EAST COAST ROLL CALL #8 14/15 A NEW HOPE

[robrox]

Reintroduction of Wolves? Will probably lead to more backountry skiers packing heat...

On a more seasonal note, lazy boys harvesting corn:

[east or bust]

It wasn't George (which looks so sweet btw), nor was it self propelled but fun was had regardless. Warm sun, soft bumps, a great crew and no crowds. The stop at the Taco on the way home for some pork belly and a few focal bangers was a great cap on a damn fine day.

Is that bush? Coverage looks great.

I might try to get out sometime this week in hopes of prolonging my season a bit. Have skied once since the first week in March, no bueno.


Anyone know how the snowpack is holding up on the east side of Mansfield?

[Jonathan S.]

^^^Chicks with freeheels. Looked like this?

Yes, especially the very long xc ski poles (notable as their one efficient gear item for uphill travel).

[Jonathan S.]

'afternoon ladies and gents: I solemnly applologize for interupting killer spring stoke, shennanigans, and otherwise publicly wreckless acts of valor. However, I have been confronted with a dilemma of extreme proportions.
For 6 hours I have been racking my brain, researching databases, and aimlessly roaming the stacks of Barry Howell library. Then I had an epifany. Why not have the fine folk of ECRC weigh in on this highly debatable topic? I give to you the basis of my UVM NR2 final, as directed by the professor:
Phenomena for analysis

Wolf reintroduction in the northeast United States
I'm going to quit researching and go slop around in some mashed potatoes because I now know this paper will have written itself by tomorrow morning, here in the ECRC...

I had high expectations given the long lead-in, and I was indeed not at all disappointed -- nicely played!

So keep on skiing today until sunset, since you can simply cite RT3's numerous sightings of "mangled moose carcasses" as proof of the already existing prevalence of the northeastern wolf population, and hence the pointless redundancy of any proposed reintroduction.

[dark_star]

And now... a few photos! Featured are yours truly, "Crazy" Yeuhi, and Pat "Sayjak" (Note: may not be their real nicknames). Thanks to pat for taking photos.

It was, of course, beautiful on top of Hillman's yesterday, en route to Dodge's.


Yours truly, scoping the line and checking out Hojos below:


All anxiety vanishes once you drop in:


Enjoying the skin to Huntington:


Later that day, Yeuhi rips turns in Diagonal:


View from the top (ish):


Transitioning above the bulge:


Pat, digging' the afternoon:


dark_star digs it too:


...and enjoying the skin back across the alpine garden as the sun starts to get lower in the sky:


Definitely an afternoon I'll still be rambling on about, thirty years from now.

Historical note: Two of the three pairs of skis used were previously owned by Jonathan Shefftz.

[Jonathan S.]

Historical note: Two of the three pairs of skis used were previously owned by Jonathan Shefftz.

Although I've never skied Diagonal from the top, I'm glad that my [former] skis (and bindings) now have done so!

[robrox]

And now...


Definitely an afternoon I'll still be rambling on about, thirty years from now.
.....

Sure looks every bit of that!
Amazing conditions for May.

[Greenstateofmind]

I had high expectations given the long lead-in, and I was indeed not at all disappointed -- nicely played!

So keep on skiing today until sunset, since you can simply cite RT3's numerous sightings of "mangled moose carcasses" as proof of the already existing prevalence of the northeastern wolf population, and hence the pointless redundancy of any proposed reintroduction.

You guys are good

[scottski63]

Killington was so much fun yesterday. Fun crew good beers and grilling. Thanks to Bucket and Gonif for saving a prime parking spot. A couple bad cell pics is all I've got

[yellofin]

Great pics dark star!

[Vt-Freeheel]

Looks like a fine Prezies tour was had, congrats.


Spun the Wheel Saturday with ML and his Finnish friend K. Early laps were were flat and fast on the limited grooming, then it was bump city.





Looking south to K/Pico



They finally re opened Steins this weekend



Slowly smashing the Valley House lift and widening the traverse.






Upstate NY and most of NH under a Red Flag fire alert, VT will be soon enough.

Blackfly season starts in 3 2 1

[powbmps]

Hey. Killington has some snow left.

[buttahflake]

i looked for you C, lot of folks getting after it yesterday at Kmart!
place was going off!

[powbmps]

i looked for you C, lot of folks getting after it yesterday at Kmart!
place was going off!

Good crowd for sure. Little easier to find people when everyone is on just one trail. Somehow I fucked my back up two or three turns in so I was just gimping around. Hoping to get back up there for a redo.

[Bottleman]

Good crowd for sure. Little easier to find people when everyone is on just one trail. Somehow I fucked my back up two or three turns in so I was just gimping around. Hoping to get back up there for a redo.

How on Earth can you hurt your back with a handle like "GroomersOnly?" I mean, we've all seen your videos skiing Bunny Buster and whatnot

[vt_ski]

Great weekend out there, finally some nice weather!

[mtl_ripper]

way to stoke the fires! great photos in here





here's a couple snaps from our BBQ day yesterday, up Orford with Mrs.Ripper, rudeness, danmelon and assorted friendz and good times, and plenty of snow left for May...

[therudeness]

here's a couple of mtl_ripper... man that was good timez

[Jonathan S.]

Catskills mags: Hartford to Chicago flight path, so am I looking down on . . . Windham?

[danmelon]

Yeah great spring day!! Ripper flying off the slush hip!

[2ski2fish4ever]

pulled the camera out for the first time just before the lifts shut down at the Bush.one of my son top of Steins.sort of ironic he comes back from Copper to finish up at Sugarbush

[Vt-Freeheel]

Otto cleanup currently at 7 mile, should be soon.

[Generalstark]

My schedule and the weather aligned for a four day window of day tours on George. Coming from VT it usually makes sense to stop and stretch the legs on the west side. I was solo for this day so I didn't go to crazy but I was able to ski direct from the lot, almost to the summit of Monroe. I explored a bit on the high flanks of Monroe and enjoyed the scenery. The ski down was pretty sweet with some sticky mank that was grabby at times, but still fun. A couple open spots down low, but no portages.



Day two brought us up the TRT to Hillmans then over to OG on skis the whole time except one portage near Hillmans. Did a couple laps in OG including the two barrels. Lots of options over there with the present snowpack. Then skinned back to top of Left Gully. Had two dodge a few yahoos but a good run down the bowl and what was left of the Sherby.



For day three we decided to head to GOS and just lap it. Packed in a few HTs and made a day of it. The top 1/3rd of the ski trail was ski/skinable, and the gulf is filled in nice. Did a few laps in the snow fields and the slide lookers right of main. The snow was like nothing else I have skied. Because of the warmth and the new snow, it was like water skiing with lots of wet sluff and some rollers bigger than tires. Super fun.

[zartagen]

Got back to civilization late last night. When I get back home I'll post a full TR of my trip east. Here's the short version: hiked to hermit lake Thursday with heavy packs, skied 4 days, had a blast, skied the duchess, the lip, chute variation, dodge's, center headwall, and skied/hiked out Sunday after a quick morning lap on the duchess.

Also went to a Red Sox game and did some climbing at Rumney and cathedral ledge. I'm flying out tonight and had a great time in the NE, you guys have a fun playground here.

[Generalstark]

Day four brought us back to the west side on the way home. After two days of hiking to the snow we decided to ski right from the car. We didn't have lots of time so we hit a classic in perfect corn conditions. I did not expect a freeze the night before, but it happened.



Four awesome days of spring skiing on George. It is impressive how much snow has filled in the ravines and gulfs and how much skiing is left there. The OTTO season could be real good this year.