Ontario 2024/25 - Come For The Lifts, Stay For The Lines
It's like 25°C here so obviously time to fire up a thread. Fall colours are in full effect - go to your local hill and observe! And take a whiff - the smell of decay precedes snow on the air, I can feel it in my plums!
Winter forecast: wetter than average, slightly warmer than average. I'm going to call it now - EPIC CONDITIONS WILL BE HAD. Üllr knows we're due for a good one...
Who's rocking new gear this winter? Who's getting fired up!
New boards last season, nothing new this season...so far. Do mitts count?
I think it was 2008 or thereabouts that I was skiing in October for the only time.
We had some snow at Killarney during Thanksgiving last year but nice weather two weeks ago. Still camping and got back yesterday from Killbear. Trying to talk my 'old lady' into camping at Pinery next week.
We are due for a good winter and I am pumped for the coming season.
10-30-2024, 06:52 PM
Mr. Multiglisse
1 Attachment(s)
The WWHSTA crew had an excellent glading day and social time at Limberlost last weekend. Don't forget to renew your member
ship and support backcountry skiing in Ontario!
The WWHSTA crew had an excellent glading day and social time at Limberlost last weekend. Don't forget to renew your member
ship and support backcountry skiing in Ontario!
I've heard there are other lines at limberlost that aren't part of the old ski hill - tales of slightly longer, more consistent fall-line enjoyment. is this true?
11-01-2024, 08:35 AM
Mr. Multiglisse
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulster2626
I've heard there are other lines at limberlost that aren't part of the old ski hill - tales of slightly longer, more consistent fall-line enjoyment. is this true?
Very true. Those lines are on the north-facing slope at the south end of Buck Lake. Drive or hike past Buck Lake Landing, park and go left up the Helve Lake Road (groomed nordic trail in the winter). You can ski there from the cabin by taking the Ascension Trail, it is a fun old-school nordic trail. At the first flat spot on the Helve Lake Road uphill, duck into the woods, you'll see the line easily. This zone has a variety of fun options, a bit shorter than the next one. For that, keep trudging uphill to the top of the hill (dare I say "summit?"). When the trail flattens out again, go left in the woods and follow the contour maybe 100 metres to the run. I call this zone the Ewok Forest, it is kind of a large bowl. The main run goes down the main gully, it is fun. We opened up a steep chute between the two cliffs on skier left, it will be interesting to see if that gets skied. The downside of the Ewok Forest is that the main run is sheltered by large hemlocks, so you need to be patient and wait for a big snow day.
The was a crew of about 25 on glading day, so we got lots accomplished. On the old ski hill, one group did some excellent cleanup on the run below the cabin and another worked on the long run skier right of the t-bar. I took a small crew of experienced gladers and we worked on the bottom part of the t-bar run itself, then on the area to the right of that, where the rope tow used to be. In the afternoon, two groups worked on the Ewok Forest and the shorter run over there.
If the snow is good, the Limberlost Orientation Day on Jan. 11 would be worth attending, we'll check out all those areas.
11-01-2024, 09:27 AM
petey_
1 Attachment(s)
FOMO. Funny how that was part of the WWHSTA push to get out for that weekend. Turns out that a buddy had FOMO after a bunch of us camped in September when he couldn't join us. So it boiled down to camping at Killbear with the lads instead of Limberlost. I did enjoy last year's outing and wished I could have been there again but it was not to be.
Those slopes sure do need a lot of snow to be safe considering what was revealed last year. We have a trip to Arrowhead early January as well as early March so I might try and visit but time will tell if there is enough coverage. Anyways, looking forward to the other events this coming winter.
Below is a pic of a barred owl that hung around our KB campsite one afternoon.
FOMO. Funny how that was part of the WWHSTA push to get out for that weekend. Turns out that a buddy had FOMO after a bunch of us camped in September when he couldn't join us. So it boiled down to camping at Killbear with the lads instead of Limberlost. I did enjoy last year's outing and wished I could have been there again but it was not to be.
Those slopes sure do need a lot of snow to be safe considering what was revealed last year. We have a trip to Arrowhead early January as well as early March so I might try and visit but time will tell if there is enough coverage. Anyways, looking forward to the other events this coming winter.
Hoo hoo hoo! There are definitely some hazards that need to be covered. Same thing at some ski resorts though, I've hiked at Jay in the non-snow season, there are some gnarly rocks on some of those runs. This is why fat skis with rocker are your friend.
