Date(s) Skied: Feb 6 2011
Resort or Ski Area: Elk Mountain
Conditions: Super. Fast and firm in the morning, fast and soft in the afternoon.
Trip Report: At a street fair in October, I had entered my name in a contest for a free ski trip with the Watchung Area Ski Club. Well I won, and I decided that I'd go with them on a their trip to Elk Mountain, PA.
I've always wanted to go to Elk, but the drive makes it hard to justify. Since I'm not driving, why not? Turned out to be a great day.
I left home at 5:30 to the bus meet. I had a quick safety meeting in the parking lot, then went to go find the club president. After introducing myself, I took a seat on the bus. Once on the way, they started passing out plates and cups. Next thing I know, I've got a cup of coffee, an egg/ham steak burrito, bagel and banana. Stellar.
After getting booted up and waiting for the ski club folks to get assembled, we get ready to head up when AlpineZone's 4APrice comes and introduces himself to me. So we head up, and wait for the ski club up top. 1st run of the day was Delaware, which was really fast and nice, but I got separated from the ski club already. Waited up for them at the top and 4Aprice went to go see his kids race. Did Seneca from the cut-through by the fence which was nice and soft, 3"-4" of a firm new snow.
On the next ride up, I rode with the president of the ski club, and told him that I wanted to go check out the west side. The rest of the club decided "why not". So I did a few more runs with them but they were kinda slowing me down. Not that they weren't fast, but they have a redundant stop in their skiing habits, where they all wait up for each other and the bottom, and then re-assemble again once everyone gets to the top.
So I skied solo on the west side for a while and had such a great time. Conditions were firm and fast, perfect for carving rails all day. 4APrice found me again and we had an awesome time lapping the quad for a while after another safety meeting.
Liftlines were non-existant
Run of the day
4APrice
Bump skiers would have a field day here
In the afternoon, the sun came out and I think I even got some goggle tan. Things started to get softened up so I skied from 9:15 to 2:40 with out taking a lunch break. Total of 22 runs and 18802 vertical.
Once I got back to the lodge, I saw 4APrice again and he was good enough to buy me a beer while I was getting unbooted. Thanks again. I made a pit stop in the cafeteria got a burger to go for the ride home. I had such a good time, I wanted to stop at the store for a Elk sticker to vandalize my cargo box with. The girl behind the counter gave it to me for free! Wow.
Final safety meeting while walking back to the bus and then I spy:
But I don't care because I've got
Next thing I know, there's booze everywhere.
and Merlot, dried meats and cheese
This stuff is passed around for the 1st hour of the ride home. By this point, I've feeling pretty comfortably numb and decide I'm due for a nap. Got home in time to watch the Superbowl.
The Watchung Area Ski Club is a great group of people and they have some really talented skiers as well. It's just not the right match for me. Too much waiting around. The president even joked with me that their acronym is often reffered to as the Waiting Around Ski Club. That being said, they extended me an offer to go on their Elk trip next season and I intend to go.
