Ontario maggotry 23 and two-four

[paulster2626]

When are they going to put a bar there? Might get to visit this season with one of my brothers and a nephew.

The bar:
There is progress, but at a snail's pace. I first heard rumours of this being in the plans from one of the 'red coats' we got stuck on a chairlift with a couple years ago. Asked her if we could make a couple suggestions and she was all for it. Suggested a large snow pile at the bottom of the hill for kids to play on (every time I've seen this, kids are having the best time), and an outdoor licensed area (or inside too, I don't care but the atmosphere sucks ass) among other things.

I was told these suggestions would be passed along, but she also said she has seen plans for a bar and alcohol sales. I called her a liar but she promised me this is true. This year, there is a large pile of snow that kids are having fun sliding on. Go figure.

Last year on the end-of-season passholder survey they sent out, there was mention of whether or not I'd be interested in alcohol sales in some capacity. Checked yes, obviously - but I hope the teetotalers don't poke their heads out of the woodwork too much.

IMO the East Lodge has historical value and an already-built fireplace that could serve as the primary adult-oriented booze lounge. Just needs some sprucing up, and I'd even volunteer to go and help out but Glen Eden sucks at communication.



The visit:
I would wait until the sun is shining, the ice is soft, and you can have a decent tailgate in the Northwest corner of the parking lot. There's picnic tables, a (gross) shitter, and nobody bothers you so full service as far as tailgate situations go. I find this to be more entertaining than the skiing, but we are all different.

[petey_]

Hope springs eternal for that bar.

Heavy rain and fog yesterday afternoon was meh and then I forgot my helmet this morning. Made a bunch of runs and called it quits before bad things happened.

A couple of pics from Pinery. Home sweet home and 'cross-country' skis that didn't quite fit in the tracks. Didn't shuffle in the track very long so as not to pee the regular skiers off.

[Thaleia]

^^ Nice!

Blue's still skiing really well despite the weather. Some brown spots are getting pretty big and there was one run in the Orchard that really shouldn't have been open but overall it's decent.

[Johnny P]

Full on spring mashed potatoes today. Good fun had by all!! Looks like more of the same for tomorrow!9

[petey_]

Following link is about one of our locals. Stan. Stan loaned me a booklet that lists all the ski resorts in Ontario. Guessing from the late sixties or early seventies. Looks like more than one hundred. Likely more than half are now a distant memory. I'll post a couple of pages showing the sites. Mr. Multiglisse, wondering if you know about Echo Ridge Ski Club? South east of Kearney with a vertical drop of 900 feet. That would make it as possibly the biggest vert in Ontario. Anywho, link to Stan and pages below.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...iing-1.7081385

[Thaleia]

Props to Stan, he sounds like an awesome guy.

That's a very cool piece of history there, thanks for sharing that.

[Mr. Multiglisse]

Mr. Multiglisse, wondering if you know about Echo Ridge Ski Club? South east of Kearney with a vertical drop of 900 feet. That would make it as possibly the biggest vert in Ontario. Anywho, link to Stan and pages below.

Echo Ridge was a small ski hill just outside of Kearney off Echo Ridge Road and there is no way it has 950' vert. Maybe 250 or 350 at best. And a t-bar. Telemark Dave and I skied it in the early 2000s before it fell prey to a shady developer who clear cut the hill, had big plans, than skipped town (short version). Here are some pics from back in the day:









If you are really curious, it is right about here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/i6BDYrvTsToenVNR7

And here is the topo, you can see the outlines of the original ski runs:

[petey_]

Meters to feet mix up? Too good to be true I guess.

I know of a couple of lost ski resorts not listed in that booklet. How many more that they missed?

Worst conditions of the season yesterday. The sun finally came out after I left the hill but it was ugly with ice, dirt, ruts, lumps and business. Guns blew last night so maybe a better day today.

Hope that Limberlost panned out yesterday. Not sure if I'll get a chance to visit this season.

[paulster2626]

Glen Eden was actually kinda fun yesterday. Temp started at about -4, warmed up to 0 and full sun and zero wind. Was expecting ice and thin cover but the snow was really nice and almost no brown to be found!
To top it off it seemed like there was a race somewhere so the usual race kid mobs were gone, zero lift lines.

[petey_]

Glen Eden was actually kinda fun yesterday. Temp started at about -4, warmed up to 0 and full sun and zero wind. Was expecting ice and thin cover but the snow was really nice and almost no brown to be found!
To top it off it seemed like there was a race somewhere so the usual race kid mobs were gone, zero lift lines.

