winterwarlock

Pay for a lift ticket at Blue???? I haven't done that in 11 years! They are going to get their customers, because like you and me and everyone else on this website; we are freaks about skiing/riding and will do just about anything to get our turns in. Do I agree that they should charge full price for, realistically, 2 slopes, heck no. But if you figure it into acreage, well they may have a small argument for doing it. Still, I'll never pay it. Besides most of the folks hitting Blue early are generally season pass holders who took advantage of discounts. I'm not a park rat so I prefer Blue for 2 reasons. 1. Moguls 2. Fall line speed on Razors and that is basically it. But....I teach at Bear Creek for 3 reasons. 1. Ski for Free 2. It's only 15 minutes from home. 3. Half price lessons for my Daughter and $25 season pass for the wife. My $.02 on the other stuff: Glade skiing in PA - risky, rare, but not impossible. Best place is probably Frost right after a foot or two. Bear Creek did some clearing at the top of the triple too. Freeriding, multiple definitions. However, most of us think of the big mountain guys in ski porn flicks, at least that is what I think of. In PA, maybe it is searching for the little kicker along the side of the slope that can possibly get you airborn or huck off a rock that was partially covered top side by the overnight guns. Maybe that's our homestyle brand of freeride here in Keystone land. Personally I like the term Ride Free (both on snow and in wallet)

Dudes, you are all stressing me out. Listen to Burton71...chill-lax. Go get your homework done. It will take your mind off of snow.

Surely that 'most cars' comment does not include my accord. See ya at the toll plaza...vrooom, vrooom. lol

Thurdsay is highly optimistic but unrealistic. Friday is possible but not likely. Saturday is certainly feasible, but with limited terrain for sure. Don't get your hopes up that much of the park will be rockin, probably just the main things that keep jibbers happy. Kodiak and the beginner area is the bread and butter of revenue so those areas are crucial. Especially the beginner area, because BC is implementing a completely new way of teaching lessons and every instructor - ski and snowboard - needs to be trained. However I will add this. The new pump system can double the amount of water sent uphill from last year which was 4,000 galllons per minute to 8,000 gallons per minute. Figure that in with the increased volume of water in the pond and we could be pleasantly surprised with the amount of open terrain on opening day, whatever day that may be.

I have to admit, I was impressed with BB on Friday evening. I have not been to BB since freshman year of college in 1987. This is the first time in all my 30 years of skiing that I have skied in the month of November here in PA. I was impressed to see such decent coverage on the one slope that I skied with my daughter. At one point there was even enough snow dust on the trail that my daughter was able to make a half decent snow angel. I just wish I could have skied forward at least a turn or two, but being that she is only 3, Daddy is still working on the basics with her. Felt great to be back on the sticks. Kudos to the BB snow making crew and managment. It was a well spent $15 and worth while 55 mile drive. I will from now on be ready for ski season in early Nov. and selfishly keep this little secret to myself. Thanks mbike for hooking me up with pasr and it was nice seeing you there.

Well if you change your mind about the bike frame, it's an '04 Giant VT3 with 5-5.75" of sweet travel (I still have the fork, too). Check it out on www.bikevmb.com in the classified section. Hope the GF rides/skis too. Maybe we'll cross paths soon. I read in another thread you are gonna be working the ticket booth at BC. I'll try and look you up during some down time at the Creek. Good luck with the backcountry ski set up. Just remember, anything is better than nothing and it ain't the skis it's the engine that makes 'em go.

So, Nick, I'm gonna guess that being from both Bethlehem and Kutztown you are a student at KU and are graduating in Dec. Hence the reason for moving to Boulder, CO and a new job. If I am right...Congratulations on Graduation early. Now, one other thing you may want in CO is a mountain bike. I live in Kutztown and I have a frame for sale if you might be interested.

Bindings: Go with the Marker Duke's, but I don't think they will be cheap. They are specifically designed to be able to free heel for hiking with skins from what I have read. Skis: I have always been a K2 and now a Volkl fan since K2 bought Volkl (Plus, I think K2 just bought Line also) K2 has their $h*+ together when it comes to backcountry skis. I wouldn't recommend the Pontoons for Pocono skiing though, but I would try the Seth Pistol or the Public Enemy and from Volkl the Mantra. Good Luck Oh, BTW, skiing is not easier to learn than riding. I teach at BC and I took 1 board lesson last year for the first time in 30 years of skiing. Nailed it. My question is, can't these snowboards go any faster? (lol)

Kinda sounds like what happened in late Nov and early Dec in 2005. We got a week or so of good cold air and BC was able to open by Dec 10th. We had nice conditions for instructor training. Plus, if I am not mistaken, nearly the entire mtn was open that weekend and snowmaking continued until shortly before xmas when it warmed up a bit for the xmas week. By that time the base was pretty well established so no problems with the crowds on the snow conditions. We can only hope and pray for the same thing to happen this year.

These Recons are SOLD

Well, Phil, Atomic's ad may say that, but I've skied a few of those B series Atomic's and In My Opinion the Recons are the benchmark. Don't get me wrong, the Atomic's ski nice and light; but they're not quite as universal as the Recons.

"Snowmiser" That's funny, Mike! I ski Blue on snow day school closings most of the time, or I do the early morning saturday also. If I don't teach at BC this year then tuesday after 3:00pm is best for me. Other than that I don't really have a particular day I try to go; I just try to get there when I can, with or without the family. We'll definately have to hook up for some runs. Why don't you PM me over on vmb and I'll give you my cell #.

Was it that obvious, you knew it was me. How do you like the winterwarlock? I got it off Santa Claus is Coming to Town; my daughter is already watching xmas DVD's

K2 Apache Recons '05 All Mountain Expert (midfat) skis. 115/78/105 Sidecut 174cm - 18m turning radius. Marker Ti 12.0 Turbo Piston bindings $375.00 obo These skis are the original "One Ski Quiver" skis. I skied everything from moguls to powder and everything in between with tremendous confidence. They are super forgiving and easy to ski. Fear not the Ice Cookies, the Recons are so damp that you don't even notice the 'cookies'. My absolute favorite condition to take the Recons was a packed powder/groomed day and let them just rip on an open black or double black slope making all different size turns (think Razors Edge at Blue Mt. early in the morning). They have no speed limit. These skis were also cared for by hand. I am an instructor at Bear Creek and have had them professionally hand tuned for 2 years. They are presently untuned for this year since I have a new pair. They have traditional surface scratches on the top skin graphics from regular lift line traffic, but the bases are in pristine shape. I never took them out on sketchy thin cover days. One note: I am a bump shorter than 5'7" and love skiing the 174cm length, I've skied shorter ones and had the oportunity to buy something in the 160's, but I still liked the 174 better; especially at 'Mach Schnell' speeds. Contact Rudy at k2couple@aol.com More pictures are available.