Midwest Mini/Avi TR

**mnflyfish** · 10-30-2007, 02:52 PM

Here's the pictures from the weekend, yeah I suck at this. Uglymonkey tried to explain how to do pictures to me but I was extremely hung over because some asshole started buying Patron after I had already made my way through 5-8 beers(sorry lost count) and some Jameson. Anyway this was a great weekend, fun and informative class, and a blast to meet up with fellow mags. Even ones that kept trying to get givebackbloom to go to the gay bar (not that there's anything wrong with that). If someone wants to take it upon themselves to get these pictures up in a form that everyone can see feel free. I will help as much as I can.

Oh, and lastly, got home after becon practice Sunday afternoon with the intent of crashing on the couch and watching football. Feel something moving on my arm, spent the next hour picking deer ticks off of me. So FYI check yourselves out. Lyme's would suck. Oh and yes we did practice out probing on grass. Oh and for those of you who missed it, Kristi our instructor was very impressed with the passion and knowledge that the Maggots brought to the class. She said the NSP would be willing to put on a class just for Mags and tailor it more to how and where you ski vs the NSP rescue stuff. She also said that you all are invited to Utah for the Level II class even though it says you must be a patroller, and if a Mags only class doesn't work out, there will be another class later this winter and all are welcome to attend.

Jay

**TyWebb** · 10-30-2007, 03:05 PM

Good stuff, glad the class was worthwhile. Not sure if the tiny woman finds this amusing:

**uglymoney** · 10-30-2007, 03:22 PM

Jay, thanks for getting a thread up! I'll get your pictures sorted out and add mine later (after a trip to the nursing home), maybe I'll have time to rotate your sideways pictures if I get my photosoftware back on here tonight. It was a good time indeed. The course was pretty basic as expected which was fine. I think that attendance was right at 22 people, many of whom had plenty of backcountry experience. Nothing like sitting in a room all day with a large group of people who love skiing and are stoked to increase their avy knowledge. I found myself glued to my book all day while I listened to the instructor. Several hours later the body of avy knowledge that I work with was solidified and expanded up. The best part of it for me was having some dots connected. I think my big picture has improved quite a bit, plus I can always use more beacon training.

From the left, Crass3000's fun loving wife, Crass3000, mnflyfish, givebackbloom, wanghoeby, uglymoney, uglymoney's fiance, addison (future step maggot)

Ugly on the massive slopes of Afton after the beacon practice.

Wanghoeby and Givebackbloom fiddling with some trackers.

This just seemed ridiculous to me, but it was fun and was the source of much laughter. Probeline practice at the grassy base of Afton.

Jay, Givebackbloow, Wanghoeby play with some sticks. This was apparently all about learning to be a follower.

**birdboatboy** · 10-30-2007, 05:36 PM

nice work getting the pictures up. disappointed that i wasn't able to make it to the bar on saturday, but the class was good. just picked up a bca tracker on BC.com for $231 shipped with the 20% off code.

definitely good to meet some fellow board members. we should do it again sometime soon.

**uglymoney** · 10-30-2007, 10:15 PM

Birdboatboy, not sure which maggot you were, too bad you guys were tied up later. There was a couple from North Dakota that came over, lurkers here apparently, sat next to them, lakelander was there I think, powderipper was full on during the beacon search. Class was flooded with maggots.

Anyway, here are a few more pictures.

Fall color. Pretty Minnesota.

The classroom generously donated by Afton Alps.

Learning to march like soldiers is a life saver apparently.

Before we formed this line the instructor sent a lookout to the top to evaluate the stability of the slope. He found hoar frost and faceted crystals forming along with several empty cans of grainbelt! Luckily they hadn't made snow on top of this stuff overnight or it would have ripped to the ground. The sod was isothermic so after a quick pit revealed only earthworms the search commenced in relative safety.

Jay, in an effort to distract the conversation away from politics threw his cellphone in a glass of water in a disgusted futile final effort to keep up niceties.

I found these people doing circles under a bridge in Minneapolis. Tai Chi skier was in town leading the group into some sort of trance.

Stone Arch with a strong current flowing underneath. A great view of St. Anthony falls from the new NSP hydroplant park. First time I've enjoyed this view

The new light rail. Really nifty. Girlfriend rode it most of the way to the zoo.

Another cool river view.

It was good to be back in Minnesota. Jay, thanks for putting together the dinner. Crass3000, sorry we all ran out of steam after dinner. Next time its lesbians all the way!

**birdboatboy** · 10-30-2007, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

Birdboatboy, not sure which maggot you were, too bad you guys were tied up later.

