Better be here!

[atkinson]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/medium/vol54_img007.JPG
This was Castlerock Liftline today, March 13th, 2009. No snowmaking, east facing, totally covered, even better than last weekend.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img011.JPG
The woods are still goods.

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Coach Rick called it "hero crust." Tomorrow will be corn!

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Dynastar nori roll.

It's going to be really incredible this weekend!

John

[castlerock]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img011.JPG
Coach Rick called it "hero crust." Tomorrow will be corn!

OK John, That's a west facing slope. WHERE were you?....Giveaway: picture of driving back to Here...
I may be done for the season, but that doesn't mean I'm not paying attention.

[atkinson]

The car could be unloading there. Regardless, the skiing and riding are amazing right now. Heal well and I hope to see you out on the bike trails in a couple of months!

John

[castlerock]

....and I hope to see you out on the bike trails in a couple of months!

You will, I'll just be slower than my normal slow....

P.S. the west facing clue came from the shadow angle in the skiing pics.....

[atkinson]

I thought you said the car. Sorry.

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img006.JPG
Friday.

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Today.

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Adventure Blazer-Race Division on course.

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Lunch at Lincoln Peak.

This has been quite a stretch of days.

John

[muddy_hollow]

Off the backside and over to Jerusalum?

I've not taken that trip before, but legend has it if you go off the wrong side going into Exterminator woods you can ski to the Jerusalem general store. But don't ask to use the phone :shock:

[notorious]

Off the backside and over to Jerusalum?

I've not taken that trip before, but legend has it if you go off the wrong side going into Exterminator woods you can ski to the Jerusalem general store. But don't ask to use the phone :shock:

Legends and reality rarely coincide. Legends are what we wish to believe. Reality is what we learn from experience or that of others. You can live your illusions if you choose, but you would live to regret taking the route of legend. I seriously discourage freelancing off the backside. BTW, there are many other potential/possible explanations for the shadow effect on JA's pix. Make no assumptions without confirmation, IMHO. Wandering around in the woods can be fatal or at least expensive. There were 2 boarders lost off the backside of Killington a few years ago who were charged big $ for their rescue, and they were lucky,--- they got rescued.

[freeheel_skier]

I love spring skiing. However this is nuts. I need some freshie fresh!

I remember skiing one St. Patricks Day wearing a trash bag because it was pouring :shock: Things could be worse. Just jonseing for some Fresh! RANT. RANT. B!tch and complain. I am done now......GEORGE IS GETTING ANGRY!!!!

Now off to burn some of my old boards and do a snow dance! :wink:

[HowieT2]

Off the backside and over to Jerusalum?

I've not taken that trip before, but legend has it if you go off the wrong side going into Exterminator woods you can ski to the Jerusalem general store. But don't ask to use the phone :shock:

Legends and reality rarely coincide. Legends are what we wish to believe. Reality is what we learn from experience or that of others. You can live your illusions if you choose, but you would live to regret taking the route of legend. I seriously discourage freelancing off the backside. BTW, there are many other potential/possible explanations for the shadow effect on JA's pix. Make no assumptions without confirmation, IMHO. Wandering around in the woods can be fatal or at least expensive. There were 2 boarders lost off the backside of Killington a few years ago who were charged big $ for their rescue, and they were lucky,--- they got rescued.

true but the picture of Diggity and the "Dynastar Nori Roll" on the car is very interesting.

[007]

Nice photos John, thanks. Any current ones of MT Ellen from this week?

[atkinson]

http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img828.JPG
Coach Bob blazing an adventure at Mount Ellen.

One more teaser before this week's Stoke Exchange.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img831.JPG
From this spot, you can see the highest peaks in three states, plus four of the top five highest peaks in Vermont.

Can you name all the peaks?

John

[ski_resort_observer]

One more teaser before this week's Stoke Exchange.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/vol54_img831.JPG
From this spot, you can see the highest peaks in three states, plus four of the top five highest peaks in Vermont.

Can you name all the peaks?

John

I'll give it a shot. Well, your looking at the High Peaks of the Daks and Mt Marcy with the Champlain Valley below. By your question your shooting from LP since Mellon is one of the the top 5 in Vermont. The others from LP are Mt Abraham to the south, Camels Hump and Mt Mansfield to the north. Mt Washington is the one in NH.

[notorious]

Off the backside and over to Jerusalum?

I've not taken that trip before, but legend has it if you go off the wrong side going into Exterminator woods you can ski to the Jerusalem general store. But don't ask to use the phone :shock:

Legends and reality rarely coincide. Legends are what we wish to believe. Reality is what we learn from experience or that of others. You can live your illusions if you choose, but you would live to regret taking the route of legend. I seriously discourage freelancing off the backside. BTW, there are many other potential/possible explanations for the shadow effect on JA's pix. Make no assumptions without confirmation, IMHO. Wandering around in the woods can be fatal or at least expensive. There were 2 boarders lost off the backside of Killington a few years ago who were charged big $ for their rescue, and they were lucky,--- they got rescued.

true but the picture of Diggity and the "Dynastar Nori Roll" on the car is very interesting.

