top of it.
And I figure they need a bit more snow down low to pop 6 for purpose of egress. Unless there is more coverage down low than I'm assuming.
I have one right on the way behind you... Will be looking for tips! Given it's one week out though the timing is not ideal for the early season :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
Got my first turns at SugarBowl today.... of course they were made while in a tech clinic.
While getting my pass, I saw a pic of my family from a photo shoot we did from the last day of the season this past Spring.
https://www.tetongravity.com/images/...588__forum.jpg
I also picked up a trail map where my daughters got on that too....
https://www.tetongravity.com/images/...589__forum.jpg
i guess that's what you get for spending $$$ on ski team fees and many, many hours of coaching ski team kids :)
Don't they have a mini Jets program for 5 year olds? Even if it's not the full season it's at least something. Or is your guy younger than that?
When my oldest was 4 I found out that Sugar Bowl had a "season pass" for ski school. I think it was $800, full day lessons any day, lunch included. We did something like 40 days his first year, 50 the next (mostly half days + lunch, I'd ski with him in the afternoon). Some days he was the only kid to show up. It was awesome. I think they've ended that program now though (probably because of people like us doing too many days).
Yeah, not 5 yet. And technically, they told me 6 for the miniJETS, but we might be able to squeeze him in next year. Having the same coach every weekend is pretty awesome, so I hope to. Even though it is a Sunday program, which is not ideal for us. But I will make that work.
Don't see the SB program out there still, but damn, BV has lessons for $65, and the drop off is at 9, not 10:30 (my other gripe)
HV was bloody-well crowded - lines at Dipper all day - but the Snow (3 groomers) was rather excellent!
Good skiing!
Kinda day-old pow-ish...Weather felt pretty Wintery too...8)
Asked for change in line, from dude on OG Bro's...was it one of youse guys?
How were the other open Resorts?
^
Gnarthstar was very spring-like yesterday. It was nice to ski a wide variety of runs off of the top instead of lapping the same run over and over again. I left around noon when the lift lines got longer on Comstock.
Boreal was pretty damp on Friday night in the scattered showers. They are open to the top.
Turx, I heard that the crowds at the Heave made things pretty dangerous.
I know a pretty solid coach who works at Gnarthstar...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
Dookie's being modest... He'd be a good one for your kid. Too bad Chris A left eh?
Dooks I'd be stoked to have you coach him. He also needs a little Wu training as well. If I had the Tahoe pass I'd get him up there for sure.
We should talk and maybe figure at least a day out. January is slow, yeah?
Yup.Quote:
Originally Posted by TurxSki
Patrol got a lot of early season practice cleaning up human debris on the trails yesterday at Heavenly. A lot of bodies pulled off the hill for just two lifts running. Much safer to pay the $45 a head to ride the gondola to the viewing deck.
Also, FYI, security was popping people coming off the gondola for beer and the devil's lettuce. Not sure what the consequences are. They take you down into the tunnels like Disney Land?
never seen a weasel turned completely white.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvV_XQWIJfQ
Ermine.
Rad! We have a couple at DR.
That's pretty cool Powdork!
I figured conditions in the BC would be shit, but these guys had me questioning my mode of transportation today, hopefully it will be game on next week.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...ce90fdeb37160b
https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/...4e&oe=54FECE0B
https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/...0c&oe=550421AF
Ya man! That looks fun. Were the tires studded?Quote:
Originally Posted by TahoeBC
Whoohoo!Quote:
Originally Posted by powdork
I knew they were around but I've never seen one either. That would have made my day.
Got 3rd Chair at Sugar Bowl yesterday and first tracks down the untracked pow...er....fine Sierra slop off the top of Lincoln. It was pretty misty and cloudy 8/10ths down Lincoln so it was full on classic Spring storm skiing up there. The groomer corned up well and yielded some fast slarvey-carvey turns. Highlight was skiing the trees between Rahlves Run and Lake View...great coverage and perfect slop to cover logs etc. However, half-way down Lincoln and off-trail was too slow and thick. Gore-tex was your friend. Overall, definitely felt like a 'real ski day' for day one of the season.
Mt. Lincoln cloudy chair ride...
http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hph...79769565_n.jpg
S.P.C getting hella deep on our first run...
http://photos-a.ak.instagram.com/hph...21093004_n.jpg
Pow dork - are you sure that was a white weasel? I'm thinking it was a disguised elf on the shelf getting stoned in order to go deal with many maggot groms hopped up on sugar cookies demanding 500+ piece Star Wars Lego sets. Been a tough holiday. Just saying. Need some of the elf medicine, or at least his hiding place.
Only one stud needed :rolleyes2
Studs are really only useful for for pure ice, which I try to avoid.
Nice shot 6er!
In college we used to run a lot of winter camping courses up there and Marten's were pretty common invaders of our quinzees when off on a tour.Quote:
Originally Posted by kidwoo
Quote:
Originally Posted by powdork
Quote:
Originally Posted by telemike
I'mma weigh in and say that it might actually have been an American Marten...saw something similar over the summer up at Mt. Lola and then did some quick webz investigating:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ltbmu/...id=fsm9_046595
This secondary site/article claims that there are weasels to be found in Tahoe, but they make them sound extremely rare in the area (one found in 1919 and another around 1919). Article also claims that Fishers and Minks can be found in the area, as well:
http://www.allthingstahoe.com/wildanimals.html
Stoat?