I'm the one sitting right in the middle of this picture, with my head blocking the lower portion of the screen, between lakelander and givebackbloom.

**pechelman** · 10-30-2007, 11:09 PM

doing a probeline in grass is an f'in core way to simulate avy debris

bet that stuff was set up SOLID

**dark mavidson** · 10-30-2007, 11:26 PM

Bummed I couldn't make any of it. Looks like it was a good time!

**wanghoeby** · 10-31-2007, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by uglymoney

...The course was pretty basic as expected which was fine....

...The best part of it for me was having some dots connected. I think my big picture has improved quite a bit, plus I can always use more beacon training....

Dido and dido.

Originally Posted by uglymoney

...Wanghoeboy and Givebackbloom fiddling with some trackers....

Who's this wanghoeboy you keep referencing?

Must be a relative of this guy.

Originally Posted by mnflyfish

... Uglymonkey tried to explain...

Without reiterating too much, I had an awesome time this past weekend. Stoked to meet so many mags that live closer than I though. We'll definitely have to have another gathering some time this winter.

Jay, thanks again big time for making this all happen. Like you said, for $25 how could you go wrong. Oh, and thanks for the floor space too, much appreciated.

Uglymoney, I (and possible birdboatboy too

) need to get a cheap tele setup ASAP. Then we can rock the free-heeling down in Iowa some time.

**uglymoney** · 10-31-2007, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by wanghoeby

Who's this wanghoeboy you keep referencing?

Must be a relative of this guy.

Uglymoney, I (and possible birdboatboy too

) need to get a cheap tele setup ASAP. Then we can rock the free-heeling down in Iowa some time.

Sorry bout that!?

For sure get some Tele's if you can swing it. Your time in the midwest will pass much faster. I wouldn't mind schralping some of those goat bluffs sometime either. I've been eyeing those my whole life. That or poaching the sickness that is Mt. La Crosse

**Grange** · 10-31-2007, 09:30 AM

Glad you guys had a good time. I would have liked to attend, but wasn't scheduled to get back from SD until Saturday Afternoon.

**GBB** · 10-31-2007, 11:01 AM

I had a great time, got to meet some mags, and got to see a part of the country that I had never been to before. The class was helpful in the sense that it helped synthesize things for me and definitely cleared things up.

Wanghoeby-i think the car ride to afton on sunday morning made my weekend.

**Lakelander** · 10-31-2007, 11:43 AM

Ditto to all above-great to hook up with everyone.

**LIP** · 10-31-2007, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by mnflyfish

Here's the pictures from the weekend, yeah I suck at this. Uglymonkey tried to explain how to do pictures to me but I was extremely hung over because some asshole started buying Patron after I had already made my way through 5-8 beers(sorry lost count) and some Jameson. Anyway this was a great weekend, fun and informative class, and a blast to meet up with fellow mags. Even ones that kept trying to get givebackbloom to go to the gay bar (not that there's anything wrong with that). If someone wants to take it upon themselves to get these pictures up in a form that everyone can see feel free. I will help as much as I can.

Oh, and lastly, got home after becon practice Sunday afternoon with the intent of crashing on the couch and watching football. Feel something moving on my arm, spent the next hour picking deer ticks off of me. So FYI check yourselves out. Lyme's would suck. Oh and yes we did practice out probing on grass. Oh and for those of you who missed it, Kristi our instructor was very impressed with the passion and knowledge that the Maggots brought to the class. She said the NSP would be willing to put on a class just for Mags and tailor it more to how and where you ski vs the NSP rescue stuff. She also said that you all are invited to Utah for the Level II class even though it says you must be a patroller, and if a Mags only class doesn't work out, there will be another class later this winter and all are welcome to attend.

Jay

Ahhh Afton. First place I ever skied way back in the early 70's. Christ I'm old. Haven't skied there since I've been able to go in the bars. I swear one day when I'm back visiting the family I'll go drink some Schmidt's, night ski in jeans, and reminisce about the good old days of safety straps.

**mnflyfish** · 10-31-2007, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by LIP

Ahhh Afton. First place I ever skied way back in the early 70's. Christ I'm old. Haven't skied there since I've been able to go in the bars. I swear one day when I'm back visiting the family I'll go drink some Schmidt's, night ski in jeans, and reminisce about the good old days of safety straps.

Let me know, I'll see if I can't find a pair of Olins with Spademan bindings for you to complete the outfit. I just wish I would have saved my pair of Scott boots.

Yeah, if you ever get to town, let us all know. Good group out here on the prairie.