11-01-2024, 05:13 PM
petey_
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Multiglisse
This is why fat skis with rocker are your friend.
Not my faves for tele but they do keep you above the fray. Nice to have a quiver.
11-04-2024, 12:53 PM
paulster2626
Awesome intel.
If we get a half decent winter I'll be taking a day off work mid week sometime to track up the fresh snow like I did a couple years ago. My one and only time out there, it was an awesome day alone in the woods just poking around looking for trouble. A gorgeous spot. Would love to get out and help glade and just hang but having 2 young kids in various sports (and being a volunteer for them as well) makes it REAL tough to ditch the family on Saturdays and/or Sundays.
Worth the 2.5 hour drive up and back when snow conditions are in. Maybe one of these days I'll try to camp overnight or something, if that's allowed.
11-06-2024, 04:34 PM
petey_
Many small and large cabins to rent there. Also camping available with a number of sites near the good terrain. Hope to get up there myself this winter. Last year had numerous reasons that I didn't make it. Rain was one of them.
11-20-2024, 06:40 PM
petey_
Hey Mister Multiglisse, I might wind up on Mary Lake this coming winter for a few days and can see a resort just south of there. Private? Looks like a number of slopes and the view from 11 seems to indicate a nice pitch. Any info that you can impart to the curious amongst us? Merci.
11-20-2024, 08:33 PM
Mr. Multiglisse
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
Hey Mister Multiglisse, I might wind up on Mary Lake this coming winter for a few days and can see a resort just south of there. Private? Looks like a number of slopes and the view from 11 seems to indicate a nice pitch. Any info that you can impart to the curious amongst us? Merci.
If you can see it from Hwy 11, that would be the ski area once known as Curlew (AKA Steven's Hill). A friend and I skied it about 20+ years ago, when it was basically an abandoned property. Soon after that, it was bought by a rich guy, new house built, poma lift refurbished and opened up to family and friends. It sold again in the last 10 years, I don't know what the current ownership status is. You are correct, there is a nice pitch and consistent drop, though the day we were there was Sierra Cement snow conditions.
Looks like some cold weather and maybe even snow might start showing up next weekend, just in time for December.
Glen Eden has switched to RFID this year. This will help keep the hoodlums out, but knowing the clientele demographics, this is gonna be a rough start to the season in the lift lines!
11-21-2024, 05:13 PM
petey_
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Multiglisse
If you can see it from Hwy 11, that would be the ski area once known as Curlew (AKA Steven's Hill). A friend and I skied it about 20+ years ago, when it was basically an abandoned property. Soon after that, it was bought by a rich guy, new house built, poma lift refurbished and opened up to family and friends. It sold again in the last 10 years, I don't know what the current ownership status is. You are correct, there is a nice pitch and consistent drop, though the day we were there was Sierra Cement snow conditions.
Excellent stuff Mr. M. I'll check out those links tomorrow. Many thanks!
11-21-2024, 05:18 PM
petey_
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulster2626
Looks like some cold weather and maybe even snow might start showing up next weekend, just in time for December.
Glen Eden has switched to RFID this year. This will help keep the hoodlums out, but knowing the clientele demographics, this is gonna be a rough start to the season in the lift lines!
It sure does look good next week for some white stuff. When we headed out this morning to a wedding in Georgetown there were little snow pellets falling. Sweet!
With an RFID pass do you need to check in at the hill or go online before visiting? As far as I know, Boler is still on lifties checking your pass which saves a lot of hassle having your mug on your jacket.
11-22-2024, 10:55 AM
paulster2626
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
It sure does look good next week for some white stuff. When we headed out this morning to a wedding in Georgetown there were little snow pellets falling. Sweet!
With an RFID pass do you need to check in at the hill or go online before visiting? As far as I know, Boler is still on lifties checking your pass which saves a lot of hassle having your mug on your jacket.
Apparently they'll have kiosks to dole out the cards. Knowing GE, they won't have any enforcement whatsoever and will just rely on the scanner reading if a pass is valid or not. Same sort of thing at Blue Mtn. You might get the occasional 'red jacket' looking things over during the first few weeks, but they don't show up until around 11am anyway to keep an eye on the criminals from the city.
I'm planning on putting my pass in my pocket and leaving it in there until April.
