'14/'15 Magic Shitshow aka Everybody's an Expert thread

[Aldo]

there has to be a better name than Treat, that is a stupid name. Treat? Even if the glade sucked it would deserve a better name
and.

well I certainly agree with you there. although I have never participated in any clearing of these secret avenues you "zealots" speak of, I really think you could do better.
C'mon Treat? Treat is a piece of meat that BP steals from a hostel breakfast platter... Make it look mean!!!

[MarcusBrody]

Actually I kind of think that naming the East Side glades really wussy names might keep them full of soft snow for longer. All the visiting bro brahs will shoot over to Voodoo and leave Treat, White Kitten, Soft and Fuzzy, Cuddly Lil'Luvums and the rest for those who know.

[savemeasammy]

How about a seeded bump run at Magic? It doesn't even need to be a secret...!

[DoWork]

How about a seeded bump run at Magic? It doesn't even need to be a secret...!

Get a shovel. Nobody will stop you.

[Timberridge]

Good grief. Code words and secret stashes again? That's so last year's thread.

I can only imagine the turmoil that would ensue if someone were to discover where the Playboys are hidden in the janitors closet.

[PearlJam09]

I'm with MarcusBrody on this one. Illusion works for me.

[radam]

Your point is well taken, and the stuff off the lift is fair game, the two MSB mentioned are not, and while not huge secrets, WT, RH, AZ, and BSW will never be on the map, or am i wrong?

we have the bro's that show when it snows market nailed.

I agree that getting the beginner/family market is of higher importance but I wasn't suggesting we try to further reel in the powderhounds. I'm talking your average skiers who like to poke their heads into glades between storms to see what the whole tree-skiing thing is all about. It's great to think that getting families means getting people who think Wand -> Magic Carpet is the bee's knees and we just need to crack the code on that one but there's families who like to ski a little bit of everything, trees included and looking at our "stats" we don't have many trees.

Also, as a general PSA, the kitty tried to take me out on this weekend, almost lived up to its alternate moniker until my forearm intervened. Stay on your toes in there.

And those branches we call jacket rippers?

[MMP]

I was thinking that if we have a 2 part tree run the top could be presto and the bottom, change-o.

I'm with DW either way, just to be safe.

[MMP]

I agree that getting the beginner/family market is of higher importance but I wasn't suggesting we try to further reel in the powderhounds. I'm talking your average skiers who like to poke their heads into glades between storms to see what the whole tree-skiing thing is all about. It's great to think that getting families means getting people who think Wand -> Magic Carpet is the bee's knees and we just need to crack the code on that one but there's families who like to ski a little bit of everything, trees included and looking at our "stats" we don't have many trees.

Also, as a general PSA, the kitty tried to take me out on this weekend, almost lived up to its alternate moniker until my forearm intervened. Stay on your toes in there.

And those branches we call jacket rippers?

What you say is true, but aren't most area's tree stuff reputed more than reported? Think Stowe.

[DoWork]

I was thinking that if we have a 2 part tree run the top could be presto and the bottom, change-o.

I'm with DW either way, just to be safe.

Ooooooh, I like that!

[Dexter Rutecki]

Should just assign numbers. 1, 1A, 69, 3.14, I-91, 97 (year of reopening(?)), 99 (Gretzky, duh), 4 (number of lifts Magic has, depending on who's counting), 1500 (Magic's vertical drop, maybe), 1700 (Magic's vertical drop, maybe), 4 to 5 (average number of chairs Dave bumps correctly each day), etc. Numbers could be cool.

[Jonathan S.]

Just a quick heads-up that the annual rando race is this coming Saturday, March 14:
http://nerandorace.blogspot.com/2013...out-magic.html

On Monday I flagged the entire course (and set the bootpack -- ugh, the postholing...).
So if you see any mountaineering-style wands with green, red, yellow, or blue-on-white flags, please pretty please leave them in place.
(Unless they are no longer planted in the snow and instead are just lying flat on the snow -- in that case, please hand them over to Conor so that they don't blow around and confuse people.)
Note that a lot of the skintrack this year will be visible from the Red Chair, as will all of the bootpack and almost all of the skiing, so we look forward to entertaining all of you!

[radam]

What you say is true, but aren't most area's tree stuff reputed more than reported? Think Stowe.

All I know is that according to trail maps, we have essentially the same number of glades as Bromley.

My other reference point is Gore, which boasts a ton of mapped and signed glades and I know there are plenty of people who ski there because of that. Many of them do so in low or high tide and while I'm sure there is a high percentage that doesn't know Magic exists and/or is open, there are likely others who have looked at Magic's map and concluded that if they are going to drive 90 minutes to an affordable, family-friendly hill, they might as well go to the one with 27 glades.

[Binky]

It's important to practice safe skiing when there are full blown glAIDS around

[makimono]

or you could just point your stick downhill and drop it in that deep stuff

yeah, I Banged Full Blown Glaids at Magic!

[Timberridge]

Will you guys be posting here when you plan to do tree work? Even if it is just a few people please post, if I have the time I would love to come up and do my part. I have plenty of tree trimming toys.