Jay

**matanuskaski** · 11-01-2007, 12:33 PM

Looks like a fun time everyone.. too bad I didn't make it out for a couple of drinks.. It was just too nice to not go to Taylors Falls for the day.. In other news Wild has started blowing snow as of today.. So even we shall have a nice death ribbon soon enough.. Jay pm me we should exchange info's..

**birdboatboy** · 11-01-2007, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by matanuskaski

In other news Wild has started blowing snow as of today.. So even we shall have a nice death ribbon soon enough.

Anyone know of a Minneapolis Metro ski area that allows (read: won't kick me out) for trying to hike for some early season turns for free? I e-mailed Buck, Wild, and have yet to hear from Hyland, but none so far have said it was allowed.

If it isn't allowed, any thoughts on hiking for a few turns, let's say, on a day that the guns aren't blowing before the lifts are open? Helpful hints? Midnight headlamp runs?

**wanghoeby** · 11-01-2007, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by birdboatboy

Anyone know of a Minneapolis Metro ski area that allows (read: won't kick me out) for trying to hike for some early season turns for free? I e-mailed Buck, Wild, and have yet to hear from Hyland, but none so far have said it was allowed.

If it isn't allowed, any thoughts on hiking for a few turns, let's say, on a day that the guns aren't blowing before the lifts are open? Helpful hints? Midnight headlamp runs?

I think you might be out of luck here. All (pretty sure, but don't quote me) of the ski resorts in the area are on private land. There's three general reasons I've gotten/heard as to why the owner doesn't want you on their land:

1. They're old, sour, and just plain don't want you there.

2. Liability/Insurance, obvious reasons.

3. Damage to the hill. (boot packs)

Your best bet might be to talk directly to the land owner/resort owner and plead your case to them, rather than some front desk worker.

If all else fails, ski them anyway. Don't use a headlamp and pull the "I didn't know it was private land" bit. As for me though, I'll just be praying for another 20" dumping.

**dark mavidson** · 11-02-2007, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by wanghoeby

As for me though, I'll just be praying for another 20" dumping.

When it happens (because it will [/antijinx]), I have about 8 places in mind within a 1 hour radius of the cities in which a proper harvest can be made.

This could possibly be a fun 'adventure,' if we get REALLY lucky.

Too mellow?

Right off 94, too easy. Sadly, that was some of the best pow I rode all season...

But yeah, countless spots to be 'tagged' along the whole St. Croix and Mississippi valley.

And back to writing on the hardening of stances at the beginning of the Cold War. Yay for papers. And procrastination.

**Lakelander** · 11-02-2007, 07:15 AM

count me in the tagging party when the big dump happens.

**mnflyfish** · 11-02-2007, 07:53 AM

Tagging party/hiking for turns.

First off, I doubt any ski area will allow it. Even Three Rivers Park, which owns Hyland and Elm Creek will say no. One opportunity that could work if we get a good dump would be Steeplechase. I spoke to a patroller from there on Sat at the Avi class. They've shut down due to cash issues but haven't filed BK. It's privately held, can't remember the guy's name that owns it. For a sixer and perhaps for deer sausage I'd bet they'd be cool with some hiking. I skied there last year while my daughter had a race event. Cool little area with some great options just off the main runs. Some great trees if we get a good snow! It would also be a decent, central location. It's just outside of Rochester so the guys from IA could roll in from the south nd we could come in from the Cities. Even those folks in Lacrosse would find the drive pretty short. Then if we strike out there, there would always be the opportunity to hit some of the spots I've been looking at for years in Whitewater. After things warm up, I could bring a few fly rods and we could spend the afternoon chasing some trout. There are two areas in Whitewater that I would love to ski, one is an area I tracked a buck into, it starts out nice and steep with the parks boundry ending at a dairy farm. Drops down through a goat prairie into a nice gladed tree area, keeps going down hill, get's a little flat in the middle, but drops off again pretty steep to the road. I'd guess the total run would be close to a mile, maybe more. Easy car access, though all of this is off memory, I haven't seen the area since the flood this summer. I've heard the trout came through ok, but the town of Alba, which would make a cool taging area, was all but wiped out. Don't know if the bar and stuff has re-opened.

There's another area I've been eyein off the North Branch of the river. Real steep trees, and it's been logged a number of years ago so it's wide open enough to ski with ease.

Now we just need a good snow year to make this a go.

So start praying!
Jay

**Crass3000** · 11-02-2007, 06:28 PM

Yah it was nice meeting you all at the Local for the drinks. I have a pass at Afton so anytime your thinking about heading that way let me know and maybe we can hit the slopes. I'm actually open to skiing just about anywhere.

Take care,

Mike