NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Don't worry - I'm not taking you seriously. Last time I was on that lift, it was crawling, and anyone who has ridden it lately has been praying for it to be replaced. But seriously, please tell more people to go to SR... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Don't worry - I'm not taking you seriously. Last time I was on that lift, it was crawling, and anyone who has ridden it lately has been praying for it to be replaced. But seriously, please tell more people to go to SR... Have you been up this year, did they expand? We are planning a threedayer in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I'd love to hit the slopes at least once this week. However, the minivan is going into the shop tomorrow. May try a trip with the 3 kids to Berkshire East Thurs. First chairs up at the B'east yesterday AM. 12-14" new, very dry powder. The mountain was in very good shape. Skied Catamount this afternoon, 22" new also in great shape and a good option though likely to be a bit more crowded. I'll be at Magic tomorrow. MRG after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I've not been up this year, but they opened up Burnt Mtn (they are calling it Brackett Basin). It's all glades, and could be unbelievable in March. http://www.sugarloaf2020.com/Terrain.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 [/b] First chairs up at the B'east yesterday AM. 12-14" new, very dry powder. The mountain was in very good shape. Skied Catamount this afternoon, 22" new also in great shape and a good option though likely to be a bit more crowded. I'll be at Magic tomorrow. MRG after that. Sounds like you have a good plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Sounds like you have a good plan. Where the heck is Modfan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Sounds like you have a good plan. Get while the gettin's good. Usually I don't ski this week but I've got guests with an insatiable need to ski. Poor guys slumming it here in the east. They feel sorry for us.lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Terrain wise yep, operations wise nope. That lift scared the crap out me twice, not surprised that piece of sh it failed. Bad judgement, wind holds are a fact of life butt threshold wind limits are established, should never have happened . My impression it was mechanical failure within wind guidelines, bad judgement to keep a crappy lift operational. I can't speak for Sugarloaf, but the ski areas I have known and talked to folks involved in operations at those areas (along with what I know we do at Stowe) is that there isn't necessarily a threshold wind limit. Its certainly not something that is like opps, we hit 54mph, time to shut 'er down. I've seen a lift run in near hurricane force winds, and I've also seen that same lift get shut down at 35-40mph. It is probably like 2/3rds direction and 1/3rd speed. If the wind is coming across the haul rope line at a 90 degree angle, that's when the weakest wind will shut it down. When the wind is coming down the line (completely parallel to the haul rope), that's when you can run in even some of the strongest wind because you aren't getting lateral swaying. Its always interesting because each day is different with regards to wind speed, direction, and how it interacts with the terrain. Also is the wind swirling spindrift, or is it disproportionately strong just 100-200 feet above the ground (could that mix down and blow the lift away?) or is the wind direction steady or constantly changing? I know there are so many factors that are in play with wind and ski lifts, that I have a hard time completely blaming operations. Obviously, its their fault for running the lift, but if we always just packed it in and closed up every windy day... most of the larger, taller, more exposed ski areas in New England would never open. Also obviously, those folks never meant for anyone to get hurt... its such a tough call most days, but better safe than sorry is usually the way to go. I'm sure there'll be some lawsuits over this incident Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Get while the gettin's good. Usually I don't ski this week but I've got guests with an insatiable need to ski. Poor guys slumming it here in the east. They feel sorry for us.lol That's OK - they can feel bad for us. I was in Utah many years ago. The conditions for an easterner were perfect. Everything open, a bottomless base, and packed powder everywhere (except for local stashes). People were going home because they considered packed powder to be ice. Around here, if there's ice enough to get around the rocks, it's all good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Where the heck is Modfan? Dunno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I can't speak for Sugarloaf, but the ski areas I have known and talked to folks involved in operations at those areas (along with what I know we do at Stowe) is that there isn't necessarily a threshold wind limit. Its certainly not something that is like opps, we hit 54mph, time to shut 'er down. I've seen a lift run in near hurricane force winds, and I've also seen that same lift get shut down at 35-40mph. It is probably like 2/3rds direction and 1/3rd speed. If the wind is coming across the haul rope line at a 90 degree angle, that's when the weakest wind will shut it down. When the wind is coming down the line (completely parallel to the haul rope), that's when you can run in even some of