Ober Gatlinburg 1/9/10

[n_alabamaskier]

Definately not Obercrowdburg today. Everything was open (wow) and had a good base depth and good coverage. There were some death cookies on the upper drop of Bear Run and just about all the way down Grizzly. I had forgot how fun Grizzly was. A very curvy "S" curve trail with a good drop to it to build up your speed. There is a jump or lip at the bottom to get some good air just above the tube run.



On to the pics.



Upper Grizz. Took this trail the most for the fall line, lack of skiers, fun factor and the jump at the bottom. Looking down Grizz.





Bottom of Grizz looking back up.





Ober Chute with the top of Grizzly and Bear Run in the background.





Top of "The Ridge". They groomed off the moguls and put them in storage. It was a little scrapped off but not to hard to get an edge.





Bottom of MR looking up and Castle Run also.





Looking toward the base area. Notice the total lack of crowds.





Good snow, great day, NO lift lines (skied right onto the chair every time), awesome way to open the 2010 ski season.

[n_alabamaskier]

All pics taken and posted to the photobucket app then to skinc all from my iPhone. So maybe the quality of the pics are ok.

[skirt]

nice tr. it's amazing how the super cold temps keep people away.

[n_alabamaskier]

With no wind the temps weren't too bad. It only got cold skiing down the moutain and taking some pics with no gloves, I thought my fingers were going to fall off.

[Rodeofox]

I was there today as well and will be there again tomorrow. Got crowded around 3-4, but it seems thats normal. I hit up the Terrain Park (or 3 boxes) not bad, but wow is the Blue lift slow!! I agree though, pretty good day all in all. Now did anyone else notice the Jackknifed Semi at the entrance?

[n_alabamaskier]

Terrain park now set up on alpine way. Don't know why that isn't a higher priority trail. It gets another lift open on crowded days to help with the crowd. Maybe the snow tubing will allow for some infrastructure upgrades. Tubing seemed more crowded than the skiing this morning at least

[UABSkiBum]

I am VERY jealous. That is not crowded at all. I was up there during New Years and you couldn't stir all the newbies with a ski pole. I too wish they would work to get Alpine Way open sooner for the exact reasons listed. Ober is definitely having their best season in years. Thank goodness for cold weather and what looks to be more than their normal natural snowfall.

[Ski Bunny]

Great TR and pics!

[Rodeofox]

Alpine Way not opening much is simple. It gets to much sun and takes alot of work to keep open. At least thats what ive always heard. I also learned the lift that goes up to the lookout used to have trails but they had the same sun exposure problem and were closed.

[time2323]

Amazing that crowds were so light on a Saturday. I was up there last night for the night session and they were turning cars away and the mountain was crowded, but not unbearable, all night.



Its really cool though to see Alpine and Grizzly open. Hopefully they can keep some base on em.