Actual skiing comments:
Skiing was delightful again yesterday; light air, and mild temperatures.
The best skiing was on the (so called) “Mead” by pass from Co Rd 510 to the first cabin on the right. The regular Noque’ had been packed to the lower Mead Gate at 19 and I did ski it and there was good coverage but the surface was rather soft.
Co Rd 510 Trail Head Comments: Today’s warm temperatures will make skiing problematic. The coverage is thin so an above freezing base may let your skis hit hard ground. The Mead by pass continues to be the best bet. Bob groomed it again last night with his Yooper engineered drag (more on his technology annon).
Forestville Trail Head Comments: Andy and team rolled several passes on all trails from the ponds at 8k up to the first bridge near 17k. Trails below 17k are very thin but Andy reports some sections are quite nice. Again, warm weather today will make skiing problematic.
Way Too Long Grooming Report: Yesterday was one of those magical days. The morning greeted us with a light off shore breeze and a four foot swell from the north. The light air belied the 21f. It was definitely 6 mil suit weather but very comfortable. A SUP at the zoo is perfect for such conditions. Paddling into an unbroken glassy chest high point break is more fun than words can describe. There were only two of us in the lineup. Imagine the crowd in Southern California given similar conditions. The Biathlon was completed with a wonderful ski from the 510 trail head. These counter seasonal biathlons or triathlons only count if all legs are seriously good. We could have gone for a nice bike ride but the daylight hours are short as is my endurance so a head light ride was not in the cards.
Blather: Today is a great day to take stock. Early skiing always highlights equipment problems. They were surely there last May but we have been able to forget during the long five months off snow. Of course my O2 is too low and my heart rate is too high but that is so every year. My poles are starting to look like Bazooka Joe’s dog; you know, with the tongue that won’t stay in his mouth and a broken tail? The fiberglass patch on my graphite pole was designed to get me through the season and the Velcro straps are failing. Were my hints too vague? Is pretending to solve a cross word problem by asking, “what is a six letter word for a fastening device developed by NASA beginning with V?” too vague? And about that quick fiberglass patch: Is pulling out your pole with sand paper at the dinner table too much? Of course then there is the whole naughty vs nice continuum. Having spent my formative years on the horrid scale I never understood the naughty/nice thing anyway so I doubt I am above the curve now. With the eighth night of Hanukkah last week the other surfer in the lineup yesterday was sporting a new 6 mil suit with an integrated hood. Clearly she was on the nice end of the scale. Regardless that, I plan to enjoy this off day working on the wood pile. I may even get to some of that early Christmas shopping. The grooming report critic is always on the nice end of the scale so maybe I’ll get her some new Velcro or even a set of polls.
See you out there
Sondo