You're welcome, they were all here in London.

Found a strip of 'pow' this morning and lapped that for a while. Nice ice mist coating the trees. Should'a brought my camera. Rock hard where the guns didn't blow. Loving the sunshine and looks like a few more days of this stuff.

[Mr. Multiglisse]

...

Hope that Limberlost panned out yesterday. Not sure if I'll get a chance to visit this season.

Well, Twigfest at Nickle Peak was postponed (likely won't happen) but I did get out in the back 40, which has similar conditions to Limberlost. You aren't missing anything:

No chair photo, it is too slumpy. For the first time this ski season, I attached snow-sliding devices to my feet and slid on snow out in the backyard. Conditions were crusty but it was nice to be outside on a rare sunny day.
The Altai Hoks were the perfect choice for the conditions. Nothing tougher than a rental ski!



Yes, I'm smiling.



Secret Hill, for those in the know. A descent was not in the cards today.



Def not a powder day.



Moira was in a mellow mood after her unauthorized woodland run in the morning (30 minutes of unsupervised freedom in the forest at high speed. But she came back, 6 for 6 on that score).



This gives you an idea of the snowpack in the Hinterlands.



Not making much of a dent, even at 4 pm after a day of sunshine.

[paulster2626]

^^^blech...

Nice day out in the sunny woods though. Lets hope for a 3-week winter late February.

[petey_]

Nice morning to get out. Sunshine and decent grooming with the snow they blew last night. Ladies day so it was pretty quiet because of a lack of school trips. Looking south-west from the top of the new hill.

[Thaleia]

MM- Moira is a gorgeous pup!

[Mr. Multiglisse]

MM- Moira is a gorgeous pup!

Thanks, she is a great pet and definitely a good-looking dawg. She's a rescue from Attiwapiskat, way up north, and is likely a husky/GSD mix of some sort. She loves people and other dogs, our only (and big) challenge with her is a super-high prey drive combined with the fact that we live in the woods with lots of prey around.

[petey_]

Thanks, she is a great pet and definitely a good-looking dawg. She's a rescue from Attiwapiskat, way up north, and is likely a husky/GSD mix of some sort. She loves people and other dogs, our only (and big) challenge with her is a super-high prey drive combined with the fact that we live in the woods with lots of prey around.

I could use a pup like that in my backyard. The squirrels mock me as I try keeping them off the feeder. They are no longer as skttish when I pull out the slingshot. Sunflower seeds are not cheap eh.

Another fantastic morning with sunshine and great grooming. Replaced my liners and ditched the thick socks. Perfect!

[paulster2626]

Went for some Lunchtime Laps™️ today. Sunny and warm, no wind, no dirt showing, no lines, snow was excellent, as good as it gets as far as Glen Eden goes. I think 2°C is my new favourite temp.



What is this thing strapped (stepped?) to my feet?

[petey_]

Boler got this 'cool' machine last year and it makes 'snow' above freezing. Think little ice pellets and no sticky double eject kinda stuff. Was up on that hill the other day when it was 8 or 9c and it was happily keeping an area covered that normally has trouble avoiding the brown. Wind scoured and sun affected but holding up quite well. Might be the only one in Canada if not NA. Cost a few bucks but they got some assistance from the guv.

[Johnny P]

Full on spring conditions for the past week at Blue. Good fun had by all.

[petey_]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/londo...ures-1.6661874

More info on the new tech at Boler.

Looks like the spring conditions are headed exit stage left soon. Can't happen soon enough Johnny P.

[Johnny P]

Agreed. Looks like we may get some snow this week. Calling 10-15 Thursday. Guns should be back on too.

[petey_]

2 or 3 cms from the 'storm'. Hoping some of youse guys got a refill. Umbrella weather on the way if truth be told.

Cross-country at Arrowhead next week might keep me from the mid winter doldrums.

[petey_]

4 inches in an hour this morning. Thank you Lake Huron for sending this gift.

[Thaleia]

Damn! Good stuff Petey. Looks like maybe the wrong day to forget the goggles.

I haven't been out in weeks and am going a bit stir crazy, especially now that conditions have bounced back.

[Mr. Multiglisse]

Now would be the time to visit Limberlost and other points north:. After an extended break, the snow chair is back in action. To be honest, the picnic table actually gives a better reading on the actual snowpack. The chair is all about the drama.