Crystal 25/2 - It Doesn't get any better

**PNWbrit** · 02-25-2007, 09:00 PM

A sublime day with a stella group who absolutely tore the place up.

I'll leave the fine details to be chronicled by Mr. Highman who played his usual role as pied piper to a large fester of maggots. That last run on Mullah's VSOP

probably was the best of my life.

Before anyone asks no pictures were taken...it was simply too good a day to bother trying to capture with pixels.

Buster, Girlski, Hev, BCflow, Greenmachine, Brain Damage and anyone else I'm too spent to recall - Thankyou!

**BenWA** · 02-25-2007, 09:24 PM

Always seem to be these mega mag fests on the very same days that I find myself going it alone... what's the secret handshake that I need to learn to schralp with the mags???

**Jumper Bones** · 02-25-2007, 09:37 PM

I think the key is Buster's 0400 show time - or whatever time he gets there to score first chair, every time. Nutcase was saying he got in line at 10 after 8 and there was already a huge line...with Buster and Flow at the front.

That said, it's just random hookup. I was rawking it solo today and stumbled into Nutcase and the AD and some others, saw GirlSki and Fubar in passing, etc. I did hear my radio crackle every once in awhile, but I wasn't paying much attention to it, was busy skiing ;-)

**BenWA** · 02-25-2007, 09:38 PM

0400, aahahaha

**greenmachine** · 02-25-2007, 09:46 PM

Indeed a stellar day. Most likely the deepest snow I've had this year. Sback and Nback were rediculous. Didn't get to ski much with the crew due to my own guiding duties.

Hopefully somebody got some pics!

**altasnob** · 02-25-2007, 09:54 PM

That line up Chair 6 was the longest I've ever seen but it did move surprisingly fast. Did everyone get stuck behind the accident on the way down?

**PeachesN'Cream** · 02-25-2007, 09:59 PM

today was $$$$$ out of $$$$$ on the "thats money brah" scale.

great fuggin crew, great fuggin snow. you can all punch me in the arm for not pulling the camera out. it was just too damn good to stop.

now if i only didn't lugg out on the hike up the king. anybody got an extra lung for sale?

p.s. i got up at 5 to catch the buster ride at 6. we were third chair up. it was totally worth the early rise.

**The AD** · 02-25-2007, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by greenmachine

Sback and Nback were rediculous.

When did they finally get southback open? They were bombing all day.

Incredible amount of snow up there. I went up C6 twice then decided to go elsewhere to avoid that line.

**greenmachine** · 02-25-2007, 10:46 PM

sback opened about 1pm/1:30. first tracks down applainces. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!

It was as crowded as I've ever seen it today. ? Although my nback and sback runs were not.

**The AD** · 02-25-2007, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by greenmachine

It was as crowded as I've ever seen it.

It was really crowded in the morning. It seemed to thin out in the afternoon (except C6). I took a couple runs down to the Green Valley chair with no wait at all. Everyone must have been out in the Southback!

**girlski0912** · 02-25-2007, 11:52 PM

Today goes down in the books as one of the deepest days, not just since moving to the PNW, but ever. For reals...

Got up this morning at 4:40 to rally the drive to Crystal. Pulled into the parking lot and scored "little Subie" special privileges. Ran into non mag Alex in line, then non mag Elliot after a first deep run down doors. We rallied a few money front side laps, then west angle to GV...FUCK ME.

Then we met up with the mag crew and the day became one to go down in the history books. It was fucking deep and delicious and shared with some of the best folks to be found. It rocked.

And I got rocked by my new really really big skis. I'm tired. But I could have done our last line forever and ever.

**Monique** · 02-25-2007, 11:59 PM

So I'm multitasking right now and talking on the phone to Girlski (sorry you don't have my full attention heh) and she is "trying really hard to downplay" what I'm missing with phrases like "deepest day I've ever skied" and this sustained maniacal laughter that makes me want to kick her ass.

Only in the best way, of course.

**PeachesN'Cream** · 02-26-2007, 01:23 AM

well at least nobody called from the hill to fill you in on what you were missing. however the idea was tossed around a few times.

p.s. you can punch me in the arm next time we meet.

**shmerham** · 02-26-2007, 01:27 AM

Trying to play this injury thing cool, but I can't fucking take it anymore. I HATE ALL OF YOU (except for Monique).

**Buster Highmen** · 02-26-2007, 08:45 AM

w00t. w00tarae, w00tui, w00tittus. Latin advancement of w00t. DefinAtely a (****)/(****) day in every way.
Hev materialized sans bag with boots and Chateau Highmen threw down comestibles to try to assuage the pain and avoid dealing with the situation, hoping that United would deliver. We gave up waiting @ 11:20 and drifted off.

I came up from the depths of sleep @ 5:00 to find Hev passed out on the couch, no boots. So while I sifted around in the sandbox I call a brain, I somehow stumbled upon an old wrapper left by FeeCeeBlow whom we were to pick up at the infamous Preston Park and Ride. Hmmm..Hev's tall...FeeCeeBlow's tall...so I threw out the cell pulse and lo and behold, FeeCee had boots 1 size smaller of the same type. Takeoff imminent.

