TR; this last weekend at Bridger

[Eluder]

The main negative that i have found is that last year with out a chair I had taken more runs there than this with the lift. It will come around though, I think the coverage is still to thin to be doing to much out there.

Saturday was great there was nobody anywhere. The ridge was probably 10 degrees warmer.

[muted]

Next time you see gapers on top of the cliffs, yell at them to stomp out a nice platform for the next time it snows. Thanks.

[fez]

I think it was back in 2004 that the owner of bar 3 barbq died while riding solo on that huge snow day? If he had a partner, he would probably still be alive as he died from suffocation. I know that wasn't on the ridge, but it was in similar-to-ridge terrain on high traverse.

There are so many potential situations like this that it makes sense to ski with a partner for safety reasons. There wouldn't be the partner rule if it didnt have some effect.

12/28/2003. hard to believe it's been five years.

mike's death most likely would not have been prevented by a partner. however his body would have been recovered more quickly. his friends and family would have been spared the wondering 'what if', but unless there was someone standing at the bottome of kanzler's with a shovel in hand, there's nothing anyone could have done for him.

[baseWeldr]

pic of the plaque below/on kanzlers cliff
/can't post it without blowin margins or just a thumbnail- dang laptop+my minimal skillz

miss ya mikey, lots of folks do...

[koolaideprived]

Well, I'll be up tomorrow, but will be skiing mostly groomed and easier pow lines. I'm still not strong enough after breaking my legs to ski what I want to. Looking at Flippers on opening day I was literally salivating, but just couldn't physically do it. Hope you guys are getting while the getting's good. I'm just waiting for the first really good inbounds pow day so I can bust out my Praxis.

Me: Average height, slightly overweight guy on Public Enemies or pink Praxis. Red Arcteryx, brown pants, blue boots and gold helmet. Give a "change for a nickle" shout and I'll say howdy.

[tone capone]

Base weldr, that plaque is beautiful and dignified. I didn't know Mike, but a fine man it seems he was. I think of his sacrifice often and am humbled by the life he lived. The words on that plaque should be taken to heart by all here.

[BobbyBill]

Thanks single, all I am trying to say is that Bridger needs two things,

1: Less traversing across and underneath sweet lines,

2: Pow day crowds to be spread out considering the dedication of the locals here.

I have been looking forward to less intense pow days at Bridger, but now I am anxious that it might not be the case this year.

Maybe Mildwille has the scoop on what the deal is.

#1- We can all hope for that.

#2- We'll see; we haven't had one yet.

As for less intense powder days, I wouldn't get your hopes up unless you're willing to readjust your expectations and possible strategies in terms of timing. The new lift isn't managed as a regular "inbounds" lift per se; it's "Ridge Terain", subject to more intensive avy control and the attendant timing, and given the unmarked status of the new lift terrain, visibility constraints. I'm guessing (key word as I don't have any "scoop") that some days it will open concurrently with the rest of the mountain and some days it will have to wait awhile...just like the Ridge. In any event, the mountain will get tracked up fast, so get out there early and shred it up lift served style and then take a walk somewhere once the 9:30-10:00 arrivals are making things a little too intense. It can be frustrating, but with Bozeman's growth at least we do have some more room to roam up here now.

[tone capone]

that some days it will open concurrently with the rest of the mountain and some days it will have to wait awhile.

Sounds good. I don't care if they open it at 12:00, 1:00 on those days, because even that would be sick

What I'm looking forward to are the 5 or 6 inch days when everything is skiing sick but without the whole double digit cold smoke pow day circus. If they manage to open everything at some point during most of those days, I will be totally stoked.

[single]

It was really rocky up there today. Still dumping, but it looks like that whole place needs a lot more coverage. The new terrain is kind of menacing. I skied slushmans a decent amount in the past, and I felt completely unprepared to really push anything outside of the main face there, especially with minimal coverage.

There were lots of kids getting stuck on cliffs. I saw like 2 10 or 12 year olds following their dad over some GNARLY stuff. Some people have no business doing what they are doing right now, and I am surprised so few people are paying the price for it. Well, I am sure chalet and PHD are doing a lot of ptex work right now.

Overall, my feelings on the new terrain is that it has a lot of potential. It is massive. But unless people let it fill in and dont scrape everything to rock before the snow has a chance to stay, it will be hard to have a clean run anywhere on that hill.

[Lexi-Bell]

Having had my first run on the Slushman's chair I gotta say it is AWESOME! So stoked to explore all that new terrain this year, very cool.