the strongest wind because you aren't getting lateral swaying. Its always interesting because each day is different with regards to wind speed, direction, and how it interacts with the terrain. Also is the wind swirling spindrift, or is it disproportionately strong just 100-200 feet above the ground (could that mix down and blow the lift away?) or is the wind direction steady or constantly changing? I know there are so many factors that are in play with wind and ski lifts, that I have a hard time completely blaming operations. Obviously, its their fault for running the lift, but if we always just packed it in and closed up every windy day... most of the larger, taller, more exposed ski areas in New England would never open. Also obviously, those folks never meant for anyone to get hurt... its such a tough call most days, but better safe than sorry is usually the way to go. I'm sure there'll be some lawsuits over this incident Holiday week, it's all about the Benjamins baby, been there done that. I closed a casino floor with 15000 people in it because of a major safety issue, that nights losses were ten times what Stowe sees in a year for ticket sales. Ya think I did't take some serious heat? Ended up being the right decision and probably saved ten times the losses in lawsuits, injuries. My point is that lift was crap and they knew it, very bad judgement by the safety people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaPilot Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 This brought back some very bad memories of a lift failing at Jiminy peak in the Berkshires some 25 or 30 years ago. I dont remember the year but I was there when the lift brake failed after a shutdown. I dont know how many chairs piled up at the bottom of the lift but it was very bad. Some very serious injuries to those who would not jump before they got tangled up in the chairs. I watched it happen as we were in the line to get on when it occurred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 That's OK - they can feel bad for us. I was in Utah many years ago. The conditions for an easterner were perfect. Everything open, a bottomless base, and packed powder everywhere (except for local stashes). People were going home because they considered packed powder to be ice. Around here, if there's ice enough to get around the rocks, it's all good. Learning to ski in the East helps you to be a good technical skier. Nothing like skiing icy death bumps for training. My friends are visiting from AK, they are exceptional skiers, among the best, but they grew up skiing Vermont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professional Lurker Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Mrg, I was there yesterday. Anytime anybody's at the hill, stop into rentals. I'll be there (unless I'm out taking a run...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 This brought back some very bad memories of a lift failing at Jiminy peak in the Berkshires some 25 or 30 years ago. I dont remember the year but I was there when the lift brake failed after a shutdown. I dont know how many chairs piled up at the bottom of the lift but it was very bad. Some very serious injuries to those who would not jump before they got tangled up in the chairs. I watched it happen as we were in the line to get on when it occurred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 This brought back some very bad memories of a lift failing at Jiminy peak in the Berkshires some 25 or 30 years ago. I dont remember the year but I was there when the lift brake failed after a shutdown. I dont know how many chairs piled up at the bottom of the lift but it was very bad. Some very serious injuries to those who would not jump before they got tangled up in the chairs. I watched it happen as we were in the line to get on when it occurred. I remember that accident. I was an instructor at Catamount and we were heading there the next day for a freestyle meet that was cancelled. Are you from this area? I have a friend that flies for Delta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Mrg, I was there yesterday. Anytime anybody's at the hill, stop into rentals. I'll be there (unless I'm out taking a run...) Hey Mike, I wondered if you were running a lift yesterday. I was pissed that the kids running the trip didn't have their sh it together to have first chair ready at 8:30, it was closer to 9:00 that we loaded right behind patrol. Cardinal sin on a powder day. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professional Lurker Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Hey Mike, I wondered if you were running a lift yesterday. I was pissed that the kids running the trip didn't have their sh it together to have first chair ready at 8:30, it was closer to 9:00 that we loaded right behind patrol. Cardinal sin on a powder day. lol Yeah, I don't know what the deal was with that. The chair with MY name on it probably wasn't too far behind yours. I'm the rental shop manager this year. ...Kinda reminds me of the line in 'Coming to America'... "Right now I'm washing lettuce. Soon I'll be working the fryers. Maybe after 3-4 years of hard work, I make asst manager. ...that's where the big bucks are..." Yeah, right! The good news is that I do get plenty of snow time, however its not nearly enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Yeah, I don't know what the deal was with that. The chair with MY name on it probably wasn't too far behind yours. I'm the rental shop manager