We loaded into the sled and mushed out towards the Snoqualmie Valley, up along the moss laden meth shacks to Preston where FeeCee desublimated, gear was tossed around and we lit out for Crustal.

It was going to be crowded, there was a slow train rolling up 410 out of Enumclaw at 6:45. But we still managed to get upper lot and second chair. Damn bro-in-law was there first. The cadre of weirdos filtered into line, PNWBrit, Girlski. Sombre talk passed about regarding an avie death on the backside Saturday. Condolences to the family, but I never understand why folks go ski those chutes during these storm cycles, particularly with rising tempertures and upside down cake: cold pow lower down, heavier stuff on top.
The lift was fired about 8:50 and it was on. Doors to Lucky Shot trees was decent, hip deep snow and things were kind of bleary, but we started to pulse the Northback ropeline and headed into the old Drift City glades. Completely insane deep, everyone was coming up just plastered with snow on the face. Watching people come down where there was only a head visible among explosions of white. Hooked up with Girlski for another and then headed out to Bruce's Bowl for one which was again just the powderhose to the face deep. Girlski's tele pal Alex was the submarine of the day. Someplace thereafter we linked up with Brain Damage, who henceforth shall be call BrainDomage and headed out to Penny Dogs which wa more cut up, but still delivering the powder feed to the schnozz and goggles. BrainDomage's better half had taken a bad hit to the head with her ski and he headed ff to look after her. I hope she's OK.

4 Ho Chi Minh trails is about as much of that thing as anyone should do in a morning, so we headed out for 6 where there was a long, but extremely organized line. It was weird. Fortunately, we took one lift up and they dropped the Southback rope. I staggered up in my usual cling to life style and got to the top to have the patrol stop us from skiing the N side of the King. Ostensibly for avie control. After a 15 minuite wait, the dogs were unleashed and our pack ripped a super deep virgin except for my damn bro-ni-law line, my favorite on the mountain.

Damn fine day and a damn fine crew. Thanks folks.

**girlski0912** · 02-26-2007, 10:37 AM

I woke up this morning still stoked on how good yesterday was. Then I checked Alta's webpage and saw that they picke up 19 bloody inches while Skibowl picked up 5. Either way, as I sit here at my desk typing this...I am considerably less happy than I was when I woke up. But yesterday still ruled.

**PNWbrit** · 02-26-2007, 10:52 AM

I woke up this morning and it took a few moments to realize that someone hadn't actually been beating me with a bat while I slept.

**jimmy page** · 02-26-2007, 10:59 AM

Good to hear that you guys are getting it again. I know that BC Flow was worried that while he was out here in Sun Valley he was going to miss his last chance at winter snow.

Girlski, did you get some Goat's or did you end up getting some skis that are bigger?

**Buster Highmen** · 02-26-2007, 11:17 AM

Did I mention being deep in the demented disease of deep powder snow?

PNWBrit's orgasmic howling, the st00pudenda shit show of lift lines, girlski's exhaltations regarding clits having boners, spitting snow, goggle wipes in midturn, Hev's general agogness?

Turn after turn of ball massage creeping up to belly massage, up to chest massage into submersion into the whirling white?

Ripping stuff really, really fast with that thought of where the safe zones are in case it breaks big?

Guidance by looking for the tree tops above the churning whiteout?

Not fairy dust blower, but a thicker consistency, body, weight, mass that even speed didn't rise one up out of.

And PNWBrit, shouldn't that be a cricket bat?

And cashing it in at 2:00 because we knew we were so cooked that another King or even Silver Basin runs was not within the grasp.

I'm dizzy today, tingling still, disconnected, disjoint with the walls and stairs and cars and traffic.

**BrainDamage** · 02-26-2007, 11:24 AM

What a hard charging bunch! Great skiers all, and fun attitudes.

Only got one (albeit exceptional) run with the Crystal Mags; had to look after Mrs. BrainDamage who was still woozy after a slight concusion and wrenched neck/back encountered after ejecting the Iceberg ridge catwalk to avoid a gaper snowboarder who decided to stop right in the middle while she was tucking to get to Upper E. She launched the catwalk lip, hit the deep pow too far forward, ejected, and tomawked all the way to the Green Valley runout.

She took off the rest of the day but encouraged me to keep skiing (what a trooper!). Unfortunately I never reconnected with the posse, but picked up another friend and went back to Northback. Brand X was fun in the PM, but not near as good as ravaging the Buster-led Bruce's/Anthill combo before lunch. I've skied Crystal for 15 years and never skied snow that deep. Truly epic!

Tried to get out South late, but the Northway bus took too long and had to pick up the kids at 3:00 (I got three of 'em, 2 in CMAC and one more to start next year).

Today, the Ho Chi Minh has my knees feeling every one of their 52-years, but have a shit-eating grin on my face! Have to hobble into work now.

