saltyant Night Skis @ Montage Mountain

[saltyant]

Wao, what a grate night at Montage. Arrived around 1800 and walked down like 100 steps to get my $30 discounted lift ticket, then walked up like 100 steps and moved my Chevy Sonic as close to the Phoebe lift as physically possible. Skied some blacks and double blacks like Cannonball, Smoke and White Lightning. Also did Lower Fast Track (dark and icy) and Lower Runaway (even more dark and icy).

Then toured the flatlands (blues) at the top of the mountain for old time sake, and did 3 runs. It was a bit windy, cold, and flat so I went back down to the expert slopes which are protected from much of the wind. On my way down I skied Upper Fast Track which was pitch black much of the way. Boo.

Skied more expert runs and mostly stuck to Boomer since they're blowing fresh perder and it was like literally amaze-balls for night skiing. The snow was nice and soft. Also did White Lightning a few times. The main Expert slopes (White lightning, Boomer, Smoke, & Cannonball) are very well lit compared to the rest of the mountain. 

Overall a grate night and conditions were pretty nice. Not a death cookie or sugar pile in sight, just a few slick spots here and there but nothing crazy. JADIP ice is nice.

Edited January 29, 2021 by saltyant

[saltyant]

lo

[toast21602]

These pictures are worse than Doug’s grease pictures but nice report 👍

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I have to SU before I read this.  BRB!!!! Salty 

[AtomicSkier]

You need a new iPhone.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Grate report salty. Reminds me of the old montage brochure where they talked about the steeps on smoke and the bumps on boomer.  I like the warning sign. 

[Schif]

Great report. Night Skiing at Montage brings back some awesome memories. 

[PSUFrankenstein]

Awesome - I always had a good time at Montage.  Boomer and Smoke are usually pretty good.  White Lightning can be great, but obviously sucks when it gets icy.

[Schif]

One trail that I noticed you missed on the report is a sneaky and most times hidden one. A few years ago they cut a connector between Lower Runaway and Cannonball called Rattler. It's narrow, twisty and usually has some fun banks on the sides. Pretty easy to ski right past the entrance to it and not even know it's there but it is a fun little offshoot. 

[toast21602]

Just now, Schif said:

One trail that I noticed you missed on the report is a sneaky and most times hidden one. A few years ago they cut a connector between Lower Runaway and Cannonball called Rattler. It's narrow, twisty and usually has some fun banks on the sides. Pretty easy to ski right past the entrance to it and not even know it's there but it is a fun little offshoot. 

This is my favorite trail there. It is basically a groomer track through the woods. It is not super long, but there is nothing like it that I've skied in PA. 

[trackbiker]

Nice report. How were the crowds and what's the deal with the $30 discount ticket?

[saltyant]

5 minutes ago, Schif said:

One trail that I noticed you missed on the report is a sneaky and most times hidden one. A few years ago they cut a connector between Lower Runaway and Cannonball called Rattler. It's narrow, twisty and usually has some fun banks on the sides. Pretty easy to ski right past the entrance to it and not even know it's there but it is a fun little offshoot. 

TFTI, dont think I skied that though I skied some of those narrow connectors that lead back to the base of Phoebe lift. No idea what the names of those are or if they have names. 

[toast21602]

Just now, saltyant said:

TFTI, dont think I skied that though I skied some of those narrow connectors that lead back to the base of Phoebe lift. No idea what the names of those are or if they have names. 

Sounds like you probably did. I think it leads back to that lift but Schif probably knows better. 

[saltyant]

5 minutes ago, trackbiker said:

Nice report. How were the crowds and what's the deal with the $30 discount ticket?

Thanks trackbiker, low crowds. The only time I had to wait was when Phoebe lift shut down for a few minutes due to ski patrol transporting the toboggan or something. There were about 25-30 people stuck. Otherwise the wait was never more than a minute or so.

Virtually no one on the Iron Horse Lift as it only goes to the Blue runs

The $30 deal is for King's College alumni that I had no idea existed until my friend told me about it. If you know any alumni or current students I'll provide details

Edited January 29, 2021 by saltyant

[guitar73]

glad you made it up to montage. we love it. how did you handle white lightning? that's a no fall zone, you know 

[saltyant]

6 minutes ago, guitar73 said:

glad you made it up to montage. we love it. how did you handle white lightning? that's a no fall zone, you know 

Welcome back Guitar!!

I skied ok on WL. It felt like one of the steeper runs I've done on various ski trips.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

21 minutes ago, guitar73 said:

glad you made it up to montage. we love it. how did you handle white lightning? that's a no fall zone, you know 

Welcome back guitar. Hows your ski season going?

[pcklein31]

1 hour ago, toast21602 said:

Sounds like you probably did. I think it leads back to that lift but Schif probably knows better. 

Rattler comes out at the bottom of the second (and largest) headwall on Cannonball.

I agree,. One of my favorite runs.  My other favorite run at Montage is starting off the top off the Phoebe lift and heading over to Lower Runaway, but then cutting over to Lower Fast track in the middle of the last headwall... Turns out to be a nice long 'groomer' cruise.

 

[saltyant]

I did Upper and Lower Fast Track and most of it was pitch dark. I couldnt see jack! 

I know they probably cant justify lighting some of those trails because hardly anyone skis them at night, but dang, put a warning sign or close them or something so I know not to go on them!

The most popular trails were well lit.

[Schif]

4 minutes ago, pcklein31 said:

Rattler comes out at the bottom of the second (and largest) headwall on Cannonball.

I agree,. One of my favorite runs.  My other favorite run at Montage is starting off the top off the Phoebe lift and heading over to Lower Runaway, but then cutting over to Lower Fast track in the middle of the last headwall... Turns out to be a nice long 'groomer' cruise.

 

That's a great groomer cruise, but if you ever go into the lodge for a beer or something my favorite run is to take the Shuttle Lift from the lodge and then do the highlighted route below

[guitar73]

1 hour ago, saltyant said:

Welcome back Guitar!!

I skied ok on WL. It felt like one of the steeper runs I've done on various ski trips.

WL is a legit steep run. it takes some good ski skillz to make it down safely.

57 minutes ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Welcome back guitar. Hows your ski season going?

thx steeze. it's going nicely, getting mad laps in at Montage. kinda bummed that Blue cancelled all their adult race clinic b/c of COVID-19. thinking of hitting up BC for wednesday nite nastar.

[pcklein31]

20 hours ago, Schif said:

That's a great groomer cruise, but if you ever go into the lodge for a beer or something my favorite run is to take the Shuttle Lift from the lodge and then do the highlighted route below

Yeah that is a good one too.. only downside to me is I occasionally get caught not carrying enough speed on my board to not get up and over the hump at the bunny slope lift.