JA is really proud of the "Dynastar Nori Roll" title. I think Diggety called it the "Dynastar Roll-Up". The location should not be presumed to be on the backside. On excellent authority,I can guarantee that the location was not Jerusalem. Nor was the route anything like the "Legend".There are many skiable inside the MRV locations that are not shuttle bus served, but personally, I don't identify them on-line. Others may disagree.

We all live with the consequences of our acts. I believe that encouraging wandering without knowing the readiness of the information recipient is wrong on many levels.

If you have ever been caught in the deep woods unprepared, which I have, you would understand that terrain knowledge, equipment, teamwork, and preparedness are essential to survival. Example: Once I was in some frequently skiied woods well within the boundaries of the Bush with three other accomplished, knowlegeable Bush regulars. Two of us, myself included, decided to go deeper. Then my partner and I got separated---out of earshot. When I emerged to the main trail, no sign of my buddy, who skis better and faster than I. I wait, I yell. The first two to split off show up. We wait. We yell. I use my high decibel police whistle. No reaction. We go down to the gatehouse lodge for lunch figuring my partner is already there. After all, he's better and faster. He must be at the base. Wrong. He shows up 45 minutes later covered in snow. He got caught upside down in the crook of a tree hanging over a brook ravine. Not a good place to be. Not easy to escape without help.

IMHO, we have all become complacent about our woods skiing because so much of the Bush terrain is benign---"woods lite". That is decidedly not the case outside the outer boundary lines, and lots of areas in bounds. You can easily get caught in rough terrain. If it is stormy the situation gets ugly fast. If you have no food, water or insufficient equipment, it gets serious fast. If you are wet with sweat and precipitation you don't want to spend the night there---it gets chilly.

My opinion is that this board is too public for the dissemination of info regarding potentially dangerous locations. Email discussions between people who know each others skills, fine; PMs between people who think they recognize sufficient knowledge base in each other from prior board participation, maybe/maybe not: but location info broadcast to people who may have no business heading into the wild, emphatically NO WAY. We are not just talking to each other here, we are talking in front of lurkers and visitors whose knowledge of our terrain is insufficient. I hope everyone who wants to go where JA & Diggety et. al. go is as well prepared as they are, and as responsible about assuming the risk.

[barkbiter]

[/quote]Legends and reality rarely coincide. Legends are what we wish to believe. Reality is what we learn from experience or that of others. You can live your illusions if you choose, but you would live to regret taking the route of legend. I seriously discourage freelancing off the backside. BTW, there are many other potential/possible explanations for the shadow effect on JA's pix. Make no assumptions without confirmation, IMHO. Wandering around in the woods can be fatal or at least expensive. There were 2 boarders lost off the backside of Killington a few years ago who were charged big $ for their rescue, and they were lucky,--- they got rescued.[/quote]

Hmmmm, I think I remember a backcountry cahr bomber lost a hundred yards from the pahrking lot at Killingotn and rescue hung up on him.

[MntMan4Bush]

Was the whistle in question the infamous Fox40. If not there's you problem. Nothing beats a Fox40.........

I think people get too worked up about whether something is revealed or what other people do. First I'd say that few people actually point out actual powder stashes on this forum. Those that do get ripped apart pretty quickly. It has nothing to do with safety, but more to do with keeping a hidden chute secret and untouched. Second everyone is responsible for their own actions and should know their own limits.

Now let's all hope for some more snow otherwise we'll soon be talking about Mountain Biking egresses. Where's that March dumping when you need it.

[notorious]

Was the whistle in question the infamous Fox40. If not there's you problem. Nothing beats a Fox40.........

I think people get too worked up about whether something is revealed or what other people do. First I'd say that few people actually point out actual powder stashes on this forum. Those that do get ripped apart pretty quickly. It has nothing to do with safety, but more to do with keeping a hidden chute secret and untouched. Second everyone is responsible for their own actions and should know their own limits.

Now let's all hope for some more snow otherwise we'll soon be talking about Mountain Biking egresses. Where's that March dumping when you need it.

The whistle is the Acme Thunderer.

Barkbiter, not quite straight on the facts, but I lived to tell the tale.

[HowieT2]

Was the whistle in question the infamous Fox40. If not there's you problem. Nothing beats a Fox40.........

I think people get too worked up about whether something is revealed or what other people do. First I'd say that few people actually point out actual powder stashes on this forum. Those that do get ripped apart pretty quickly. It has nothing to do with safety, but more to do with keeping a hidden chute secret and untouched. Second everyone is responsible for their own actions and should know their own limits.

Now let's all hope for some more snow otherwise we'll soon be talking about Mountain Biking egresses. Where's that March dumping when you need it.

I was holding off until St Patty's day but that has come and gone. There is 'nothing significant in the forecast and so the Fat Lady may not be singing but is definitely tuning up.

As for woods skiing, there isn't anything revealed on this board that would get anyone other than a complete fool in trouble.

I've seen my share of bad situations especially with Boze as my wing man, to always go in prepared. Food, drink and reliable communication devices. I used to rely on the walkie talkies but find the cell phone to be much better.