Thanks guys. Cheers!

**PNWbrit** · 02-26-2007, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

And PNWBrit, shouldn't that be a cricket bat?

You think I'd allow any other kind in the house.

Edit: My bonehead move of the day. One even worse than hitting the eject button on the Ho into a tree well for BCflow's amusement. Ski rack failure on way home during slightly ambitious pass of three dawdlers just south of Black Diamond - result one Gotama doing 80 mph somersaults onto shoulder. No visible damage to ski or car just a walk of shame to fetch it.

**Jumper Bones** · 02-26-2007, 12:14 PM

I had another cool gaper wreck (something I specialize in), not sure if it qualifies for one of Jumper's famous holes again, but still cool nonetheless - skiing a tree line up on upper Grubstake (the tree line on the opposite side of the ridge from Rinky Dink), exploiting the untouched slot between two trees, when suddenly something underneath snagged my tips and wouldn't let go, and had me do an endo. I was still sort of pointed at one of the two trees, hadn't quite steered enough to go between, and all of the sudden CRACK! - my ski bases slammed right into one of the trees. Right at the 270 degree mark of a forward somersault. Anyway it was good for a decent laugh, Mittens and Nutcase saw the whole thing (Mittens thought I was going to slam right into him - he was wrecked on the other side of the tree I hit) although getting out sucked since my ski tips were all caught in the trees' branches, and my butt and back were sliding deeper into the trees' well the more I pushed with them, but eventually I got out. Good for a laugh or two.

My attack plan was pretty simple - get to REX and hit the face under the chair as soon as you can. I guess I got too late a start, I got to xtal itself at 8:15, and they were already filling up the C lot. For some reason I got sentenced to the B lot, which pissed me off until I saw all the gaper 2WD minivans getting stuck trying to pull up to the attendants up in the C lot, so I said fuck it and went down where directed. I hate the B lot, but oh well.

Anyway I got up, and hit the Doors and Sunnyside right away. Tits, especially in the steeper parts!!! Rode that and dealt with the 15-minute REX lines for about 4 laps, at which point the snow wasn't that great, and at that point the patrol finished bombing the Bear Pits - so I took the Lucky Shot/Little Portillo line over to the upper entrance, and scored the absolute best Bear Pits run I've done yet. In some of the steep chute areas the snow was awesome, to patches of boilerplate - guess the new snow had either been blown elsewhere, or just couldn't stick to the ice. Anyway you could just scoot over the ice to where it was good, and then you'd reach where all the snow had sloughed down and made this massive pillow - super-soft yet not drowning you, just enough support, and you could ride it all the way down. It was awesome. Anyway finished that, and then flashed over to Campbell, to the longest line for it I'd ever seen...anyway skied over to gunbarrel and then down into upper Bear Pits again, super again. Then decided to try out GV until lunchtime killed the crowds and lift lines somewhat, and the snow was good enough over there that I just decided to stay there the rest of the day. Ended up running into Nutcase and new (to me) mag Mittens in GV liftline, and later the AD as well. We skied till 2 or so, and all went home happy.

Anyway Gaper Gabe lives on, yet another hole found, and for the second day in a row I left my tranceiver in my car for some reason, so no North Back for me. Yup, I'm a 'tard

Ah well, goods still gotten. Those doors/sunnyside and bear pits turns were the bestest and deepest EVAR!!!

**Toadman** · 02-26-2007, 12:30 PM

I' m glad I'm not the only one saying deepest day ever at Crystal. But damn! Dropping into Morning Glory and next thing I know I'm up to my arm pits in snow! Choking on cascade "powder". Can't see a damn thing, oh shit, is that a tree!? Better wipe the goggles off.

, not again. Repeat several times before reaching Northway. Decided to drop into Paradise at the end of the day, surprisingly only one other set of tracks. Again chest deep pow. The HCMT sucked and once was enough for my legs. I never thought my 96 mm waisted skis wouldn't be wide enough but after yesterday, I may have to rethink that notion. The snow was light enough to let you sink up to your waist but not heavy enough that you could get on top of it once you got up to speed.

**girlski0912** · 02-26-2007, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by jimmy page

Girlski, did you get some Goat's or did you end up getting some skis that are bigger?

Nordica Blowers, 185...110 under foot. They are really fucking big and I spent all of yesterday either really like them or really getting worked by them. I can't decide if it was the wide girth, the deep snow, or the length that made figuring these little (HUGE) bitches out so difficult. The last run of the day I finally felt comfortable opening them up and letting them run and they were delicious. I reiterate...they are really freaking big.

**Blinkyjoe** · 02-26-2007, 12:52 PM

Que bueno, all. Sounds like you all had a good time. Let me add my $.02 and concur with everyone. That was my best Washington day ever and top three of anywhere I've skied. Saturday at Alpental was killer also. I did not get to the backcountry, but International, Snake Dance, Shot 6, all super-nice. I'm guessing everyone heard about the avy fatality at Crystal. Did anyone here know the guy?