Session 3 of the 2017-2018 season: Crystal Mt - Found some softer conditions on the steeps

Fun day better conditions then yesterday, softer groomers and I found some natural ungroomed steeps that was fun. And a brief period of sunlight!

Highlights: nicely groomed blue slopes made carving easy. Steeps were groomed and softer then yesterday.
Temperatures: a steady 27 degrees
Sky: cloudy, flat light, some sun later in the session
Conditions: groomed with mostly soft conditions on the main runs, found some ungroomed natural conditions when the sun came out
Duration: 2 hours - 9:00-11:00
Gear: Burton TT
Daily Vertical: 6601

Session 2 of the of the 2017-2018 season: First runs at Crystal Mt

First runs of the year at Crystal Mt, found some good groomers for some high speed carving.
Lot's of natural snow but most areas were groomed and some were icy.

Crystal Mt Highlights: Nicely groomed blue slopes, for fun carving. Steeps were hard and icy

Temperatures:  a steady 22 degrees

Sky: Cloudy, grey, flat light
Conditions:  groomed with mostly soft conditions on the main runs, harder and icy on the steeper runs.
Duration:   2 hours  from 9:00-11:00

Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 5662

Session 1 of the 2017-2018 season: First Session - Mt Holly - for the first runs of the new season

Mt Holly Highlights: Nicely groomed manufactured
snow with decent conditions for carving, ollies and butters. Only the hi speed lift serving 3 main slopes on the front side was open. Not much off a crowd, so it was practically a non-stop loop.
Haven't lost any skills since last March, everything just fell into place after a few warm up runs.
Temperatures:   Mid-20s

Sky: Cloudy, grey, flat light
Conditions:  groomed with mostly soft conditions on the main run
Duration:   2 hours  from 9:00-11:00
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical: 5876 ft

Session 38 of the 2017 season: A carbon copy "spring day" of yesterday at Crystal Mt

Possibly the last downhill riding day of the 2016-2017 winter season for me.
A fantastic season with a trip out west to Montana and Wyoming as the highlight.
Put the board on for 23 straight days out west, 21 days of downhill riding and 2 days for snowkiting.

Crystal Mountain Highlights Today: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions - very forgiving conditions. Deep carving turns to backside 180s on the forgiving soft surfaces.
Temperatures:   upper-40s

Sky: Mostly sunny
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    3.5 hours  (10:00 - 1:30)
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   7,831 feet in 3.5 hours  (34 runs)

Session 37 of the 2017 season: Slow start to an excellent Michigan "Spring Riding Day"

Carving figures 8s

A beauty of a bluebird day at Crystal Mt. Started out cloudy and grey but eventually it cleared up and made the riding exciting.
Lower 40s, soft pack and groomers.
It doesn't matter where you're at a bluebird day makes all the difference. Some of my best spring conditions happen in Michigan.
The conditions were so forgiving I could do any experimental trick without worries of crashing. Consistent soft surface made for deep carving to easy backsides.


Highlights: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions - forgiving conditions
Temperatures:   lower-40s

Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    4 hours  (11:00 - 3:00)
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   10,085 feet in 4 hours  (40 runs)

TRACK Sunday 3/19
MAX SPEED 52.80 km/h / 32.81 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 19.54 km/h / 12.14 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 10.88 km/h / 6.76 mph
SKI DISTANCE 43.31 km / 26.91 miles
SKI VERTICAL 6157 m / 20201 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 38% / 21° / 1:3

Session 36 of the 2017 season: Back to the local ski hill for a Bluebird Day

A beauty of a bluebird day at Mt Holly. Didn't want to pass this one up.
Mid-30s and not a cloud in the sky. Soft fresh groomers and no crowds.
Doesn't matter where you're at a bluebird day makes all the difference.
I'm not use to conditions where you can see more then 20 feet or less.

Bright Bluebird Day

Highlights: Groomed, soft, warm, bluebird conditions
Temperatures:   Mid-30s

Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  warmed up soft groomers
Duration:    2 hours  (12:00 - 2:00)
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical:   6,155 (30 runs, average of 206 vertical ft per run)
Mountain average vertical is 5k feet/hour

TRACK MT HOLLY, MI 3/17 Thursday
MAX SPEED  34.31 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 14.08 mph
SKI DISTANCE 19.18 miles
SKI VERTICAL  6,155 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 28% / 16° / 1:4

Session 35 of the 2017 season: Grand Targhee Day 2

Highlights: Another day of  fresh powder.

Today we had a better idea today which runs to be on, still visibility on top was near zero. In amongst the trees was better but still a vertigo type of day.

