RidgeRacer
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Posts posted by RidgeRacer
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Weather.com...
SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST MONDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A SNOW ADVISORY, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM EST MONDAY.
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO OVERSPREAD THE AREA THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING AND BE LOCALLY MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES. HOWEVER, THE SNOW WILL MIX WITH OR EVEN BEGIN AS LIGHT RAIN IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY. THE AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO COOL SUFFICIENTLY EVERYWHERE, THEREFORE SNOW IS ANTICIPATED TO BE THE MAIN PRECIPITATION TYPE WITH THIS STORM. THE SNOW WILL THEN BECOME INTERMITTENT DURING MONDAY MORNING. A STORM TOTAL OF 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW IS ANTICIPATED, WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS PROBABLY OCCURRING ACROSS EASTERN NORTHAMPTON AND MONROE COUNTIES. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FAIRLY SHARP GRADIENT IN THE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TO OCCUR FROM WEST TO EAST.
Even though it's says higher totals to the east, JF normally ends up on the higher end of that because of their elevation.
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They're calling for around 6 inches...Could be a great day. I'm going to try to get there early as long as the roads are in decent shape. Anyone else going?
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Nice TR Poconoceancity...thanks
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Thanks for the TR - I wish I could have made it today. Did you notice if they blew at all last night?
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Just back from another day at JF. Got there around 11:45 and decided to take my fist run of the year on Lehigh. The snow was pretty nasty on Lehigh. They really need to run a groomer on it. It was pretty much gluey, sunbaked piles of snow. Maybe it's a way to conserve snow. I'm not sure. I headed for Thunderbolt which was much better. I don't think they groomed anything on the Mt., which is not necessarily a bad thing, but Lehigh needed it. I Headed for East where I did laps on River Shot and Floyd's for pretty much the rest of the day. The snow on East was like yesterday, loose granular...just right for the warm conditions. Floyd's is in EXCELLENT shape. To JF's credit, there are no bare spots except for a few very small ones on Exhibition and Rivershot - nothing major at all. They are holding up extremely well. I was even able to duck into the outter edge of the "Mad Trees" to the right side of solitude. All in all a great, spring like day at Frost.
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That first picture is incredible...thanks.
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It looks like the afternoon will be the time to go on Wednesday, after things loosen up again. Nothing is listed on the conditions page as being groomed again, except for the park.
I'll probably be there around 11:30ish. Look me up if you're there or send me a PM if you want to meet up.
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are those trees on the left of the 2nd pic supposed to be a glade?
Those trees are part of "Risk it"
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Just got back from a really nice day at the home mt. I got there around 11:45 and the sun was shining bright. It was very warm and my gloves were off after one run. I headed straight for Thunderbolt and found side to side coverage with no bear and very little brown spots. The snow itself was your typical loose granular, spring like but just right (definitely not "mad applesauce"
) It stayed that way pretty much the whole day. After Thunderbolt it was straight to the East Mt. lift. They raised the Pirate ship flag higher and it was flying in the wind. I headed straight for Floyd's which was awesome...nice bumps were forming on skiers left and there was a bail out lane to ther skiers right side. It was a perfect day for bumps as the snow was easily carvable. Did that a number of times as well as River Shot. All in all great coverage everywhere (except the trees which are pretty much shot) and the snow was great. Hopefully it gets cold soon. I'll be back tomm...enjoy the pics. 
Floyd's Headwall
Floyd's from the bottom (pic doesn't give you the actual pitch)
The Elevator with no snow
Looks much smaller in this pic (notice the two cliffs) -
I'll likely be there for a few hours.
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Thanks for the update Bigdaddyk...I'll be there definitely tues, wed and maybe Friday. Looking forward to some spring skiing tomm.
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TR 1/5-6/08
in Elk
I'll be there on the 18th for the first time this season...I'm looking forward to it.
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if theres no snow in my yard it means theres no snow at the mountains
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I can't get back until Tuesday. By then, with the warm temps and soft sprng like snow, Floyd's is going to look like Outer Limits if they dont groom it.
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Never ever trust the weather.com/accuweather or anything forecasts for your decision to go. If you have a season pass, go no matter what the weather when you have time, I had great days in pouring rain because no one is there and the snow is soft and grippy. If you are buying a ticket and the forecast looks maybe good maybe bad, go, it is always good. Especially at JF. Snow breads snow, the man made stuff lowers the temperature. The elevation lowers temperature. THe shade lowers temperature. Something about JF lowers temperature (maybe the river) more than most places. If it is rain elsewhere it is snow at JF. Just go, I have that philosophy, I use it to decide on marginal days skiing probably 6 or 7 times a year, so far at least twice this year, and one of them ended up being my best day of the year. THere has never ever been a day where I said, damn I shouldn't have come today.
