Gore and the Siamese 2/16

[Harvey44]

Day 21: I got to the mountain at the same time as I did on Friday. Instead of being totally alone in the base lodge, there were maybe 50 people inside. The holiday was on. At the top of the Gondi, there was no waiting at the rope - for the second day in a row, I was first down Pine Knot. I hit the Pine Brook glade on the way down - as good as yesterday really, except for a few spots you had to jump over. When I got to the Straightbrook chair it wasn't open...I waited.

Marc, the head of ski patrol, and Howie another skipat, ski up and wait with me. On the way up he "recommends Chatiemac" all the way down. I told him I was headed for the Straightbrook glades, and he repeats...."all the way down."

The had been blowing on it all night, and they still were. It was 5 below Friday night and the whales were ultra silky. I mean it's not a "natural" experience in any way. But it sure is fun. It's how I imagine surfing would be, if you were good at it. I got first tracks on Chati and probably 10th tracks as I had to repeat it. One the second run I hit the SB glades at the end, and they were better than yesterday. Or maybe I was better, not sure. I did the bumps on double barrel...that was probably the best thing on that side.

Then, of course, I had to get over to the dark side. It was the best the day before, and I wanted to be there first. It seems like everybody skis the top exactly the way I do...Gondi to Pine Knot or Uncas...ride the Straightbrook chair and then eventually move over to the Dark Side. By being insanely early, and by spending a little bit less time over on the front side, I got over to the dark side close to "first."

By the end of yesterday, the word was pretty much out. The north aspects had the best snow. But I wanted to see what was left over there. Lower Steilhang wasn't open so, except for that, I went in order...Hullabaloo to the Dark Side glade, then the glade on it's own, then Darby into Darby Woods. Some of the turns under the lift were bullet proof - blue snow. Darby Woods had the most untracked and loose snow on that side. Sometimes, it seems, the most obvious things get ignored.

I hit the Mineshaft glade and switched back to the front side. It hadn't seen the traffic and had the best natural snow of the day. Actually the Chatiemac glade still had some untracked too. Just keep skiing until you find it.

I vowed that before I went down to Topridge, I was going to find Top Secret without anyone's help. I skied slow, scrutinizing, jumping in at the right moment. One thing is true, when things have been skied pretty hard, the homemade stuff is harder than what is on the map. Fewer line choices in the homemade...and it gets FAST in there.

I hit Tahawas glades, High Pines, The Cave and called it a day. I skied down to the bottom and for the first time saw the amazing zoo that is the base area on the busiest day of the year. It was only 12:45.

PART 2

I bought lunch in town (Sarah's has the best roast beef sandwich) and headed back to the cabin. I changed, ate my sandwich and put a butt bag together for some backcountry. Actually it's what we call backyard up on garnet hill. I drove to the lodge and parked as far from the ski shop as I could. On the busiest day of the year, I'm not a paying customer and I don't want to use up a valuable parking spot.

I headed up to the old Hooper mine...probably a 400' climb from the ski shop. The view up there is sweet. Thirteenth Lake, the old mine, the new mine, the lodge, the Siamese. Then...back into the woods and over toward William Blake pond. It's rolling and very pleasant back there. Mostly hardwoods with lots of space in between.

You head across the ridgeline on Harvey Mtn. It's so quiet up there. 600' below families are learning to xcski and there is a buzz...but you can't hear it up top. Over to Billy Blake and then up to the beaver swamp. It feels so far away. Past the beaver swamp...you really shouldn't be going out that far with just a butt bag. It is the wilderness, and skiing solo...well I was breaking my own rules.

I decided I go to the Height-of-land between Gore and Garnet, and turn around. I set a turn around time of 4pm. I know how ridiculous that is. At around 3:30 I ran into the Gore-Garnet trip. I couldn't believe it - 5 hours to ski back from Gore. Seemed slow to me. I was considering joining this ski on Sunday, but if they aren't getting back until 4pm, I need other plans. Apparently they'd had an incident, and someone had to be evacuated, and it slowed them down. I knew a few members of the group, and had to yak for 10 mins. They headed down and I pushed onward, up to the height.

I just love it up there. I learned how to turn, on long straight skis, between trees up there. The are far enough apart for an advanced beginner. We called it the playground. Right after the height, I paused, took some pics, and turned around, 15 mins before my turn around time.

It's a hoot on the way down past William Blake Pond back to the ski shop... when the conditions are right. It's not super fast...I forgot how much fun it is...BC skiing is really liberating.

Harv

[Lbtchnlgs]

Awesome trip report Harv, sounds like you had an unforgettable weekend. You got more pics?

[Harvey44]

Chris....It was an incredible weekend. I hardly minded skiing alone for most of it. I owe some gratitude to all you guys who responded to my "beta" thread...convincing me to make the drive. I am so much happier accepting the current weather knowing I hit it hard for 3 days.

I do have some more pictures, but resizing them is a chore. Here are a few more:













WooHoo!

[B SMACKER]

Harvey, It's looking good up there. Great Pics of the Trees!!!! Makes me wish I was up there right now!!! Where is Jimmer??? I havent seen him posting in forever????? I used to ski with Jimmer & the boys years ago before I moved to MD. I'm skiing next week up there and can't wait!!! Thanks for the updates on my old favorite hill!!!!

[megatron]

Harvey, It's looking good up there. Great Pics of the Trees!!!! Makes me wish I was up there right now!!! Where is Jimmer??? I havent seen him posting in forever????? I used to ski with Jimmer & the boys years ago before I moved to MD. I'm skiing next week up there and can't wait!!! Thanks for the updates on my old favorite hill!!!!

Hi B;

Jimmer's computer puked on him, so he is offline for the time being. I am actually jonesin right now to hit some drives. See you next week.

C

[Harvey44]

I ran in Jimmer in the Saddle lodge on Friday. He's well. His computer died and as soon as Uncle Sam coughs up his refund check, he'll be back in action.

BSmack - I hope, for your sake and for mine that we get something out of Friday's event. After Monday's NCP, the trees are shut down. Not a coincidence that I skied Fri- Sun and split. Tues was some tough sledding.

H

[Adk Keith]

Nice report Harvey44. The woods were better than expected for sure. A little crusty in the open hardwoods but under the conifers it was sweet.

Here's a video from Saturday-
Notice the skilled stop from at the end

[Harvey44]

Keith,

You think it's the evergreens that kept the dark side good? I was thinking that it might be the north facing aspect, but your idea makes more sense.

Love your videos...people in the office were poking their heads in wondering about the loons!

M

[Adk Keith]

That's what helped this area, but at higher elev. such as Dark Side it just never changed over to rain (for long), while I was there last Wed.

Glad you enjoyed the loons. The sound was what I was going for, not the movie.

Here's some additional pics from 2007 if you're interested. http://www.frontiernet.net/~kfish/images/2007/2007.htm

It's a tough life!