11-26-2024, 12:50 PM
petey_
Caught a brief news update today and they mentioned that Glen Eden plans to open December 6th. That would surprise the hell out of me. Someone huffing adhesives? Temps look good for snow making soon and lots of nannering with regards to upcoming snow events but unless they have changed management I don't see this happening. Hope I'm wrong though.
Boler has been on top of their game over the years for getting the season started so I would imagine that if GE opens we'll be open as well. Bring it ULLR!
11-26-2024, 02:16 PM
paulster2626
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
Caught a brief news update today and they mentioned that Glen Eden plans to open December 6th. That would surprise the hell out of me. Someone huffing adhesives? Temps look good for snow making soon and lots of nannering with regards to upcoming snow events but unless they have changed management I don't see this happening. Hope I'm wrong though.
Boler has been on top of their game over the years for getting the season started so I would imagine that if GE opens we'll be open as well. Bring it ULLR!
Who said that?
They've never opened that early. I don't even think they have enough staff until xmas break on the 20th, and I don't think their insurance even kicks in until the 14th (that's what someone told me many years ago).
Looking at the wet bulb temps, need at least -6 for their snowmaking systems, although they do have one mobile fan that can make snow in more borderline situations... we can take the forecasted temp for Milton and drop it by 1C because it tends to be 1-3 degrees colder out by the escarpment and account for forecasted humidity:
Dec 1 SUN night: -6 (borderline)
Dec 2 MON night: -6 (borderline)
Dec 3 TUE night: -6.5 (closer)
Dec 4 WED night: -8 (game on)
Dec 5 THU night: -7 (game on)
Dec 6 FRI night: -8 (game on)
Dec 7 SAT day: -5.8 (so close!)
Dec 7 SAT night: -7 (game on)
Dec 8 SUN day: -5.8 (so close!)
Dec 8 SUN night: -7 (game on)
So, is it doable? Maybe. Forecast at least doesn't have things getting above freezing on those days, so anything they do manage to crank out should stick around for the most part. But it will depend on the temps actually getting as cold as they say it will, the humidity not increasing, and some wind to help keep the mist aloft (which should be no problem at GE). Also maybe they bought another one or two of those fan snowmaker things; they can blow the snow higher and thus make snow in warmer temps than the traditional fixed guns they have.
I'm expecting them to be able to start building some reserve mounds of snow next week and hopefully just be open for xmas break. That'd be the best case scenario imo, as I could legitimately get in 8 visits with the family during that time and have the passes paid for by January. If they can open up earlier on the 19th or 20th, bonus - I'll hit them up for some Lunchtime Laps!
11-26-2024, 02:46 PM
petey_
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulster2626
Who said that?
I was reading at the time and a brief blurb came across the telly in the background. No idea who was behind that update but it listed four different resorts in Ontario and GE was the third on the list as to when they planned to open. I was surprised and you have leant credence to my initial thought with regards to the adhesives huffing.:D Sadly.
Guessing that we got a good three weeks extra season last year over your hill. Also looks like Horseshoe is going RFID this season. 10 or 20 percent increase in ticket prices with that adoption? Progress, fvck it.
11-27-2024, 06:23 AM
petey_
Checking the Boler web cams and the new hill already has some coverage. Keeners work there. Purchase of a high tech snow making gadget a couple of years ago is paying off. Sliding by the machine when it is ten C and seeing it blow snow last year was an eye opener.
11-27-2024, 09:50 AM
paulster2626
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
Checking the Boler web cams and the new hill already has some coverage. Keeners work there. Purchase of a high tech snow making gadget a couple of years ago is paying off. Sliding by the machine when it is ten C and seeing it blow snow last year was an eye opener.
That's cool. Whoever runs the GE website and socials and "chairlift chat" email list sucks at it. Everything is such a mystery there - webcam doesn't work until the place opens, they don't provide any estimated opening dates until like 2 days before, zero hype and zero talk about what's new or exciting for the season. Like I know the hill sucks, but it's still one of the busiest places in Ontario and people are amped up to just get out and do something.
