sibhusky

For instance, according to Tony Crocker's stats, Big Sky and Moonlight's average annual maximum base depth is 68 inches. Now, they are higher so they get lighter snow than we do. However, maybe the reason you'll need some base work done when you ski there is because of that base depth. Ours is listed at 113 inches. Bridger also gets the light fluffy stuff, and their seasonal average snow fall is very close to ours, but again their base depth is lower. Now, for the real surprise, highly touted Jackson gets an AVERAGE of 368 inches vs. Whitefish's 320, but their base depth is 98 while ours is, as I said, 113. I trust all Tony's stats because he is collecting them objectively and not (like the ski areas) trying to sell a lift ticket. Anyway, the point is, snowfall is NOT the whole story. Wow, editing time on this was a pain. Timed out too fast....

Well, you know, once all the rocks are covered, how much do you need? Also, since some resorts get light fluffy snow which packs down to nothing and others get more solid snow which builds up all winter, I don't even think you can compare the number across resorts. I think that maybe an average seasonal snowpack number would tell you more, and even that would depend on how much they "groom" the trails of rocks and trees during the off season.

You might do a search over on EpicSki, a lot of those guys have been there. I think it's a popular destination.

I don't think he meant Missouri, I think I meant Montana (MT).

Frigid again today. Once again, no one there. I was suffering from a stomach bug and was severely dehydrated, so I really couldn't hit things today like I did yesterday, darn it. I thought about skiing tomorrow, then decided I better take off and rest instead. This is Good Med today:

Who could tell? It was in the single digits, negative in the AM with wind. I was totally bundled up. The light pillar will tell you, tho, that there was FROZEN humidity flying in the air.

I had a fantabulous day today. Found one of the balls I'd lost. No one there, it was too cold for most of the people, temps in the negative and positive single digits all day. I was dressed for it and stayed perfectly comfortable. Took a TON of pictures, this slide show is what I edited things down to. HINT: Hit F11 to view it full screen and you'll be able to see the comments.

Wow! We've got snow, but nothing like that!!!

More detail on this weekend's deaths The interesting thing is that this snowboarder died off T-Bar 2 (not that long!) just like the other one.

I think the best idea is go with someone who knows the place or meet up with someone there like that, because it'll take you a week to find things on your own. Plus, I don't know about you, but the first day after traveling to higher ground and lugging ski equipment, I'm pretty knocked out. Maybe the second day I'm ready to go and hit everything, but I know personally the first day I'd be just sort of testing the place out and getting the lay of the land for the rest of the trip.

Seems like an EXCELLENT price for Jackson. I tried figuring out what it would be to come here out of Philly and couldn't do better than $870 for the same thing.

I have a really loud whistle on my neck when I ski. The question, of course, is whether I can get to the whistle without causing more snow to fall around me. Same with getting skis off. I read somewhere (maybe in that article?) that now snowboarders are more likely to die in tree wells (the two here were both boarders) because they don't have release bindings and poles to get to them so they can't get their equipment off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lePo_lF_jloVideo, lots in East Rim Video of the Day, lots filmed in East Rim

Those of you skiing out West this year may not be as safe as you think skiing off piste. Here at Whitefish, we've now had two snowboarders die in tree wells. Both supposedly CAME with friends, but the friends were not around when they needed them. Please, read this article (hitting Next through the whole thing) and especially remember: It is critical to ski or ride with a partner who remains in visual contact with you at all times. If you and your partner choose to ski or snowboard in ungroomed areas your partner must: Always stay in visual contact so that they can see you if you fall. Visual contact means stopping and watching your partner descend at all times, then proceeding downhill while he or she watches you at all times. It does NO GOOD if your partner is waiting for you in lift line while you are riding down. Stay close enough to either pull or dig you out. If you have any question about what "close enough" to assist someone in a tree well is, hold your breath while you are reading this. The amount of time before you need air may be how much time your partner has to pull or dig you out of danger. Other factors such as creating an air pocket or the position you fall in, may affect this critical timeframe. Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend. It is important to know that most people who have died in deep snow or tree well accidents had been skiing or riding with "partners" at the time of their accident. Unfortunately, none of these partners were in visual contact so they were not able to be of help in a timely manner. I personally was scared a bit when reading Big Mountain ski-related death history to find someone had died on Good Med in a tree well. I ski there all the time without a buddy. I'll be giving those trees a wider berth after seeing some of the tree well pics in that article.

Wow, I thought Elk was better than elsewhere. I always lock my skis, even here in Montana, because sometimes people take the wrong ones AND not everyone skiing here is from Montana. I always wonder about all the locals not locking their skis and think, "Don't you read the Police Blotter?" During a race at Red Lodge, I came back to find a major kink in the wire where someone tried to cut it. (With what I don't know, because the cable isn't all that great.)

When are you guys coming again?

I appreciate beer because it costs less to develop a palate for different beers than it does to develop a palate for wine.

If you're "core", here's your event...race up, then race down, and up and down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vpf2PpKGzMI&feature=player_embedded More info If I'm catching the right place, Picture Chutes. Siblet once took me there. I about killed her. I think I cried (well, almost) the whole way. She thinks it's fun. I am too afraid of dying. Sling Shot or Gray's (either side) are fine, but keep me away from cliffs, please.

Did everyone watch the video?

YESTERDAY was great. Got my first run in Good Med since April 09 (which I only got to at the end of the season due to recovering from knee surgery). Before that was the 07-08 season. Good stuff. Today, not so good. We got another 6 inches of heavy stuff and even the groomers were really really tough to get through, because it came AFTER they groomed. I left after 3 runs, figuring I have a whole season ahead of me, why tear an ACL this early? Yesterday in Good Med:

Not real estate. They are just penny pinchers. We no longer have the NorAms here because they lost money (supposedly) on the event. Next year they are cutting loose the race team, in spite of the fact that last year they made a profit. The new management philosophy is if the department doesn't make money, it doesn't have a future. The plan is to make money on operations and not rely on real estate, because in the long run, you don't have any more real estate to sell. So, they don't do "glossy". I.E., there are some SLOW chairs, they don't blow much artificial snow, they don't groom the entire place to death. Although it is family-oriented, it is really SKIER ("core") oriented. We have to be. The fog will deter the people who only ski 6 or 7 days a year.

http://espn.go.com/a...ng-whitefish?as And I love this part: "After lunch, I skied with Donnie Clapp, the resort's PR director. On one chair ride Clapp's resort radio crackled and a voice came over the airwaves, "Total resort visitors today: 983." Clapp gave a little, "Nice" as he heard the news. Really? Under a thousand people and the PR guy is stoked. I was shocked."

Take it up with him. He's got 30 years worth of records.

Tony' Crocker's site has moved. New La Nina page.

You must think I have a job to pay for that! I can barely afford to pay for the lift ticket and locker here. Maybe when Social Security starts....