Roger's Mtn Tour Redux

Followed this long trail for a short ways ...

and then off trail and up.

And down. 6-8" of nice new snow. Alternated between sun and snow squalls all day. Snowing as usual on Rt. 8 on way home. Tonight lake effect and tomorrow another clipper will make for another good day skiing to ring in '08.

Happy New Year !!!

Roger's Mtn. Tour

S. Adks, 2' of firm base with 4" of crusting glop. Crust got set up more as the day became colder. A little recon ski given tough downhill conditions. Skied a little ways in on the Northville Placid Trail.

Bushwhacked off NPT and up a small rocky mountain to check a new area out that is sure to be revisted. Steep, with many rock ledges and wide open mature oak and maple glades. Will be great for about 800' vert in turns but not today, survival turns just to get down. A fun cruise out on the frozen skin track.

Ledge Mtn. Tour

After two days of sloth and gluttony we needed to move! Despite naysayers, we were confident that skiable BC conditions could be found as is usually the case. Skiing all conditions in the BC builds skills and makes nearly all snow conditions fun on skis. Ski was in the SW edge of Adk Park. Snowmobile trail made for an easy stroll up the road.

And soon onto an obscure trail to a cliff. Warm -mid 30s. sunny day with gathering clouds.

Easily gained the low ridge looking over the expanse of the SW ADK Park as a pack of coyotes howled in the West Canada River Valley below.

We found 1'-2' of locked up crust, a few streams on steeps were blown out, but the snowpack held nicely. 2" of warming new snow from Xmas eve made the hardpack very skiable, but faaast!

Sometimes threading the needle is the way to go,

but other times throwing on the brakes is the right choice.

Fast cruise out.

Nice sunset *Kate's picture as are most of the good ones.

Tips up!

First Day of Winter on Slide

We welcomed the first day of winter skiing the slide in powder conditions. Doug home for Xmas joined us. Great skiing!

The climb was difficult with all the new snow but the snowshoers helped beat down a bootpack.

Skiing was fantastic :)

Panther Mtn

Figured in the wake of the storm, it was about time take the new rides out for a spin...



(Kate is skiing the Dynastar Altirides/01s, and I the BC 100s/01s)

Local haunt that got hammered by the storm and regularly gets big lake effect, within 1 hr of home and one of our favorite climbing crags. Bluebird day, couple feet new, a little wind hammered and drifted but still very soft. This isn't big mtn skiing, but at .9 miles from the car, and 900’ vert with first part being 1/4 mile of low angle touring, there are some decent steeps, fun chutes and drops in between the cliff bands. Plus the trail up is a great ski in itself. Good area to run laps. We added to the explorations of last season (wasn't until Feb. last year!) of the steep and rocky area and found a little saddle between mini peaks with a bunch of rocky chutes.







Skinned and grinned , and booted, wallowing up steep ramps.







to ski down in the light goodness




find waldo ...




slough beating me down ...



Kate rocks at taking pics!



Drop





Faceplant Good thing there was so much snow!



Brief review of the 01s, wow – I knew I was giving up something skiing the HHs in the BC (even moving the pivot points), but never imagined how much less effort! Very comparable performance to HHs pos. 4. The BC100s floated, never plowing snow, breaking trail in nearly 2’ of new snow. Similarly, Kate reported that the Altirides (touring version of the Dyna 4800) had no problem in the deep when she took the lead breaking trail. Two thumbs up on the 01s and the new touring setups.

Classic lake effect clouds on the way into town(6” more predicted tonight) looming over West End Brewery, brewers of Saranac beers (drinking a Season’s Best Nut Brown Lager right now ).




A damn good day on skis !!!

Skied SR today, 10" fell yesterday. First day of the season. Got out into the woods and the Tug Hill BC wasn't bad - will be fantastic after the storm as will much of the Adks. Looks like the local stomping grounds will get a good dump. Predicting some sleet mixing in here but just north and higher should stay all snow. Kate today - DUCK!

Jay Telefest

Got some incredible early season powder turns skinning for turns off 242 while the telefest was going on. A great day!

Hiking for Turns

Another successful day of hiking for early season turns at Mt. Ellen, VT. Found nice powder conditions and was able to skin and ski from and to the car.

Kate enjoying the trip up

Great conditions on the way down. Nice powder and coverage all the way back to the car.