[Hawk]

Was the whistle in question the infamous Fox40. If not there's you problem. Nothing beats a Fox40.........

I think people get too worked up about whether something is revealed or what other people do. First I'd say that few people actually point out actual powder stashes on this forum. Those that do get ripped apart pretty quickly. It has nothing to do with safety, but more to do with keeping a hidden chute secret and untouched. Second everyone is responsible for their own actions and should know their own limits.

Now let's all hope for some more snow otherwise we'll soon be talking about Mountain Biking egresses. Where's that March dumping when you need it.

The whistle is the Acme Thunderer.

Barkbiter, not quite straight on the facts, but I lived to tell the tale.

MntMan4Bush, let's be more specific. This has more to do with keeping the powder stashes secret and untracted.....for the Bush Pilots. :wink:

[notorious]

MntMan4Bush, let's be more specific. This has more to do with keeping the powder stashes secret and untracted.....for the Bush Pilots. :wink:[/quote

Membership has its privileges, but the Hawk flies more places in the Valley than the Pilots. Most excursions are based on being there at the right time. The pilots don't roam as much as they might wish---time constraints, risk management, all that BS. Line cutting privileges except at CR and great parties do round out the bennies, though.

But you dodge the issue. Backside and out of bounds excursions are dangerous, even hotshots can get injured. Last week one of my crew broke the rear plate on his binding at the top of Liftline. It was a long hard trip down the mountain. It would have been much worse slogging through unpacked snow.--and still worse if caught on the wrong slope of a ravine and thus uphill.There is no cell service, patrol access etc in these areas. You are totally on your own, so safety is first. Never go alone. Always know where and by what route you are going. Be equipped.

You haven't made any case for why identification of routes on this board is a responsible act. You know as well as I do that most people only need to hear about a possible wormhole entrance to a "stash" in order to try it. So the more talk about specifics on this board, the more likely that unprepared skiers will try the trip.

One-on-one disclosure, however is a matter of personal choice. You know I'd be happy to take some trips with you, but I'd have a hard time keeping up. And I suspect that you have been the beneficiary of many disclosures of what used to be private lines of the locals. You do fine for a whiteplater, as do I.

[gone.skiing]

Never go alone. Always know where and by what route you are going.

Is this New Year's resolution I have not heard about? Whatever happened to solo trips in Slidebrook?

[Hawk]

MntMan4Bush, let's be more specific. This has more to do with keeping the powder stashes secret and untracted.....for the Bush Pilots. :wink:[/quote

Membership has its privileges, but the Hawk flies more places in the Valley than the Pilots. Most excursions are based on being there at the right time. The pilots don't roam as much as they might wish---time constraints, risk management, all that BS. Line cutting privileges except at CR and great parties do round out the bennies, though.

But you dodge the issue. Backside and out of bounds excursions are dangerous, even hotshots can get injured. Last week one of my crew broke the rear plate on his binding at the top of Liftline. It was a long hard trip down the mountain. It would have been much worse slogging through unpacked snow.--and still worse if caught on the wrong slope of a ravine and thus uphill.There is no cell service, patrol access etc in these areas. You are totally on your own, so safety is first. Never go alone. Always know where and by what route you are going. Be equipped.

You haven't made any case for why identification of routes on this board is a responsible act. You know as well as I do that most people only need to hear about a possible wormhole entrance to a "stash" in order to try it. So the more talk about specifics on this board, the more likely that unprepared skiers will try the trip.

One-on-one disclosure, however is a matter of personal choice. You know I'd be happy to take some trips with you, but I'd have a hard time keeping up. And I suspect that you have been the beneficiary of many disclosures of what used to be private lines of the locals. You do fine for a whiteplater, as do I.

I am sure that you understand that I was just poking fun at you guys. Your point is very valid and I will refrain from any hints if I did give any. I will say that some on here are very capable and others not so much. You just can't tell. So I guess the one-on-one thing is the responsible way....

I personally have my own methods that are frowned on by some but that is just the way it goes.... :wink:

[ahm]

Yep safety first, however, many fly solo in the world of skiing. Solo ski touring is extremely common. I see them everywhere I go. So, with that said if you are venturing into unknown terrain, ski smart, some homework is advisable (ie maps or some route scouting) and think about how you'd handle a mishap. For notorious' crewmate, things were pretty easy. He broke a binding at a lift served hill. Break that binding in the backcountry (and I do not mean slidebrook or the Breadloaf wilderness) and it is a different story. Take home message there is know your gear and carry spare parts (I've brought an entire freeride binding with me to a week long ski tour just in case and a fritischi toe is always in my pack, along with a multi tool and a binding buddy). Cell phone service--not really a device to rely on when out. Too many think their cell will save them. Think again and plan contingency outside of a cell phone. But most of all, have fun, most likely someone knows your secret stash already and has skied it for years, so don't be so protective about the discussion here. Go places the bus doesn't and you'll be surprised what you'll find, just plan accordingly, set up a shuttle and make sure you smile.
http://www.postimage.org/gx2jSXYS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx2jSXYS)