11-28-2024, 06:55 PM
garyfromterrace
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Multiglisse
Very true. Those lines are on the north-facing slope at the south end of Buck Lake. Drive or hike past Buck Lake Landing, park and go left up the Helve Lake Road (groomed nordic trail in the winter). You can ski there from the cabin by taking the Ascension Trail, it is a fun old-school nordic trail. At the first flat spot on the Helve Lake Road uphill, duck into the woods, you'll see the line easily. This zone has a variety of fun options, a bit shorter than the next one. For that, keep trudging uphill to the top of the hill (dare I say "summit?"). When the trail flattens out again, go left in the woods and follow the contour maybe 100 metres to the run. I call this zone the Ewok Forest, it is kind of a large bowl. The main run goes down the main gully, it is fun. We opened up a steep chute between the two cliffs on skier left, it will be interesting to see if that gets skied. The downside of the Ewok Forest is that the main run is sheltered by large hemlocks, so you need to be patient and wait for a big snow day.
The was a crew of about 25 on glading day, so we got lots accomplished. On the old ski hill, one group did some excellent cleanup on the run below the cabin and another worked on the long run skier right of the t-bar. I took a small crew of experienced gladers and we worked on the bottom part of the t-bar run itself, then on the area to the right of that, where the rope tow used to be. In the afternoon, two groups worked on the Ewok Forest and the shorter run over there.
If the snow is good, the Limberlost Orientation Day on Jan. 11 would be worth attending, we'll check out all those areas.
This is just awesome Mr Multiglisse! I've always maintained that any place is as good as you want it to be, and you guys have a solid group making your zone better. Love it, hope you guys get dumped on to make the best of what you've got. Coupla questions for you - D'ya get lake effect there? If not, must be pretty dry? Cheers, eastern bums!
11-29-2024, 07:50 AM
paulster2626
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by garyfromterrace
Coupla questions for you - D'ya get lake effect there? If not, must be pretty dry? Cheers, eastern bums!
I am not the wise old Mr. Multi, but I can answer this.
Yes, lake effect snow is definitely in play. Prevailing winds are west --> east, so anything that is directly east of the lakes is prime territory most of the year (like Buffalo gets slammed all the time, while Niagara Falls gets significantly less despite being only 20 min away). Mr. Multi's muskoka chair is right in this wheelhouse (near Huntsville on the map). Basically anything north of Barrie gets a lot more snow than anything south of it. When the winds shift a little though, then anything can happen.
For example this weekend Mr. Multi's backyard chair should see a decent dump of snow (out here we call 15cm decent) from strong westerly winds across an unfrozen lake huron and georgian bay but these are really hard to forecast. Depends on how strong the winds blow, and how much water they suck up from the lakes.
All we really need out here is long patches of cold weather. Storms come regularly enough, it's been the damn rain the last 2 winters that's made things tough. Last year could've been epic with just -3 more degrees celcius during all those storms bringing water up from the gulf of mexico.
Nowadays I consider ourselves lucky if we're skiing by Christmas break. First week of January has been the normal 'everything is open' timing lately.
...and you can see this happening right now. Notice the thin streams coming off of Georgian Bay - pure lake effect snow but this is why it's hard to predict.
As Paulster mentioned, lake effect is tricky. Downright frightening when it hits you. Couple of workmates got stuck for close to a week at the Bruce Generating Station years ago when Lake Huron buried them. Driving through Parry Sound one year and I knew where I was but never saw a road sign and the armco was an elusive ghost in the periphery. Five minutes later the sun is shining and all is well.
Living in London in the midst of the great lakes you'd think there would be lots of snow in the winter. Nope! Some years we get a foot and a half total for the whole winter. Other years might bring that much numerous times. Frustrating. One early December saw three feet in 24 hours at my house. Driving home that night I had to open the window and stick my head out to see as the snow was flowing over the hood and windshield. Wound up golfing in the first week of January that season.
Anywho, just checked the Boler cam and see the guns spewing snow. Pumpt!!
11-30-2024, 11:16 AM
Johnny P
Blowing at Blue!! In Belize currently. Sure hope I can ski when I get home though.
12-01-2024, 06:22 AM
paulster2626
Glen Eden had the snow guns on full blast last night. Looking promising for an early start to the season this year, but you never know…
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
12-01-2024, 09:33 AM
petey_
Quote:
Originally Posted by paulster2626
Glen Eden had the snow guns on full blast last night. Looking promising for an early start to the season this year, but you never know…
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
We drove by there yesterday a little after noon and the upper guns were blowing. Pretty close to freezing at the time. Driving back out from Toronto this morning and the guns were blazing. Hope you get some soon.
12-03-2024, 01:11 PM
petey_
7 or 8 inches in the local golf course was enough. Warm wax and mostly sunny. Nice day for pow dorking on the flats and mild slopes. My season has started.