Let's all be careful skiin tha pooder tomorrow. http://www.mtavalanche.com/current/

[muted]

In the past, when we've gotten to the top of a line and see that's it's too thin, we've sidestepped down the line which packs it down for the future. It's different than scraping down it which pushes too much snow downhill and off the line.

Otherwise, it'll snow two feet of light cold smoke, someone skis it, and it's back to rocks. I don't really expect anyone to do this over there, but it would be nice. I'd never do this for long lines but it works nice for the shorter ones.

Also, there IS NO CHANCE IN HELL anyone is going to let lines fill in before they are ready. I wish they would but only the real gnarly ones will be left alone. Especially when most people are not familiar when stuff is 'ready' in this new terrain.

[muted]

How bout 'take chances, ski something above your ability and loose your pass'-not that you can enforce this.

Holy crap. This is an amazing thought process, but not a good one.

[Sirshredalot]

Having had my first run on the Slushman's chair I gotta say it is AWESOME! So stoked to explore all that new terrain this year, very cool.

Let's all be careful skiin tha pooder tomorrow. http://www.mtavalanche.com/current/

That was my first lift-served over there, too. I definitely smacked a few rocks that I didn't expect.

single, menacing is definitely right. Were you the dude rocking the EHPs up there?

[RootSkier]

Can someone post a long view of the lift and terrain it services? TIA.

[XtrPickels]

What I'm looking forward to are the 5 or 6 inch days when everything is skiing sick but without the whole double digit cold smoke pow day circus. If they manage to open everything at some point during most of those days, I will be totally stoked.

The 5 to 6 inch days are the best. You can still find areas that blew in to 20, or haven't been touched in a few days. 6" can refresh alot of terrain and not many people are willing to cut classes or ditch work for "just" 5 or 6".

Anything double digits is a shit show.

[single]

Sir, I was on the JJ's in an orange jacket. Either throwing spread eagles or picking up my buddies ski gear after he wrecked.

I might be heading up to mount ellis this week. If there is double digits at bridger, ellis should probably have it too. PM me if you have any interest.

Xtra, 6 inches can hide a lot too.

[fez]

pic of the plaque below/on kanzlers cliff
/can't post it without blowin margins or just a thumbnail- dang laptop+my minimal skillz

miss ya mikey, lots of folks do...

base,
great pic. hope you don't mind, i borrowed it to create an invite to send out.

To anyone who knew Mike or just likes cheap beer and sees this: some of his old friends are going to meet up at the plaque on sunday 12/28 around 2 to have a few PBRs and remember Mikey.

Attachment 51906

[koolaideprived]

Snowing heavily in town right now. It looks like 5 or 6 inches from what I can see out my window. Drive safely tomorrow to the mountain, the roads are horrible right now.

[tone capone]

But unless people let it fill in and dont scrape everything to rock before the snow has a chance to stay

Restrain=Respect.

In the past, when we've gotten to the top of a line and see that's it's too thin, we've sidestepped down the line which packs it down for the future

I agree. sometimes you misjudge the snowcover, but you can still do your best as you pass. It's the steep rock tree spine gnar that is just unrealistic over there right now. I am going to post a picture of "medium snow" in the ravine so people can see what that shit looks like at 65" which is still sketch in my opinion for the ravine wall gnar. When I get around to it.

I just want to see people having fun getting down safe. The time will come when its totally on and you can do stupid crazy shit up there.

[hick]

That was my first lift-served over there, too. I definitely smacked a few rocks that I didn't expect.

single, menacing is definitely right. Were you the dude rocking the EHPs up there?

Hhhmmm, I know a tool who was on EHPs up there yesterday, me. I did meet some nice rocks also.

[tone capone]

I went to Big Sky today.

Definetly rockier than Slushmans!

There really are some good ways down out there right now. Are you guys all trying to ski the gnar?

One thing that is hilarious is listening to people talk shit about "hiking for six turns at Bridger" While they are freezing their toes off waiting 45min for a zero viz tram run.

[lobstahmeatwad]

OK so who called Lexi 'Lame' top of slushmans at about noon yesterday?

'Loose cannon' what you talkin' bout willis?
I am extra cautious on half a binder.

[tone capone]

I would only talk shit to someone going past the rib on the "No Game" traverse

We should all meet up at the New lift one day and ski some lines. You are all mystery men to me.

I know alot of you guys know each other, but I have no idea who most of you are.

[butterscotch]

We should all meet up at the New lift one day and ski some lines. You are all mystery men to me.

I know alot of you guys know each other, but I have no idea who most of you are.

Seconded. Would love to meet some of the mags.

Edit: I'm gone until Jan. 1.

[single]

I would be down to meet up. I am gone after january 5th though.