Method nailed it...Go skiing ... or riding (whichever you do).
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I couldn't make it Sat. But with how good Friday was I knew Sat had the potential to be the best day of the season. How was Floyd's?
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Simply put...this might have been the best day of the season condition wise. Blowing snow in the extreme cold created some incredibly soft man made powder. The run of the day was Mad Tree to River Shot. I did that combo a number of times. There must have been lots of blown snow that drifted into the trees because there was some really soft snow in there...still a bit sticky further into the glade though....still the best it's been all season. The Challenege glade was scraped off in the middle but still lots of fun. The gladed runs do have some exposed rock so just keep an eye out. Floyd's will finally be open for the weekend. There were two groomers working on it pretty much the entire time ... To sum up, if you're heading to JF Sat you're in for a some great terrain and conditions. Have fun.
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I'm waiting for Elevator too, I wish they would trim the damn bushes during the summer it would be skiable now if it were not for that.
I'm waiting until Floyd's opens so I can scope out a line from the bottom. I think the best way to hit the Elevator now may be on the side closer to Floyd's. Although I did notice, about half way down the last headwall on River Shot, that there's a clear area that you could "drop in" at that would require some tight turns and looked like it would offer up some steep pitch.
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I pulled into the lot around 12:00 to find a busy parking lot and I had to drive around a few times to find a decent spot. I booted up, got my ticket and headed for the snow. It was sunny and cold. The wind wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been...It was pretty much a near perfect ski day. I heard one guy saying that it was freezing out
Another person was asking the ticket window if a lift ticket came with rentals. I thought that was funny. All in all more crowded that I thought it would be but nothing compared to last week. My first run was on exhibition. The snow was really nice, pretty much a packed pwder surface...perfect for carving. I headed for East Mt, where the pirate ship flag was flying high. I did a lap on River Shot, which was the sweetest it's been all season. The right side was soft powder probably from all of the the wind creating drifts. I then headed for Mad Tree which was also nice. I was surprised at the soft powder towards the entrance but as you went further into the glade the snow was a bit gluey and tough to turn on. I did a few more laps on river shot and really scoped out the elevator. I almost gave it a whirl but my better judgement kicked in and I decided that it probably needs a bit more snow before it's skiable. I saw 2 guys poach Floyds which has a TON of snow...it just needs to be groomed out. Finally I headed for the Challenge glade which was great around the trees but the center of it was scraped and I think I hit a rock. I ended the day with a great run through the T Bolt glade then to Thunderbolt. All in all this may have been one of if not the best day of the season. The snow was really nice and the crowds were a non factor.
Lots of snow in the Mad Tree Glade
First headwall on River Shot - Great snow on there today
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Went up today, got there early about 8:30ish. Headed straight down challenge and took the east mountain lift up. They had groomed most of the mountain but there was plenty of untracked to be had. Rivershot turned to shit almost immediately, 6" of powder on top of ice is bad when there is a holiday crush of gapers snowplowing it around. The trees are ok, they where better after the last storm, this one was a lot dryer it didn't hold as well. If we didn't have that warm up in between it would be amazing, but I would say its about 90% of what it was 2 weeks ago. Another 6" would seal the deal, I got a few rock hits but not much. The run of the day was Floyd's. It wasn't open but I saw two guys get the first poach and I rolled right in behind them. They have made a lot of snow on it there are huge whales, but really tight together so it is almost like a pillow line, as close as you are going to get on the east coast anyway. And with 6" of untracked, it was probably the best half dozen runs of the year I've taken. Then we wanted to try something else. Looking back we probably should have just lapped that all day. The only lame part was the bottom, the whales where so high on the run out that it was hard to get through unless you went to the low side, but they had tripod guns setup and I didn't want to damage the hoses so we hiked out each time rather than risk cutting them. We like the snowmakers, no reason to make their work more difficult. I bet it will open real soon it just needs to be flatened out - my friend couldn't handle the pillows that well, they are basically vertical on the back side I got air off almost every one. Really something to try but by tomorrow it might be beat, by 10:30 it was pretty tracked.
By 11 the powder had been chewed up on every open trail, still some in trees and near the edges but it was piling on the ones they hadn't groomed and it was getting nasty with ice in between. It should groom out well tonight though.