this year. ...Kinda reminds me of the line in 'Coming to America'... "Right now I'm washing lettuce. Soon I'll be working the fryers. Maybe after 3-4 years of hard work, I make asst manager. ...that's where the big bucks are..." Yeah, right! The good news is that I do get plenty of snow time, however its not nearly enough. OK - now Thursday is out (my oldest is getting her skis tuned/adjusted for new boots), but I may see you at the rental shop Friday with my other two kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professional Lurker Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 OK - now Thursday is out (my oldest is getting her skis tuned/adjusted for new boots), but I may see you at the rental shop Friday with my other two kids. ...I'll be there! Obviously for liability reasons we really can only adjust our rental bindings but if it's pretty straightfoward like setting DINs and fitting a boot to a binding I'm pretty sure I can do it. Btw we have a kids tune that includes base grinding, both base and side edges and a wax for like $19. ...just sayin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Good deal on that kids tuneup... Pete will scoff at it of course. Was at Wachusett for a couple of hours tonight with my son and a friend who is sleeping over. The kid is very new so the just messed around on the beginner slope while I stood there and ogled the talent. Place was packed. Actually had to park in Lot 3 and ride the shuttle for the first time this season. I will go by myself Weds or Thurs and get a few runs in. Next week will be a little better but the school groups start big time Gotta get at least 2 more days in for 2010! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professional Lurker Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Yeah our school groups start next wed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Yeah our school groups start next wed. My son's school is on Fridays :axe: ... always crowded, but sometimes I can get a good spot to park... At least it guarantees 6 more days I can ski. Hey, this thread is derailed! Just like the lift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECT Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 ...I'll be there! Obviously for liability reasons we really can only adjust our rental bindings but if it's pretty straightfoward like setting DINs and fitting a boot to a binding I'm pretty sure I can do it. Btw we have a kids tune that includes base grinding, both base and side edges and a wax for like $19. ...just sayin. Thanks for the info - the skis are at a shop as we speak - if all goes well, I'll be stopping in for rentals for the 2 younger ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbutts Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Looks like wind probably wasn't a factor. See http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=32565 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginx snewx Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Looks like wind probably wasn't a factor. See http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=32565 http://www.jmphotocraft.com/spillway/spillway3.JPG I was on the other side of this unique "double-runner" style chairlift when this happened. I saw the other side stop with a strange jerk that I had never seen before. Then we came up to the scene where the rope was on the ground, and it was a very scary and bizzare thing to behold. And then I saw my mother - she was on the side that crashed, on one of the chairs that hit the ground. She is ok. Very shaken-up and some bruises, but basically fine. She skied down on her own. I took some pics of the scene with my wife's phone that I will post later when I can download them. According to my mom, the crash appeared to be caused by a mechanic who was up on the tower. He was banging on the shieve-train with a hammer or something, which they are known to do from time to time for god knows what reason, but he was doing that around the time the rope came off the wheels somehow. The worst looking injury was a guy pinned under a chair and he couldn't get himself out, I believe due to his injuries, but he was conscious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weathafella Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Learning to ski in the East helps you to be a good technical skier. Nothing like skiing icy death bumps for training. My friends are visiting from AK, they are exceptional skiers, among the best, but they grew up skiing Vermont. This is a good point. When I did more downhill skiing, I moved west and couldn't believe how well prepared I was avoiding my head cracking on the ice under the hard packed snow while learning in NH. In those days, no one wore helmets either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radarman Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 I occasionally see signs in resorts out west that say "thin cover" and laugh. Or hear people say it's icy. I always tell them, real ice is blue. Scary pictures. Hope they are ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambone Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 Weird... that would suck. Why couldn't they just keep the lift running until everyone was off? The lift was derailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted December 29, 2010 Share Posted December 29, 2010 The lift was derailed. Yeah, we established that 2 pages back, but thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.