No need for a planned event. Just show up by yourself in late Sept-Oct with your MS250, gas, bar oil and orange chaps. Its too buggy any other time. Walk up the hill w/ a purpose, and if anyone asks just say "Jim's cool with it, I'm here with the crew."

Once you're done with a section, scent mark the remaining trees with your urine. That way the locals will know its your area and not to fuck with tracking it up come next winter...at least before you get a chance to hit it. If you drag a pine branch behind you to cover up your ski tracks, less people will find it. Mounting game cameras and confronting poachers in the BLT is considered a bit agro, but sometimes necessary.

[RustyGroomer]

I SURVIVED Full Blown Glaids at Magic!

Great T-shirt. NOT happening.

[savemeasammy]

4 to 5 (# of seconds you have to put your bar down before being admonished)

Or this ^

[MMP]

All I know is that according to trail maps, we have essentially the same number of glades as Bromley.

My other reference point is Gore, which boasts a ton of mapped and signed glades and I know there are plenty of people who ski there because of that. Many of them do so in low or high tide and while I'm sure there is a high percentage that doesn't know Magic exists and/or is open, there are likely others who have looked at Magic's map and concluded that if they are going to drive 90 minutes to an affordable, family-friendly hill, they might as well go to the one with 27 glades.

Is there obligation to clear marked glades more so than unmarked? I'm thinking of areas that would require employees to work on beyond the volunteer capacity. This year it's all in, but some years you just shouldn't poke in some places, low angle or not.

bummer about your jacket, I have duct tape obviously. Hit me up!

No need for a planned event. Just show up by yourself in late Sept-Oct with your MS250, gas, bar oil and orange chaps. Its too buggy any other time. Walk up the hill w/ a purpose, and if anyone asks just say "Jim's cool with it, I'm here with the crew."

Once you're done with a section, scent mark the remaining trees with your urine. That way the locals will know its your area and not to fuck with tracking it up come next winter...at least before you get a chance to hit it. If you drag a pine branch behind you to cover up your ski tracks, less people will find it. Mounting game cameras and confronting poachers in the BLT is considered a bit agro, but sometimes necessary.

ahaha

[DoWork]

I'm thinking of areas that would require employees to work on beyond the volunteer capacity.

Bahahahaha good one!

[MMP]

My point. Nothing that adds to their load should be considered.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Is there obligation to clear marked glades more so than unmarked? I'm thinking of areas that would require employees to work on beyond the volunteer capacity. This year it's all in, but some years you just shouldn't poke in some places, low angle or not.

Right, and I would say that generally ski areas that include gladed areas on maps definitely maintain them (sometimes to the point that they no longer are what I would think of as glades--more like a trail with a few trees). I'm thinking specifically of when Mt. Snow put 'The Trials' on their map (which kind of ruined that general part of the North Face)--they definitely cleared quite a bit, which would've been great if they'd done it without putting the glade on the map (and so guaranteeing thousands of skiers would ski it). I know of some other places that have done similar.

I would also just question, generally, whether many people look at the trail map and decide to ski or not ski an area based on marked glades. Maybe some people do that (and every little bit helps, obviously), but to my mind the general PR challenge (people knowing we're open, etc.) is more important, and possibly related to that is what RG always mentions about the conception of the mountain as not having reliable grooming/easier trails. My guess would be that relative to marked glades the other things are far more important.

Please put me down for three of the Full blown GLaidz t-shirts.

[FussyDutchman]

And those branches we call jacket rippers?

I had a similar run in with what must have been a decent sized branch that not only ripped out a small portion of my freeride jacket but also a nice chunk off the brim on my lid...clearly my limbo skills ducking trees are failing me in old age. I should probably just stay in the bar and order some chowdah!



A little gorilla tape on the inside and a generous amount of seam sealer on the outside have gotten the job done so far after 3-4 days.



As for the lid, well, it lived a good life and served its purpose more than once. So long old friend!

[DoWork]

I would just be stoked if the map didn't make the place look like Berkshire East. A more indifferent piece of artwork may not exist anywhere.


I must admit, it is kind of funny to me that we have such an insane amount of tree skiing and have just about none of it marked. It's not whether or not people ski elsewhere for marked glades, but with Magic people hear that there's great trees- and when they look online it's like "Oh. Uh... Ok I guess."

I like that there's a lot to explore, but for a first-timer or someone just trying the place out it's not very open about what's all around. What's on the map is good but it's just hinting. Hell, what's there right now in total is still only scratching the surface of what COULD be there and that's what I think is the important thing to remember. They aren't hard to keep clean once they're there and the program grows every year. As long as we are smart about what we do and how we do it, I see no point of diminishing returns anytime soon. We have some wide swaths of trees to work with for sure and I've got some awesome ideas. I basically feel like it's not a big deal and the mountain should just concentrate on grading, grooming, snowmaking and fixing the goddam black chair situation. We can handle anything they want in the trees. No problem.

[MMP]

good point about the graphics. we just skied 2 areas that we had never been to, and the maps show trees, and the general spacing on the map fairly clearly indicated if they're gladed or dense.