TR Massanutten Dec 20-24

[marzski]

Had a great time at Massanutten the week before Christmas. Missed the deep powder that EC got, but Marz Jr. is happier on groomed blues any way. There was still powder to be found on Showtime (top of Lift 5, double-chair). Saw off-duty patrollers playing there all day Dec. 20.



For the driving adventure from Raleigh on Dec. 19, see

http://www.skinc.com/messageboard/showt ... hp?t=10948



Although it was cold enough to make snow during the day, the blowers were off on open trails. The website said all trails would open on Tuesday, but actually the ropes were dropped on MakAttack and Main Street at noon on Monday. Great to have Main Street and Yee Ha open since that's the alternative way to get to Lift 6 to the top. Although with the new quad conveyor Lift 3 on Geronimo, Lift 4 on Southern Comfort runs faster and rarely stops. Plus beginners tend to stay on Lift 3. A definite improvement for beginners and those headed to the top.



The weird part was finding ice on the green runs on Dec. 20. Snowmaking and grooming took care of that for the rest of the week. Showtime (aka Rebel Yell) had the best conditions all week. DJ and ParaDice got slick at times after Sunday. There was snowmaking every night and warm enough temps during the day that things would soften up. Overall, just a fun time every day.



Packed powder everywhere on Dec. 20

20 inches from the storm

View of Southern Comfort and new Nuttin-To-It





Yes, that is a bench buried in the snow at the top of Lift 6





Never seen this much snow at the lodge in the last five years







Showtime (Lift 5, blue)









No crowd Dec. 24, top of Diamond Jim & ParaDice (Lift 6, black)

[davidski]

This year I hope to ski at Massanuten -- high time, with so many great reports.



How long is your drive out of Raleigh? -- it must be slightly longer then Wintergreen

[marzski]

@davidski 199967 wrote:This year I hope to ski at Massanuten -- high time, with so many great reports.



How long is your drive out of Raleigh? -- it must be slightly longer then Wintergreen



Add about an hour to get to Mnut instead of turning off to go to WTG. Continue on US29 past Lovingston to VA6, VA151 to US250. Then either I-64 to I-81 to US33 in Harrisonburg or US340 towards Elkton. I tend to take I-81 if arriving after dark.



We'll be there again Jan. 9-10, as well as MLK weekend.

[angel]

The little girl in pink is a cutie!!!!!

[marzski]

@angel 200129 wrote:The little girl in pink is a cutie!!!!!



Thanks! That's her and her college-age cousin starting out on ParaDice. But don't tell Marz Jr. I posted pics of her.

[marzski]

The new Lift 3 is a Doppelmayr CTEC quad. There is a set of gates that lets up to 4 people get on at a time. When a person is inside the rails, a sensor detects them and opens the red gate at the appropriate time. The people then simply ski/board onto a moving conveyor. The conveyor is rubber, so your skis stop as soon as you land. The chair then comes around behind and slowly "scoops" everyone up.



The first foursome is in the gate and the red "doors" have just opened. The center slot is for two, which makes it easier for a beginner when 3 or less ride together.







Marz Jr. likes it even better than the quad lifts at Wintergreen.

[marzski]

A few other new things . . . Mnut expanded the ski school area. There is a second magic carpet. So the Slope Sliders kid program has it's own and the beginners of all ages taking the 1-hr group lessons have another one, which looks a little longer. There are two weekly clinics for intermediates, Ladies and Seniors (over 50).



ski school area, new Magic Carpet on right behind flags





old Magic Carpet on left near ski lodge (a couple days before flags were put up)





Marz Jr. learned to ski from Slope Sliders. She started doing the group 90 min clinic once she was old enough at age 7. I've been quite happy with all her instructors in the last five years. On less busy days, she can end up with a private or semi-private lesson since few intermediates do a clinic. Her instructor last week is one of the Mnut team coaches.



The new ski school area was taken from the bottom of Geronimo. The top of Geronimo goes up farther by perhaps 75 yards. Allows for a flatter start. More importantly, the cross over to Lift 5 and Southern Comfort has enough slope to that no poling/skating is needed. For non-skiing parents, they can see a lot more of Geronimo from the ski lodge because trees were taken down to put in the new lift.



The beginner park is now on the skier's right of the lower part of Geronimo. That keeps more of the beginner boarders off Lift 4. Features for both parks are listed on the Mnut website.

[Superorb]

Is there a conveyor when getting off the lift too? I have no problems getting on the chair, it's getting off that I've got problems still.

[marzski]

@Superorb 200223 wrote:Is there a conveyor when getting off the lift too? I have no problems getting on the chair, it's getting off that I've got problems still.



You'll just have to take your lumps until you get the hang of getting off a lift with a board. Or switch to skis.



Doing the relatively short run at Mnut will get you a lot more practice getting off than the long Dobie run at WTG.

[StealthBoarder]

Superorb;200223 wrote:
Is there a conveyor when getting off the lift too?



Only at Okemo as far as I know.