Sun is out after slopes closed

TRACK Day 23, Tuesday  3/7
MAX SPEED 32.81 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 10.75 mph
SKI DISTANCE 21.3 miles
SKI VERTICAL 24,431 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 68% / 34° / 1:1

Temperatures:   lower -20s
Sky: cloudy, foggy, blowing snow, windy, whiteouts 
Conditions:  another 8-10 inches of fresh powder
Duration:   9:00 - 2:15    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   24,431  (5 hours, 15 minutes 20 runs)

Session 34 of the 2017 season: Grand Targhee Day 1 - Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming

Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming - a new destination for us.

Highlights: Fresh powder, too bad we didn't know which runs to take, couldn't see, visibility on top was near zero. Vertigo type of day.
Temperatures:   lower -20s
Sky: cloudy, foggy, blowing snow, windy, whiteouts
Conditions:  10-12 inches of fresh powder
Duration:   9:00 - 1:30    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   23,921  (4.5 hours 19 runs)

TRACK Day 22, Monday 3/6
MAX SPEED 29.00 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 11.50 mph
SKI DISTANCE 21.3 miles
SKI VERTICAL 23,921 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 100% / 45° / 1:1

Session 33 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day - last dance at Big Sky

Highlights: Groomed, hard pack to icy wind scoured slopes - shortened day. Time to move on to Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming
Temperatures:   upper-20s

Sky: partly cloudy
Conditions:  hard packed to icy, probably one of the worst days due to weather and surface conditions
Duration:    2.25 hours (8 runs)    
Gear: Burton Hero Board
Daily Vertical:   11,6678 (2.25 hours 8 runs)

TRACK Day 21 Sunday 3/5
MAX SPEED 51.54 km/h / 32.03 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 22.91 km/h / 14.24 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 16.45 km/h / 10.22 mph
SKI DISTANCE 37.48 km / 23.29 miles
SKI VERTICAL 7061 m / 23167 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 45% / 24° / 1:2

Session 32 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 20

Highlights: Sunny, some freshies, soft groomers. Did some early runs off of powder seeker lift to the south wall area  -  riding above the rocky cliffs on some very steep grades
Temperatures:    30ish degrees

Sky: Sunny mostly
Conditions:   groomers, fresh powder 1-3 inches
Duration:   5.0 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 24,416 (18 runs)

TRACK Day 20 Friday 3-3
MAX SPEED 56.27 km/h / 34.97 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 23.16 km/h / 14.39 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 14.23 km/h / 8.84 mph
SKI DISTANCE 82.96 km / 51.55 miles
SKI VERTICAL 16046 m / 52646 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 47% / 25° / 1:2

Session 31 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 19

Highlights: Hard pack conditions
Temperatures:    cold -  20 degrees or less

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy, lite snow
Conditions:   groomers, hard packed
Duration:   4.75 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 24,263(16 runs)

TRACK Day 19 Thursday 3/2
MAX SPEED 52.42 km/h / 32.57 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 22.71 km/h / 14.11 mph
DAY AVERAGE SPEED 14.77 km/h / 9.18 mph
SKI DISTANCE 80.89 km / 50.26 miles
SKI VERTICAL 14507 m / 47594 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 68% / 34° / 1:1

Session 30 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 18 (Finally the Tram to Liberty Bowl)

Highlights: Finally did Tram to Liberty Bowl - Dakota and Shedhorn lifts
Temperatures:    cold -  20 degrees or less

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy, lite snow
Conditions:   groomers, packed powder
Duration:   4.5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 19,589 feet (13 runs)

TRACK Day 18 Tuesday 2/28
MAX SPEED 32.74 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 12.32 mph
SKI DISTANCE 20.7 miles
SKI VERTICAL 19589 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 82% / 39° / 1:1

Session 29 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 17

Buttercups on upper morningstar

Highlights: Did some runs off of the powder seeker lift - took Turkey traverse cat track to do some
 steep runs off of the south wall area
Temperatures:    less than 20 degrees

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy, lite snow
Conditions:   groomers, packed powder
Duration:    5.5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board


Daily Vertical: 25,421 (19 runs)

TRACK Day 17 Monday 2-27
MAX SPEED 30.61 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 13.50 mph
SKI DISTANCE 30.8 miles
SKI VERTICAL 25,421 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 48% / 26° / 1:2

Session 28 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 16

Highlights: Southern Comfort, swift current, Thunder Wolf areas
Temperatures:   teen's

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy, lite snow
Conditions:   soft groomers, packed powder
Duration:    5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 22,388 (17 runs)

TRACK Day 16: Sunday 2/26
MAX SPEED 32.13 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 13.19 mph
SKI DISTANCE 26 miles
SKI VERTICAL 22,388 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 58% / 30° / 1:2

Session 27 of thr 2017 season: Big Sky Day 15

Highlights: Powder seeker, swift current, southern comfort and lone wolf areas
Temperatures:   20's

Sky: cloudy, foggy, windy
Conditions:   soft groomers, packed powder
Duration:    6 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 24,110  (20 runs)

