Skiing & Stuff

Recent Comments RSS

2004-01-14
10:28 AM

Skiing in the arctic

Last weekend was cold. We woke to negative 15 at Mindy's House. By the time we started skiing it was about -10. But the sun was out, there was no wind and it was very dry, so it didn't seem all that cold.

I wore a full "powder suit" with another thinsulate jacket underneath, two pairs of longjohns, and the usual neck-warmer/helmet/goggles combo. With hand warmers in my gloves, the only part of my body that got cold was my toes. There were hot chocolate stops after every 4 runs or so.

Last Sunday got warmer, peaking at about 25 and snowing later. Felt like a heatwave.

This coming weekend forcast, according to <a href="http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/ski/weather/tenday/914001">weather.com</a> are highs of 19 and 25 on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Not bad compared to last weekend. I wish they would get a good blizzard up there, though. The NJ forecast is promising light powdery snow tonight, but the greater concentrations are in south Jersey. We are actually getting less as one goes north. As a result, we are skiing on mostly man-made snow at Belleayre.

One of the things that really annoys me is how people complain about the weather and just coop themselves up inside durning this time. They go on and on with the cold and snow complaining and worrying in the news media. I guess I am spoiled that I have, and choose to use, allegedly "disposable" income on wintertime recreational persuits.

I will continue to count my many blessings!

Comments (0)

2003-12-01
11:55 AM

First day of the 2003-04 Season!

This was a reconnaissance mission. I checked out Mindy Pfeffer's house. We are ready to rent it for every day we go to Belleayre. It is a nice place. Not plush, but better than most motel rooms, more roomy than the Hostel cabins. It has a fully functional kitchen. We don't have to pay tax, and it is mostly less expensive than anywhere up there! 10 minutes to the parking lot at Belleayre.

So then I went to the mountain to get our season tickets and to make some turns. Signed Jeffrey up for Alpine Development and for holiday race camp. Talked to Paula who said we can go to AD on Dec 20 to see if Caitlin can do it and sign her up right there. It seems to be hinging on the instructor/skier ratio she will end up with.

Bought Jeffrey, Sherri & myself season tickets. Doing the math, we break even at Potter's Barn discount rate at 17 days. That isn't bad. Too bad we have to play it by ear for Caitlin, since she might have to be in Kids' Camp (which is what used to be called SkiWee - day lessons for little kids).

Then i took some runs. From the top was my first on the one open trail, Onteora. It was hard icy bumps on the first half - not the way one is supposed to do the first run of the day or of the season, for that matter! Bottom half was very skiable, but all blown-snow. The light was horrible and flat on this cloudy day. No lines for the one lift. Took mostly mid-station runs after that. Skied for about 2 hours. Skied the used Bandit-X's I got. They were great in forgiveness and they finish carves with no effort. Not as lively as the K-2 X-15's or the Head Cybers, maybe - but could have been that I am not in ski shape yet.

I do have to say that for the first time I felt that I needed to get into ski shape. That is strange. Take a week off from running for the Achillies tendon and I am out of shape?... need to break out the weight bench, methinks. Age is sapping some muscle mass. Hard to really face that. Plus I had little sleep the night before from Carol's party.

Hm.

Long season ahead - I hope the snow gets here fast!

Comments (0)

Advertise on Fotki