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Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:32 pm
by swamphox
The hungry were fed and snow was skied upon. Not expecting much more than that I walked away happy, confident that I'd supplied someone with at least a month's worth of Green Beans.



Crowded? yes, and this year it was crowded from the get go....



Did jong-a-licious hilarity ensue? You Bet! I lost a ski getting on the lift going up for the first run of the day. Luckily it hopped a ride on the next chair and we were reunited. Note to self, adjust bindings.



Additionally I lost my camera/goggles and found a girl wearing them. she was there on her first day, her friend had found them and let her borrow them. They didn't even know it had a camera. I was VERY happy to get them back and invited the girl and her friends over to the tailgate for brats and what not as a way of saying thanks. They never showed, then again, I would accept an invite to much of anything from someone who looked like me.



I have no idea why the snow plow was rolling, no snow was to be had save for the man made variety





Cat before it's descent into chaos





Looking up at Alley cat, sure there were bare spots and stuff but it was still fun





Experience has taught many of us that one should tailgate for Can-U-Ski AFTER skiing, rather than before





A fine selection of pork products....





go Vols!





snow Gun Parts





SkiAtlanta





Red and Black looks good on everyone





The thousand nations of the Southeast descended upon cat...their canned good will blot out the sun!





Mastering the art of enjoying one's self at can-u-ski...





The gang...





They were just really lost and thought this was the way to the airport





The birth of a snow gun





Suiting up in the parking lot.





This was right when the lift first started running. it's never a good sign when the line's this bad from the get go. I applaud Cat for running the double as well today too!





ClemsonKeri and the Mister, Bronco, and Copper Mtn Fan





Rock Island Run was looking chewed up already. stupid temperature inversions....





Looking down rock island run, this was definitely it's more photogenic side





This was around 1030, lots of people getting fed!





Check out the pink skis in the middle of the shot, It makes me miss my knees, that and the days when I weighed a whole lot less....





The top secret soda machine in the group sales building, cheaper than getting a coke at the lodge if you forgot to get provisions on the way in





Finally, some POV video going down Alley Cat. Later from the lift I caught DavidSki and a few others during their descent down Alley Cat.




Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 5:37 pm
by EastCoaster
Skipink wins the day with that sweater.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:26 pm
by Josh
Looked like a good bo sho! Bo!

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:35 pm
by dreamnofpow
Nice report swamp, good to see some X mboard members in the mix.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:54 pm
by thefirewarde
Wish I could have stayed for Sunday, but Saturday was good too.

Rock Island Run started nicely covered, but by about 2:30 (sat.) that brown spot was showing through, mostly 'cause everyone was avoiding the pothole on the other side.



I went with my Scout troop on Saturday, showed up at 7:30 and actually touched snow by 9:45. Apparently there was a mandatory group beginner lesson, so I was then taught how to put on my boots, sidestep up a hill, and snowplow. THEN I got to put on skis. After a 30-minute beginner lesson, hiking Wolf Creek because the lift was covered, I was released to go ski. The last time I had a beginner lesson I was at Hawksnest.

Oh, and as we were pulling into our parking space the car I was in got hit by the lift ops director. So I didn't have such a good morning.



That said, once I got on the quad I had a lot of fun, Rock Island Run was good until Alley Cat softened up. Before about 12:00, Alley Cat had ice patches. I hit one, fell, and jammed my thumb.



That snowgun on the table? I think that's the tower off of the Backyard Blizzard sitting in the group lodge. Any guesses why Cat has a home-grade snowmaker?



Were there as many boarders there Sunday as on Saturday? I was on ONE chair the whole day that had only skiers.



I got a few pics, I'll add them as soon as I can.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:02 pm
by Ski Bunny
Looks like a good time!

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:05 pm
by jamsandwich
@swamphox 263060 wrote:



Additionally I lost my camera/goggles and found a girl wearing them. she was there on her first day, her friend had found them and let her borrow them. They didn't even know it had a camera. I was VERY happy to get them back and invited the girl and her friends over to the tailgate for brats and what not as a way of saying thanks.



Damn thats lucky! Guess they'd never heard of the lost and found.



Nice report, i see it was more about having fun in the lot as always.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:17 pm
by Ga Skier
Great pics E the goggle cam does quite well.I may contact you on how to get one.Me and my friend left about 1:00 or a little after.The liftline was getting insane.

The snow was holding up fairly well considering all the variables today and the weather we've had this year.I hope it makes it through this week so I can try to get back maybe Fri.

It was good to see everyone today and hoping for a great season this year

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 9:19 pm
by dreamnofpow
@thefirewarde 263086 wrote:

Oh, and as we were pulling into our parking space the car I was in got hit by the lift ops director. So I didn't have such a good morning.



I think I got your parking space in the AM, was it a Pacifica with drivers side damage? If so that sucks.

Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:50 pm
by davidski
Well I'll tag team on this report -- I spent Sat,. at beech, brilliant: and decided to make it a weekend and ski Cataloochee too.



I knew it would be crowded and got off late -- getting to the entrance before 8 am was critical but Maggie Valley sucks for making up time



But then there was this vehicle riding 10-15 above the interminable 35 limit, so I jumped in their shadow all the way up -- pulled in to great parking, and these characters jumped out:







Good start



Here's some pics from the slope --



this would be some dude with adjustable poles (gear whores, honestly)







skiatlanta looking effortless







NCSUisKing(whatever) running the obstacle course









Lines, conditions made it easy to return to the parking lot by 11. A LOT of people, a real pleasure to start the season this way











I think Pink has just told a really dirty joke--