Cat 12/29 Trip Report

[swamphox]

The day didnt start out too well. I got out of the house at 10 and headed up. I had my usual selection of David Sedaris books on tape to keep me company as well as my mp3 player. I noticed one of my headlights was out en route so I had to hit up the Auto Zone in Franklin to get a new headlamp. I knew if I didn’t the NC State Patrol would be waiting for me...I figured I had time to burn anyway.



Got up the mountain about 230pm. It was ridiculously packed. There were a couple of cars in the lower parking lot across from the tubing park. I didn’t think much of that, or Maggie Valley PD stopping people and watching them turn around, after all, I just waved and smiled and drove on passed. They didn’t flag me down or anything. I rounded the final turn on the steep part of Fie Top Road and was greeted by cars, at least a mile worth, hugging the mountain and parked next to the meadows. All auxiliary lots were full. I began to think I'd made a horrible mistake as I could've been sleeping, but I can sleep when I'm dead and skiing is less than 500 yards from me. It was more and more crowded as I pushed the Prizm towards the resort. I was banking on some of the morning session people packing it up and calling it a day. I found a spot and went in to see if my lift ticket was still there. I was told by the info lady that she didn’t know anyone by the name of the person my ticket would've been reserved by. I started second guessing myself, thinking maybe Id screwed something up royally, went back to the car and was leaving, when a hummer with Florida plates pulled out of some rockstar parking. I took this as folly becoming the hand of providence, parked, got dressed, grabbed my gear, and was ready to pay for a ticket and get everything sorted out later. I spoke with one of the ski patrol people while in line for my ticket, told her what was up, she asked me to wait a second and comes back with a ticket. CHA CHING! Free Skiing on a Holiday! Some good deeds paid off!



Once on the slopes, by now about three, the lines were insane. So, I decided I'd time it. I went through three and a half songs before getting on a chair and on my way up the mtn: Goldfinger-99 luft balloons, Goldfrap-oh lala, Harry Nielson-Jump into the fire, and then half of The message by Grand master flash....so thatd be about 15 minutes.



I was able to hop on Alley Cat and fly down. It was great and I found myself marveling at actual natural powder like snow: Fluffy, easy to stop in, and fun as all get out. I like it better than slush although I still love slush and I know which Ill see more of in my lifetime skiing in the South. Alley Cat had the one sketchy spot on the whole mountain: a large icy patch on skiers left that went from the final third of alley cat to the entrance of lower snowbird. I also got to hit the trees beetween LSB and Turkey Trot and that was a load of fun. I've never gotten to cheat death before:) Atleast, not while sober....



Upper OMG was fluffy and fun. Lots of powder through out the mountain and parts were also starting to bump up which added to the fun. Best day I've ever had at Cat by a LONG shot.



Speaking of the gladed area: I asked the patrolman standing in front of it about it. He wasnt to keen on me going through there at first. I asked if he'd yank my ticket over it as I watched someone go through. He said he would not and that he was actually just more concerned about me going through there without a helmet. Someone else came up to ask him something and he said to go ahead, but be careful. To me this meant strapping a camera to my head later to get some of the action filmed. So that’s the official word on it: They want you to have a helmet but wont stop you, however, if you hurt yourself, dont say they didnt tell you so.



After 330pm or so, the crowds thinned out FAST and the mountain basically became my own personal playground. I must’ve lapped alley cat 15 times. I did upper omigosh about 7 times and took various other routes. I think I got 25 laps in at least, which wasn’t bad for a day so insanely crowded.



Speaking of crowded, watch my vid; it was from my first trip down from the top of the double lift and it's like playing bumper skis complete with epic wipeouts. On lower snowbird youll see a kid wipeout hard and fall off through the woods right in front of me at 2:19.



Later, I also saw a snowboarder who spoke no english go down alley cat on his stomach the whole way. It was good for a laugh. The blue jeans and camo crowd were out in full force as well. And along the lines of Epic Fail, I failed hard on the flat box. Forward=good, sideways=wipeout.





I also met fishorski and his family. It was a pleasure meeting them. Which reminds me; I heard a lady complaining about her poles and hat being stolen, another guy was fussing to his friends that his skis were gone but his poles were still there. The ski and pole gnomes were apparently up to no good at Cat which is a real shame. Ye be warned, remain vigilant.



As I said, conditions were AWESOME. Loads of fun. My legs turned to jelly at about 930 pm and I realized I hadnt eaten the entire day, so I headed back home. I got the best 99 cent cheeseburger ever at wendys in Franklin. Later, I stopped off at one of those "sweepstakes" places outside the GA state line on the way back and won 150 bucks before I called it quits, and also ate free pizza and diet coke. Pulled into Winder about 1245am, got home in time enough to give my boy a bottle, perfect end to a perfect day.





And now for the pics:







The quad lift at the begining of my day. Pretty Crowded







Not as crowded as the double...btw mad props for Cats crew and the ski patrol for keeping the lifts running smoothly. The lifts didn't stop while I rode them ONCE!! The ski patrol girl at the top of the quad was great at clearing out the pileups.







View from the top of Alley Cat. I got to live the dream on Alley Cat all day long.







Looking down Alley Cat, the ghost of fun future.







Sun through the trees at the gladed spot between Lower Snowbird and Turkey trot. I had a lot of fun dodging trees. I definately want to ski through some trees again.







After 2 laps the lines had really thinned out....







Not a bad wait at all







Fishorskis head before I'd been formally introduced







Looking up Upper Omigosh at night







Looking up Upper Snowbird







Looking down upper omg. I did upper omg more later in the evening because the lift lines were more manageable on the double lift after 7 or so.







Another shot of Upper OMG.



Here's the vid. Its not helmet cam, so much as goggle strap cam. Btw, my new anon goggles work great, no fog! Please excuse the mouth breathing...

[time2323]

Great TR. Did it seem like there was enough base in the gladed areas to keep it going awhile?

[swamphox]

@time2323 200310 wrote:Great TR. Did it seem like there was enough base in the gladed areas to keep it going awhile?



the gladed spots were fine...nothing sketchy yet...and itll be snowing tonight...

[time2323]

^Great. Im definitely gettin me some glades action at the Cat next week. Thanks.

[skiatlanta]

nice tr. wish I could have been up there. Hopefully sunday.

[daddygrace]

A++++++++

[Copper Mtn Fan]

Terrific trip report. Well written and nicely paced. I found myself reading it with great interest as well as admiration for how well it was presented.



The video was also quite good because it provided a better perspective on the skiers and snowboarders ahead and around you. Not just video of the ground in front of you. I made that same run (sans the glades) numerous times last Tuesday and it only makes me more stoked to get back up there soon. Just waiting for the holiday crowds to end.

[admin]

i'm real new to snowboarding, but i never knew you could make it down beginners luck under a minute. Man I suck!

[jmoney]

nice TR swampy! Thinking I might have to brave a trip up there next mon or tues before I have to go back to school.