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/visit...7/popup/66.jpg
I've seen pine martens but never a white one. They're kind of bigger though. I've only seen weasel at lower elevations.
The problem is all those fuckers look just like each other: weasel, martin, mink, ermine, stoat, someone's escaped ferret......... (is that racist?)
Being outside is confusing.
Ermine=Stoat.
Stoat = short tailed weasel
stoat = 'toast' spelled sideways
Good reference for this stuff: http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Guide-S.../dp/0970889542
So you guys were very helpful several pages back, and it looks like friday is a storm day. Is Boreal on the SF side of the donnor pass closure? Think I saw that Sugar Bowl is closed this friday, and didn't sound like there were other options on this side of pass closures. Looking at a AWD Escape. Driven a good bit in storms in the appalachians not so much out here. all thoughts appreciated!Quote:
Originally Posted by MARSHALL TUCKER
I would be surprised if they stay closed on friday but it's hard to make plans based on that. not sure about boreal. it's the one place up there that you can't access by the side roads
In a closure they usually hold westbound cars at the Donner Lake Interchange (DLI) which is east of Boreal. But they may also be stopping cars from getting on at Boreal as well. And as powdork mentioned there's no side road option like at Sugar Bowl. At least you're probably first in line when they reopen, and by Friday night the storm should be clearing out of the area (I'm sure eastbound over the pass will still be a shitshow though).
But do you really want to ski Boreal on a storm day? 500 feet of vertical and mostly known for park and pipe. With SB and Sierra closed I'd be looking at Kirkwood for a day trip (also at risk for closure but a far better resort). Others can comment on how often (and how long) 88 closes west of KW, I don't get over there much any more.
Boreal is ON donner summit/pass. If I-80 is closed, you're not getting there.
Marshal: where's that pic in your avatar from? Somewhere southeast?
edit: And yeah^ think Kirkwood if things get nuts.
You should be able to get to Boreal on Friday morning if you can get that high. Onramps onto 80 between Cisco and Soda are usually not blocked.
Edit: What day were you talking about skiing Marshall? Thursday or Friday? Rereading the original post you made, it looks like Thursday, but your post just now implied Friday.
Based on the current forecast, I'd strongly suspect freeway closure on Thursday night (or even Thursday day) reopening Friday morning sometime. If you're up at Boreal on Thursday, you should be able to drive down to the West even if the freeway is closed. I've done it many times. Cautionary note: If the storm is as strong as forecasted, nothing's going to be running on the summit on Thursday. Maybe SB can run their Crow's Peak Chair, but it's so new that we haven't seen this kind of storm on its operations yet. Plus SB says they're going to be closed.
I'm making the call right now: massive closure on I 80 all the way to Auburn as cars trying to get into Squaw back up onto the freeway. Thank god saturdays are blacked out on my pass.
As for Kirkwood kids lessons...
Mini-Jets definitely takes 5 year olds. We did the first year of Mini-Jets with my 5 year old last season and it seemed to be fine for the kids. We signed him up again this year at age 6 and with the returning family discount, its like $80 a day (I think there's around 8 Sunday sessions).
Regular ski school - I hope its not $160...that's just obscene. On the website, its says $137 for all day which does seem more than last year. For the last couple of years I always called them up beforehand to book a lesson. It may be cheaper if 1) you have a season pass already, and 2) have all the equipment. Generally, kids ski lessons include everything. My biggest gripe is ski lessons for 3 year olds starting at 10:30am. I still can't believe that and huge bummer for parents who have plans to slay pow :) . I feel like everywhere else, its WAY earlier. At any event, I plan on skiing with my kids as much as possible...its back-breaking work but should be worth at the end of the day.
Kwood was fun this weekend for only a few runs being open. Good to get the legs pumping. Took my youngest girl up Saturday and my oldest on Sunday, little one had the better conditions. Sunday was firmish. I thought it would be busier with the limited terrain but it looks like most stayed away. There was a noticeable bump in crowds once the staff was allowed to take laps in the afternoon. Parking lot dirtbag's like us were out in force!
Snow near the trees was nice but get too close to the sticky and you paid for it. If anyone saw a little girl in turquoise/ purple marmot gear laughing at an old man on his tele's take a header along the trees on race course that was us! Neck's a little sore today but good times.
Upper mountain has opened with less before..hopefully this upcoming storm delivers.
Ski Friday. work wraps up thurs PM in San Jose, was looking at hotel in Auburn area. Again, appreciate you all's beta!Quote:
Originally Posted by LightRanger
so if storm goes off Kirkwood better travel option? hear you about boreal, just looked like the safest drive with sugar bowl closed that day. Travel #1 concern terrain down the list. Trying to roll back into SFO 9:00 PM friday 12/12.