sibhusky

I think he's talking about MOUNTAINS, not ski areas.

Yeah? Well, THANK GOD none of them is MY child. The run is "Heap Steep" a black diamond. Look at those inverted maneuvers! I can't even tell which way they are spinning!

I was working, so didn't see all this, but I remember that someone wanted to see the pictures. Here they are. They were FINALLY cutting the Superpipe today. I'll try to remember to bring my camera tomorrow. I left it home today since it was so gray out. Big Mountain Freezestyle Event -- USSA sanctioned

Just make sure that each bag doesn't weigh more than 50 pounds or they'll hit you with overages.

Three are rescue dogs. They have that big yard to romp in and they get let out twice a day. Normally, though, when let out, they play about 30 seconds and then lay down. If siblet is home, she tries to walk them. But in the winter especially, our road is steep and slippery and the snow is so deep in the woods it's tough to stay upright and handle a large eager dog. So they get more walks in summer.

A -- I don't like Atomics. B -- I built their kennels before I finished the basement where the guest suite is supposed to go. What does that tell you about my priorities? C -- You can tell a lot about a person by the nature of their humor.

Two have blue eyes, one has green eyes, one has brown eyes. They don't eat that much, just two cups of kibble a day per dog. The big bills are vet bills, as three are considered "seniors".

For racing enthusiasts, there is a new message board starting up, http://forums.skiracetech.com/ Not specific to PA, of course, but the hope that it will be good for technical exchanges, etc.

Anyone thinking of coming out here might want to do it during the Telemark Nationals:

This is a ski academy?

Other side. By the way, driving home tonight, I encountered mule deer, elk, and of course, whitetail. All within the five miles from where I work to home.

OUCH. How'd that happen?

I have ZERO interest in earning my turns. If I hiked up Big Mountain, I'd be too exhausted to ski down. I'm not skimom!!!! She's the fitness machine. As for Lake Louise, I'm more likely to go to Fernie -- less expensive and closer. But in past years, they haven't been open much longer than us and have had worse conditions. I'm am hoping the Forest Service gives us permission to stay open another week this year. I mean if we've still got a 100+ plus base maybe the bears will sleep longer! But, anything could happen in March. All we need is a Chinook and bye-bye snow. Hey, Discordial, you still on for a visit?

Well, just came across this. Like I said, not quite ready: "Super Pipe Update - Posted on February 21, 2006 Big Mountain has been using the current colder weather to make snow in the half pipe. Our groomers are also mixing all the snow (natural and man made) for a consistent snow pack needed for the pipe. Our next phase involves building steps up the walls, and then we will use the new Zaugg Pipe Monster to carve the walls. While we have had great natural snowfall this winter, the month of January was unseasonably warm and we were unable to make the needed man made snow to fill the pipe. Dating back to 1950, January was the wettest month recorded. However, it was also the warmest January on record. (source: Daily Inter Lake) Our goal is to have a high quality half pipe out of the gate. We appreciate everyone's patience with these factors that are beyond our control. At this point, we are shooting for a Grand Opening on the first weekend in March. We will continue to keep you updated as to our progress." Lest anyone thinks we had a lot of RAIN, wrong, we had SNOW SNOW SNOW.

Mr. Husky gets some fresh air this AM.

I've always wondered if that's how they turned Little Gap (what was the vertical, like 200-400 feet?) into Blue Mountain (1082 feet). It's a mining area, they had the equipment. Anyone know how they did that?

Well, it says it saves them from having to make as much snow. Great. So, they spread it around like butter instead of adding to what's there to cover thin spots. That'll just make the overall base lower.

Some pictures of the superpipe area. I tried to enhance them, but the light was really flat. There's NO WAY that thing will be available for the event. These were actually taken yesterday, but it doesn't look any different to me today. The cat is still moving snow around, apparently making walls higher.

Define cheap. Also, there is a TON of cheap real estate in eastern Montana. Just not close to ski areas. In the immediate vicinity of where I am, the land was going for $10,000 an acre about five years ago. We felt we overpaid for this particular hunk at $15,000 an acre. Now within a block of us they are asking $40,000 and more an acre. And that was last year, haven't looked lately. www.nmar.com has listings of real estate in NW MT. .... Starting looking and it is now $60-80,000 an acre. This is close to me, within a mile. http://www.nmar.com:8080/idx/propertyDetail.jsp?sesid=256141 http://www.nmar.com:8080/idx/propertyDetail.jsp?sesid=256142 You can go closer to the ski area and pay more or further and pay less. Atomic should look at The Homestead at Whitefish, Iron Horse, Whitefish Hills, and some other gated communities for his land.

I checked out the work at the pipe again today. I don't think they are going to be ready for this event, based on what I saw. I saw the freestyle coach a bit after that and he said they might have to cancel that part of the competition. I took pictures, but no point in posting them, you'll all agree they can't be ready for a comp on Friday at this rate. I think the problem is today we suddenly hit a warm spell and they can't make snow.

An update on this. They are finally blowing snow on the superpipe, I keep meaning to take pictues. It's pretty confusing, though, as they are blowing snow not only INTO the pipe but every which way in the whole surrounding vicinity, not just adjacent to the pipe, so I don't know what that's all about. They are also digging snow up, too, for some reason. Anyway, I assume all the activity is about this announcement: "Northern Division Big Fish Freeze Style Feb 24, 25 & 26. Three days of Northern Division freestyle teams competing in the air and on the moguls. This is a USSA sanctioned event. A USSA competitor membership is required. Registration is at the info center." Unfortunately, I think I am working all of those days, so won't be able to take any pictures of that, but maybe they'll post some on the web site.

Yeah, I've often been told that it means my core isn't warm enough. Totally disproved that yesterday, although the feet weren't at the UNSKIABLE stage after one chair ride, so maybe that's what they would have been if I hadn't been so warm everywhere else. This AM it's minus 8 at the house. Yesterday at this time it was 7 degrees. I am postponing the trip up there an hour or so. I put hard wax on my skis last night, tho, so I need to test that out.

Well, the last race was canceled due to high winds. First my garage doors were frozen shut, it took a half an hour to get them open, then when I got to the ski area, it was negative 18 at the summit, winds 15 to 25 mph, which apparently means negative 48 wind chill. I got "paid" for gatekeeping even though I just sat in the Summit House waiting for news on if the race was going to be run. I took a few runs, but even though my body was really warm, it wasn't helping the old feet. Had on two layers of long underwear on legs, four layers on top, full ski outfit, PLUS Eddie Bauer down jacket rated to negative 50, PLUS course worker poncho, plus helmet, mittens and wristies with warmer things in them, neoprene face mask, knit face mask over that, fanny flap. Was plenty warm except for my feet, which were popsicles after one chair ride. Began to fear it was too cold for my plastic boots, which are old, to survive, plus the wax I used a few days back was totally wrong...could point the skis down hill and not go very fast even after several runs. So, came home and will make nice fire in fireplace. Temperature had dropped four degrees since I left in the AM.

Pics from Womens' Downhill on Feb. 12. Megan McJames and Jessica Dakers getting air off of Launch Pad.