TRACK Day 15 Saturday 2/25
MAX SPEED  33.44 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED   13.22 mph
SKI DISTANCE  27.4 miles
SKI VERTICAL 24,110 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 57% / 30° / 1:2

Session 26 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 14

Highlights: Easy day mostly green and blue runs, 1 inch new snow
Temperatures:   20's

Sky:  partly cloudy
Conditions:   soft groomers, packed powder
Duration:    6 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 27,476  (20 runs)

TRACK Day 14 Friday 2/24
MAX SPEED 37.96 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 13.29 mph
SKI DISTANCE 32.8 miles
SKI VERTICAL 24746 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 44% / 24° / 1:2

Buttering on Mr K's run

Session 25 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 13 (Alder's Gulch)

Highlights: Did Shedhorn, Dakota, Southern comfort, Thunder wolf, powder seeker and some moonlight basin area. Took the challenger lift up to the Headwaters ridge, rode down Alders Gulch.
Temperatures:   20ish

Sky:  partly cloudy
Conditions:   soft groomers, packed powder
Duration:    6.0 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 21,870 (15 runs)

Alder Gulch from atop of the headwaters ridge

TRACK Day 13 Thursday 2/23
MAX SPEED 33.08 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 12.23 mph
SKI DISTANCE 25.8 miles
SKI VERTICAL 21,870 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 62% / 32° / 1:2

Session 24 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 12

Highlights: another 2-4 inches of freshies and  22 runs
All over the map powder seeker, southern comfort, thunder wolf and moonlight.

Temperatures:   25ish
Sky:  cloudy
Conditions:   fresh pow, groomers, packed powder
Duration:    6..5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 29,212 (22 runs)

TRACK Day 12: Wednesday 2/22
MAX SPEED: 30.44 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED: 12.91 mph
SKI DISTANCE 33.6 miles
SKI VERTICAL 29,212 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 50% / 27° / 1:2

Session 23 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 11

Highlights:  late start missing 2-4 inches of early freshies.
Mainly southern comfort and thunder wolf areas.

Temperatures:    30ish
Sky:  Partly sunny, windy
Conditions:    fresh pow, groomers, packed powder and wind blown powder
Duration:    3.5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 19,237  14 runs

TRACK Day 11: Tuesday 2-21
MAX SPEED 51.48 km/h / 31.99 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 20.03 km/h / 12.45 mph
SKI DISTANCE 18.7miles
SKI VERTICAL 19,237 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 52% / 27° / 1:2

Session 22 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 10

Highlights: 18 runs, long day

Temperatures:    upper 20s
Sky:  cloudy, windy
Conditions:    hard pack and wind blown powder
Duration:    6 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 23,342  18 runs

TRACK Day 10: Monday 2/20
MAX SPEED 51.12 km/h / 31.76 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 20.03 km/h / 12.45 mph
SKI DISTANCE 28.1 miles
SKI VERTICAL 23,342 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 54% / 28° / 1:2

Session 21 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 9

Highlights: 1-3 inches of freshies

Temperatures: Still warm - 30ish 
Sky: mostly cloudy
Conditions: 1-3 inches of freshies, packed powder and groomers
Duration:    6 hours 
Gear:

Daily Vertical: 22,208 16 runs
Vertical to date: 

TRACK Day 9: Sunday 2/19
MAX SPEED 53.42 km/h / 33.19 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 20.34 km/h / 12.64 mph
SKI DISTANCE 27.1 miles
SKI VERTICAL 22208 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 47% / 25° / 1:2

Session 26 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 8

Highlights: Rode Moonlight Basin again then moved on to thunder wolf and southern comfort areas

Temperatures:   30ish 
Sky:  partly cloudy
Conditions:    Hard pack to icy conditions
Duration:    4.5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 15,046 (12 runs)
Vertical to date:

TRACK Day 8: 2/18 Saturday
MAX SPEED  32.55 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 13.79 mph
SKI DISTANCE  17.8 miles
SKI VERTICAL 15,046 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 44% / 24° / 1:2

GPS device stopped working after half day

Session 25 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 7

Sunny day with soft groomers and packed powder.

