Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 9:11 pm
As you can see my drive up was quite interesting. Left at 4am and got there at 9. Usually only takes 3 hours. Roads were covered most of the way until I started heading up the mountain on 181 and they had them in great shape. I had no problems on Beech Mountain Parkway but the Beech Shuttle did. They were pulling it out of the ditch with a Suburban.
Once I got on the snow it was great. White lightning was in great shape all day. Left side still had some fresh powder even for my last run. Right side was getting some bumps on it but nothing like Southern Star. My first run down Southern Star was very frustrating. The snow close to the blowers was very sticky and would just catch you and even make you stop. The bottom was pretty good though. The first few runs it was crazy because of the small moguls underneath the powder but you couldn't see them, you just had to feel your way through.
About 10:00 or so they finally dropped the line to Oz so I darted over and was one of the first ones down. Not exactly what I had hoped but if you stayed close to the edge you got some good powder. I experienced something I had never skied before. I would run into spots with a light crust on top and would sink just a little where all you could do is go straight until you were out of it. Did find some good powder around the blowers. The bottom of Oz was really rough conditions pretty hard packed.
Robins and Shawneewhaw was in great shape. Nice big rollers all the way down on Robins. Shaweewhaw was in typical great groomed shape. Both of these served me well for some leg breaks when needed.
There were no lines at all and most of the time on the blacks you were the only one on it. Very nice not to have to dodge people all day.
I left about 2 so I could get back home before too late. Good thing I did because black ice was all over the roads, especially I-77.
Once I got on the snow it was great. White lightning was in great shape all day. Left side still had some fresh powder even for my last run. Right side was getting some bumps on it but nothing like Southern Star. My first run down Southern Star was very frustrating. The snow close to the blowers was very sticky and would just catch you and even make you stop. The bottom was pretty good though. The first few runs it was crazy because of the small moguls underneath the powder but you couldn't see them, you just had to feel your way through.
About 10:00 or so they finally dropped the line to Oz so I darted over and was one of the first ones down. Not exactly what I had hoped but if you stayed close to the edge you got some good powder. I experienced something I had never skied before. I would run into spots with a light crust on top and would sink just a little where all you could do is go straight until you were out of it. Did find some good powder around the blowers. The bottom of Oz was really rough conditions pretty hard packed.
Robins and Shawneewhaw was in great shape. Nice big rollers all the way down on Robins. Shaweewhaw was in typical great groomed shape. Both of these served me well for some leg breaks when needed.
There were no lines at all and most of the time on the blacks you were the only one on it. Very nice not to have to dodge people all day.
I left about 2 so I could get back home before too late. Good thing I did because black ice was all over the roads, especially I-77.