We head to the park since it was soft. Lots and lots of gapers, probably a 5:1 gaper to park rider ratio, maybe higher, There where only about 10 guys landing anything other than the two flat boxes. I only think I saw one other person land the flat-down clean all day besides myself and the guy I was with. That rail was better. They should setup another flat box before it, right now there is this bump that is a jump that only throws you like 5 feet high, it is basically and ollie pad. It used to have the blue barrel bonk but they pulled that out. The first jump was trashed for some reason, I couldn't put my finger on it. It was like gaper central with people standing on the knuckle, and the ramp was bumping and the landing was a little too steep and pot holed. That could have used another pass with the groomer. The second and third jumps are butter, one is about 10 feet and the other about 15, great for building confidence. You get some good height. Then I followed the flat box into upslope rail line. THe other side has two down slope rails, one looked good but one didn't. I didn't try them though, I have a love affair with that upslope rail, it slides so nice and not many people hit it. I think all the good riders where at Boulder so the park was empty of people trying to hit stuff. I had a few run ins with the gapers but with a loud enough drop in call before each feature people move. I love the panic in peoples eyes between the 1st and 2nd jump and between the 2nd and 3rd jump. You land at a good clip, yell drop and straight line in a tuck to the next to get enough speed, and they're doing the pizza and fries as you zoom in and they freak out like OH SHIT I SHOULDN"T BE HERE. I rarely saw gapers in twice after they realized, but there where just so many of them. I saved one kid from decapitation he was laying on the knuckle and you couldn't see him so I waved off the guy coming in behind me, I had a bad feeling rolling in to the jump for some reason and when I came around I saw him like making snow angles on the landing. I told his parents they should probably keep him out of hte park if they weren't going to supervise. The mom was like "thanks for the warning", I guess she couldn't read the signs.
Wow...I'm kinda glad I didn't go yesterday after reading about those crowds. Whats up with Floyd's (and Lehigh) by the way? Those whales have been there for a solid week now if not more. Getting more open will allieviate some of the crowding. Regardless I'll be back tomm and hopefully I'll be parking right up front again.
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We got about 6 inches - just got finished shoveling it. I'll be back on the hill tomm. Hopefully there will be no one there and the trees will be skiable, oh and hopefully Floyd's will be open.
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Just got back from JF. Pulled into the lot around 11:45. The place was insane. I couln't find a spot close by and I drove around a few times to find something semi close to the entrance. I booted up and headed for the snow where there was a good number of people by the lodge. This was easily the busiest day that I have seen it this year and maybe ever. I got my ticket and headed straight for T bolt. The snow was sugery and scraped off hardpack was to be found in the middle of the trails. I'm glad I got my edges sharpened. Headed straight for East Mt. where they had both lifts running and small lines were forming on each side. Sadly, the skull and crossbones pirate flag was not flying at the East Mt. lift. What gives there??? Put it back
There was pretty much a mass of people on River Shot and East Mt. Floyds was not yet open to alleviate some of that traffic. There were a good number of people who probably should not have been on East. I saw lots of people sliding down the headwalls...and not on their skis. All in all, today was fun, it was perfect skiing weather, the sun. Hopefully next week the crowds dissipate a bit.
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Just got back from a quick outing at JF. Pulled up around noon and the lot was fairly full. There was a small line at the ticket window so I went right to the pass validation hut and got my ticket. I went directly for thunderbolt then hit east mt. The snow was serious hardpack with sugar on top...definitely not my favorite conditions but with the heavy rain last night I guess it wasn't too bad. I was a bit disappointed to see that Floyd's hasn't opened yet. I did laps on River shot and called it a day. There were a good amount of people but I was there at peak time so that's to be expected. Still lots of fun though.
The trees took a beating with all of the rain. I saw two people hit Mad Tree a few times but I stayed out of it. Challenge glade looked like there was still snow in it. I didn't attempt it though. Rocks were exposed pretty much everywhere. Hopefully we'll get some snow soon to replenish the trees.
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I'll probably be there around 11am. Weather looks like it will be nice with some possible flurries. Anyone else going to be there?
Quick TR Jack Frost 1-14-08
in Jack Frost & Big Boulder
Posted
It was back on the slopes for the first time since Wednesday and what a difference a few days make. Jack Frost recovered nicely from the warm weather (not that they were really in bad shape to begin with). We didn't receive the 6 inches forcasted but rather 2 inches and light snowfall the entire day. The snow was very nice with the 2 inches of powder on top of hardpack. I made my first run over to Thunderbolt which was nice and fast then over to East Mt. Did a run down River Shot then over to Floyds. There were absolutely no bare spots and side to side coverage on every trail. Continued on East then ended the day on Challenge and Thunderbolt.
Floyd's is the real deal right now. The bumps are growing in size and are now on pretty much both sides of the trail with smaller bumps to skiers right. Today there was a nice powder surface on Floyds but VERY icy in the troughs which caused me to skid out up top on the steeper section of the headwall. Kudos to JF for a dedicated bump run.
Another fine day day Frost. Looking forward to excellent conditions the rest of the week. I may be be back tomm but definitely Wed and Thurs.