RidgeRacer

Reporting 26 inches today.

Just ignore him.

The usual…comfort inn flagstaff (near NAU). The Check in guy (cool dude…gave me a discount last year because the person in the room under me was a jackass) actually remembered me. Nice breakfast every morning, Coffee 24 / 7, fireplace and ski lodgy themed look and feel. There are closer places to the mountain but what you get at the comfort inn for 80 something a night is hard to beat. In Phoenix i just try to find something nice near campus / airport…somewhere in between usually. I think it was the Sonesta suites this year. Going back out in may for graduation with my family and my dad so we’ll probably do something in Scottsdale. Phoenix is whatever. In general I like the valley, scenery, cacti etc but it’s overrun with people and being built up way too quickly. It to mention 100 plus degrees on the daily for 7 or 8 months straight would get old really fast. Northern Arizona is where it’s at. and no Mexican…unless you consider del taco Mexican.

Off by one week. Ugh. Got the one pow day at least...but damn "Up to 3 FEET of Snow Forecasted to Fall this Week February is off to a snow-filled start and we're absolutely loving it! It's been dumping all day up on the mountain and this storm is just getting started! OpenSnow is forecasting up to 15 inches in the next 24 hours and up to 3 FEET of snowfall throughout the week!"

Not for anything but I think the gondola at Bell made a huge difference in the way that place skis. Now could they have put in a high speed 6 pack? Sure. In fact I'd probably prefer that because you wouldn't need to take your skis off with every ride up. But for pure placement on the hill purposes that lift was a game changer.

I'm not sure that comparison carries much weight TBH. ORDA is just that...a govt funded agency that manages not only the ski areas but all of the Olympic sites etc. it exists because they held the Olympic games...twice and annually holds major events. Denton is a backyard hill in Potter county PA....aka the middle of nowhere. The only event they hold, I'm guessing, is maybe a pie eating contest in the lodge? I'm driving the distance for the ORDA resorts because the all around experience will be infinitely better. Philly, NY, NJ etc aren't doing that drive for a lesser product that they can get in less than half the distance in the Poconos.

Same. It won't be those conditions but Tomorrow or Wednesday night...

Back home. Was a really nice trip…got to spend quality time with my kid, three excellent ski days…a bluebird / groomer day, a good tree day and a powder day, got a brand new helmet worth a buck forty for free courtesy of snowbowl, had excellent pizza and gelato, got a chance to check on the land and area around there, had two on time flights that arrived early and were half empty, racked up Starbucks points and realized that despite wanting one forever, I’m probably not a jeep guy (did come home to a broken fridge though) Till next time. See everyone at blue next weekend.

I liked them a lot. I've narrowed it down to the enforcers or the line vision for my next pair

Demos. Didn't bring my skis

Today was so so good. Rode off of the Grand Canyon express all day because the gondola lines were insane. Ended up with 3rd chair this morning. Most people went right towards lower ridge. Others went left towards logjam but only a few went rode under the gondola so that’s where I went. It’s not a marked trail map but it’s easily one of my favorite runs there. Needless to say it was plenty untouched and of course plenty good. Mostly everything got tracked after about an hour but still stashes to find until calling it quits. Pulled a gaper move and broke out the phone for some video. It’s not good but whatever

100 out of 10.

15 minutes. In the front row of the corral. Filming crew is out there as if patrol. Everyone's booing at them whenever they ski by

Drive up was spicy but it it in 4l so all good. AWD or chains required and they had people actually checking cars before letting them through... I'm not starting at the gondi because I heard there may be a wind hold so starting at the Grand canyon Express today. I'll be there in about 10 minutes if you want to check that cam. Will wave to you! I wasn't lost per se. The glades off of spur are seemingly endless so it kinda felt that way. 7 inches easy and still falling. Today is gonna be good!

The mountain is reporting 7 inches.

It’s 430 here. Woke up like a kid on Christmas morning except instead of running to the tree I ran to the window to a blanket of white outside! Now I can’t go back to sleep. Waiting for the official report from the mountain.

I'm not a huge queen guy either. Dont get me wrong. Ridiculously talented and Freddie Mercury is one of the best front men ever but the actual songs are meh. Can't get into the whole rock opera thing.

That's what I ultimately ended up doing. Skied the glades off of spur catwalk for the first time and it was stellar (pic below) As were the north rim glades. White lightning (also pic below) was open so I ran that as well. I feel like @JFskiDan would be in heaven in the woods here. It's actually weird getting lost in the woods at a western resort without Dan. Top notch ski day. Skied from 9 to 2. Didn't think I'd go that long but found some good stuff off trail that made me forget about the fog. Not to mention upper and lower ridge... any groomer for that matter was excellent as well. Weird cause it's sunny in town. But snows on the way. Lift tickets for Saturday are up to $300 lol.

Gondi line to north rim glades is open and it's really freaking good. Snow is softer in that area due to what I'm guessing is a lack of sun bake. Ran that twice. Legs are screaming. Still foggy but a stellar day regardless

Taking a break but wow the fog is thick ... especially up top. Lightens up around 9k or so. Snow however is still excellent on piste. Tried to ski the gondi run but it was roped off. Lower bowl just reminded me how out of shape I am however. Low vis means more turns means I'm freaking tired. So an early lunch it is. Hoping the fog lifts a bit before going back out

Thanks man. I’m not 100% sure what it is but I just really enjoy being out here. Snowbowl isn’t Utah, Jackson or a lot of CO. But I enjoy skiing here as much as anywhere. I like the terrain, layout, look and feel of the mountain and the scenery is up there with anything I’ve been. It isn’t 2000 plus acres, cliffs, pucker up steeps or anything like that but it is enough; and Flagstaff isn’t pretentious…just down to earth people who enjoy being outside (with a lot of good eats). Maybe it’s just the older I get the less I feel the need to venture out of my comfort zone. I think I just like being comfortable.

Looking like snow showers and maybe some sun today as the forecast is calling for the heavier snow to start at 8pm tonight. Supposed to get 2 to 4 in town tonight with up to 11 inches over 7k feet. Only 75 inches in so far this season so they need it. Unfortunately flat iron, white lightning and upper bowl are closed but some natural snow trails and tree shots are in play like the Gondi line and jeep trail etc. Looking forward to skiing some of that today. Solo today as my daughter is back on campus. Oh and Forgot to mention I won a free Smith Mission helmet yesterday courtesy of snowbeezy. Got entered into a raffle for answering a few safety questions my number was called. Pretty cool as I was looking at new helmets. Lady at the ski shop said I can switch it for another brand if I wanted but opted to keep it.

Bluebird! Snow is excellent, chalk like on piste. Off is crusty. Excellent views today. Can see the north rim on the Grand canyon pretty clearly. Sunshine and groomers kinda day for sure. They do need snow though. Still fantastic... Demoing Nordica enforcers which I really like. May purchase after the season. Great day!!

Arrived in flag around 12am local time. Ride up was smooth as always with a pit stop a del taco for a burrito (side note…del taco has the best fries. Sounds crazy but it’s true. They’re crinkle cut). Anyway…Since snowbowl road is a pain in the ass I asked the rental car place for awd and they gave me a pretty cool jeep gladiator. No new snow today but sunny skies and highs in the 30s. Should be awesome. Stoke levels are a 10 out of 10.

Same to you coming home tomorrow