Après ski on a sunny warm day

Highlights: Again, spent time at Moonlight Basin

Temperatures:  35ish
Sky:  Sunny
Conditions:    Packed powder and groomed runs
Duration:    5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 23,743 (17 runs)
Vertical to date:

TRACK Day 7: 2/17 Friday
MAX SPEEP: 35.33 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED: 14.80 mph
SKI DISTANCE:  28.6 miles
SKI VERTICAL:  23,743ft
MAX STEEPNESS 63% / 32° / 1:2

Session 24 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 6

An easy pleasy day riding at Moonlight Basin area

Highlights: Riding Moonlight Basin

Temperatures:   Above freezing 
Sky:  First cloudy day with some wet snow sprinkles
Conditions: soft groomers
Duration:    4 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 20356
Vertical to date:

TRACK Day 6: 2/16 Thursday
MAX SPEED: 32.44 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEEP: 13.80 mph
SKI DISTANCE:  22.35 miles
SKI VERTICAL:20356 ft
MAX STEEPNESS: 43% / 23° / 1:2

Session 23 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 5

Feeling better today - put in a 5 hour day in repeat conditions

Highlights: A bluebird day with packed powder and groomers

Temperatures:    nearing 40
Sky:   bluebird
Conditions:   packed powder and groomers
Duration:    5 hours
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 22,000  17 runs
Vertical to date:

Session 22 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 4

Altitude sickness caught up to me today, slept in, felt better so went out for an afternoon shortened session.

Highlights: A bluebird day with packed powder and groomers

Temperatures:    nearing 40
Sky:   bluebird
Conditions:   packed powder and groomers
Duration:    1.5 hours, 7 runs
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 7,449
Vertical to date:

Session 20 of the 2017 season: Big Sky day 3

Highlights: Another Bluebird day with easy conditions

Temperatures: mid-30s
Sky: Bluebird
Conditions:  groomed, packed powder
Duration: 5 hours and  30 minutes  
Gear: Burton Hero

Daily Vertical:  21,880 feet 18 runs
Vertical to date:   167,922

Enjoying a cold one

Session 19 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 2

First full day of Big Sky riding.
Packing in five hours plus of non-stop bluebird, packed, groomed conditions.

Highlights: bluebird, pack powder conditions
Temperatures:    Near 30
Sky:    Bluebird
Conditions:     Packed powder, groomed
Duration:    5 hours 45 minutes
Gear:  Burton Hero board

Daily Vertical:      24,267 17 runs
Vertical year to date:  146,042

TRACK Day 2: 2/12 Sunday
MAX SPEED 38.23 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 13.10 mph
SKI DISTANCE 28.7 miles
SKI VERTICAL 24267 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 56% / 29° / 1:2

                           

Session 18 of the 2017 season: Big Sky Day 1

A late Saturday afternoon arrival to Big Sky's bluebird and packed powder conditions.


Highlights: First runs at Big Sky 

Temperatures:    Upper 20s
Sky:    Bluebird
Conditions:     Packed powder
Duration:    2 - 4 pm, 7 recorded runs
Gear: Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical:  8,750 (7 runs)
Vertical to date: 121,775

TRACK Day 1: 2/11 Saturday
MAX SPEED 30.97 mph
SKI AVERAGE SPEED 12.67 mph
SKI DISTANCE 17.37 miles
SKI VERTICAL 8750 ft
MAX STEEPNESS 54% / 28°

Session 17 of the 2017 season: Crystal Mt

Highlights:  Another good day with grippy soft groomers and 1-2 inches of fresh snow. Found some good natural ramps for the 180 backsides. Many good runs through the untrack gladed areas

Temperatures:   mid 20s
Sky:   steady cloud cover with a lite snow falling
Conditions:    Some 2-4 inches of freshies with generally  soft groomers
Duration:    9:00- 12:00 (3 hours)
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical:  6143
Vertical to date: 113,025

Session 16 of the 2017 season: Crystal Mt

Highlights:  Good day with grippy soft groomers, made great carving conditions and forgiving spins.
Some good runs through the untrack glades

Temperatures:   lower 20s
Sky:   steady cloud cover
Conditions:    Some 2-4 inches of freshies with generally  soft groomers
Duration:    9:30-1:15 (3 hours 45 minutes)
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical:  8308
Vertical to date: 106,882

Session 15 of the 2017 season: Crystal Mountain perfect groomers

Highlights: A Monday morning noon start with excellent soft groomers

Temperatures:  mid-20s
Sky:    partly cloudy
Conditions:     Soft groomers
Duration:   2.5 hours (noon - 2:30)
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 5661
Vertical to date: 98,574

Session 14 of the 2017 season: Crystal Mountain - Happy MLK weekend to all !

Highlights: A quickie session with many skiers out early. Happy MLK weekend to all!

Temperatures:  0-20  degrees
Sky:    Early-morning bluebird
Conditions:     Soft groomers
Duration:   About an hour (9:00-10:15)
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Daily Vertical: 3,730
Vertical to date: 92,913

The start of a bluebird. cold and crisp morning

Session 13 of the 2017 season: Crystal Mt - fresh cold powder

Highlights:  another fresh powder day with 4-6 inches of fluff

Temperatures:    mid -20s
Sky:   thick clouds
Conditions:     powder, packed powder, groomed powder
Duration:   almost 3 hours from 9 - 12
Gear:  Burton Hero Board

Vertical to date: 89,183

The glades with fresh snow