Where is Mr. M. and his measuring chair? Power out? Buried and maybe show his head on groundhog day? Curious how Limberlost made out with the road closing bounty.
12-03-2024, 01:29 PM
paulster2626
Glen Eden looks like it could easily open tomorrow if they wanted to. Interesting tidbits from Blue's website about snowmaking:
-natural snow packs down 10:1
-man-made snow packs down to 1:1, so WYSIWYG
-it takes them 48 hours of total snowmaking time on a run to make enough snow to open it
-it then takes another 48 hours of total groomer time to smoosh it all out and make it skiable
GE has had this amount of time, and they've put up a post on socials saying "Stay tuned for our opening day announcement" like we haven't all been already staying tuned... I just want to get my skis on and get on a chairlift and be once again disappointed by the 250' vert, why is this so hard to get going!
12-03-2024, 01:32 PM
danmelon
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
Where is Mr. M. and his measuring chair? Power out? Buried and maybe show his head on groundhog day?
was wondering the same thing, hope he is ok out there, and at least getting pitted ON style.
12-04-2024, 03:35 PM
Johnny P
Blue opens on Saturday!!
12-04-2024, 05:05 PM
noslow
Blue Saturday and MSLM opens Friday!
Hopefully the weather isn’t too sketchy between there and London as I’d like to go opening days at both.
12-05-2024, 04:03 PM
petey_
Three or four inches in the last couple of hours. Should be decent in the woods in the morning. Blue wax I'm guessing. Get it before the rain on Monday. Shades of last year:mad:
And Boler is grooming the slopes. Open tomorrow? We shall see.
12-05-2024, 08:17 PM
Mr. Multiglisse
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:
Originally Posted by danmelon
was wondering the same thing, hope he is ok out there, and at least getting pitted ON style.
Oh hey, we are OK, been busy snowblowing, didn't get quite as pounded as the burgs just south (eg. Gravenhurst @ 140 cm) but we've got a decent amount of snow. This is from yesterday, there is a bit more now:
Kids are getting snow days here. Poor little darlings have trouble with six inches of snow. When I was a kid...
Anyways, about a foot over night and the plow pushed most of it to my side of the street. Now who's crying? Hope I can make it to my stash before the kids wreck it with toboggans. Bluebird day!
12-06-2024, 08:33 AM
paulster2626
Quote:
Originally Posted by petey_
Kids are getting snow days here. Poor little darlings have trouble with six inches of snow. When I was a kid...
Anyways, about a foot over night and the plow pushed most of it to my side of the street. Now who's crying? Hope I can make it to my stash before the kids wreck it with toboggans. Bluebird day!
So the snow days isn't because the kids can't make it in - it's because the staff can't make it in on time. Back in our day, teachers were more likely to be local and live in the community so it would be easier to get there and have enough staff to open safely (and legally). Due to a myriad of reasons this is no longer the case. So after someone figures out that the timing and amount of snowfall is going to prevent the arrival of staff on time, they need to cancel the day. Can't just say "school is starting late" because that's not really an option.
At least, this is how it was explained to me. I am no Gary Chalmers.
12-06-2024, 11:08 AM
petey_
Sixty year ago I had teachers that lived way outside of town. No problem getting to school. Now they have AWD SUVs and can't check a weather report and get up earlier? What's this world coming to? Old man rant over.
Fantastic skiing at a local park this morning. Surprised that hard wax sucked and had to go with a warm wax even though it was minus five C or so.
12-06-2024, 01:13 PM
paulster2626
Sixty years ago? Well I guess you're right, if they could ride their horse to work then today it shouldn't be a problem. I guess I was fed some bullshit as usual. Anyway I love snow days - we go skiing :)
Would be nice to hear something from GE though. Their silence is annoying.
12-06-2024, 06:11 PM
Mr. Multiglisse
Ha! Sixty years ago I walked to school in a whiteout, 5 miles in bare feet. Truth be told, I grew up in the burbs of Montreal, school was rarely cancelled and there was lots of snow. Anyone remember the great blizzard of March 1971? I actually did walk to school, both elementary and high school, about 30 minutes each way. Parents today would never let a kid do my high school trek: cross four lane highway, walk through sketchy woods past abandoned building littered with needles, cross four sets of busy railway tracks, walk though municipal dump yard, then up a lonely street to school. Good times.
