Blaze
That’s a negative Joshua. Final Frontier glades are devoid of pucker and saplings it’s probably the most manicured glade on the hill. We spent many hours there this fall cleaning it up with respect of those who started it years ago.
joshua_segal
Blaze;c-40229 wroteThat’s a negative Joshua. Final Frontier glades are devoid of pucker and saplings it’s probably the most manicured glade on the hill. We spent many hours there this fall cleaning it up with respect of those who started it years ago.
Obviously, you don't know what you are talking about. The Glade remski was asking about is just west of the area that you are talking about which remski, I and others cut about 5-years ago. That's all part of the area shown on the trail map as Final Frontier.
Blaze
Having had a pass at CM for the past 15 years and constantly hiking the mountain spring summer and fall YES I do know what I’m talking about. Do you? Enough said.
joshua_segal
Blaze;c-40231 wroteHaving had a pass at CM for the past 15 years and constantly hiking the mountain spring summer and fall YES I do know what I’m talking about. Do you? Enough said.
Mazal tov. I don't use an alias, so you must know me. Who are you? I'll be happy to take you on a guided tour of the overgrown areas.
joshua_segal
It turns out that Blaze (2-people) are good friends with whom I've skied with for years. The mini-feud that occurred in earlier posts was resolved with an apology and handshake yesterday.
The problem appears to have been a misunderstanding of what constitutes Final Frontier (FF). In the current trail map, FF is shown as the entire area between Comet Drop and Super Nova. Older trail maps (before additions by remski, et.al. were made to FF) would have the boundary of FF being the tree-line west of Comet Drop. Blaze was referring primarily to the original area. I was referring primarily to the newer area that was always maintained by volunteers and never by the mountain.
Meanwhile, yesterday was the first "full-glades day" at CM this season. Here is the complete (and unofficial) report:
Note: Rock skis only are recommended unless stated otherwise.:
T2B
- Enchanted Forest (and generally the area east of Jupiter): Many wonderful lines. It skied well.
Upper Mountain
- Trailee: Very nice. Probably even with good skis. Someone did some thinning and stump removal that added safer lines.
- T-line: Very nice. Probably even with good skis. The big tree at the bottom that had to be jumped last year had been removed.
- Dark Star: Several downed trees blocked key routes, the bottom was covered with pucker-brush and saplings. Not fun.
West Ledges:
- Popcorn: The top was lovely as was the middle. The huge tree in between and the small cliff made it difficult to get around.
- Hellyun's Gate: Huge tree is blocking 2/3 of what was already a narrow spot.
- Peace Pipe: I didn't ski it: No maintenance in at least 5-years
- West Ledges 1: I didn't ski it, but a report from someone who did was, needs a lot more snow"
- West Ledges 2 (aka: Pine Line): No info
Lower Mountain:
- Solstice Glade Trail/Solstice Glade Glade: Nicely skiable even with a good pair of skis.
- Kuiper Belt: Surprisingly good, but exit before the bottom. The lower section has a number of large trees blocking most of the way down
- Uranus: A few thin spots but worth the trip. Be careful not to catch your tips at the exit to Shooting Star.
- Final Frontier and all subsidiary glades and cuts of FF: Skied nicely (OK to go in with a good pair of skis). While the main entrance from Super Nova was roped and marked closed, it was fully accessible from Comet Drop.
Chuckstah
Thanks for the update Joshua. Trailee? I don't know that line, at least by that name. I'll have to have you show me.
Quietman
Enjoyed Skiing a few runs with Joshua today. When he had to go back to patrolling, I hit the glades. Joshua's assessment was spot on. The woods had good cover that was firm but carve-able. I hit almost everything except West Ledges and Dark Star. Last run down Uranus was at 5:30, and I decided that it was getting too dark even for me.
joshua_segal
Here is the complete (and unofficial) glades report for 2/23/2020. It should be similar tomorrow.:
I did not use rock skis on any of the runs I took.:
T2B
- Enchanted Forest (and generally the area east of Jupiter): Many wonderful lines. It skied well.
Upper Mountain
- Trailee: Excellent. I didn't even have to sidestep any rocks
- T-line: Very nice, albeit a little icy
- Dark Star: While the bottom was covered with pucker-brush and saplings, it was OK
West Ledges:
- Popcorn: The top was lovely as was the middle. The huge tree in between and the small cliff made it difficult to get around.
- Hellyun's Gate: Huge tree is blocking 2/3 of what was already a narrow spot. No rocks to speak of.
- Peace Pipe: I didn't ski it: No maintenance in at least 5-years
- West Ledges 1:Rocks were avoidable. Very pleasant
- West Ledges 2 (aka: Pine Line): Rocks were avoidable. Very pleasant
Lower Mountain:
- Solstice Glade Trail: a bit icy.
- Solstice Glade Glade: Nicely skiable
- Kuiper Belt: Surprisingly good, but exit before the bottom. The lower section has a number of large trees blocking most of the way down
- Uranus: A few thin spots but worth the trip.
- Final Frontier and all subsidiary glades and cuts of FF: Skied nicely
Had a few very pleasant runs with quietman.
Remski
Thanks Joshua I might get there Monday.
Remski
Saw Joshua Monday and chatted for a few, he was hard at work on the patrollers porch. Joshua introduced me to Chuchsta and he and I teamed up and skied many of the glades. Great time by the way! As stated by Joshua the glades are in very decent shape. The only one I wouldn’t recommend is Keiper Belt, it’s bony. West ledges is in darn nice shape because the base snow is a frgrn and it’s not skied of. Just so you know there’s bony sections in all the glades but take your rock skis and pick your way through them slowly and you’ll have a great time.
Thanks Blaze for cleaning out Frontier it’s great in there.
joshua_segal
Since posting the "glades" report 2-days ago, there has been substantial snow loss and deterioration of conditions as remski noted.
Chuckstah
Yesterday certainly was a fantastic day at the Crotch. It's always fun taking a few runs off the beaten path with Joshua, and it was great meeting Remski and skiing all the glades with him. Fun day
joshua_segal
Mar. 8, 2020 - Sun.
It was an absolute bluebird day. We were slammed in the morning with a state championship U-12 race with over 200 participants. While they filled the parking lot and the base-lodge, they had minimal impact on lift-lines as many were spectators and many others were standing around waiting for their run(s).
The afternoon Family-Fun-$29-special always has us hopping on days like this and yesterday was no exception. Parking spaces were hard to come by in the afternoon.
Despite this week's forecast, I think there is more than enough snow on the hill to make it through March 29, which is CM's projected closing day.
joshua_segal
If you're looking to ski here the remainder of the season, note the hours as posted on the website:
Spring Operation Hours
March 9-March 14 | 9am - 9pm
March 15- March 19 | 9am - 5pm
March 20-March 21 | 9am - 9pm
March 22- March 29 | 9am - 5pm
tedede
Updated Hours:
Spring Operation Hours
March 9-March 14 | 9am - 9pm
March 15- March 29 | 9am - 5pm
NELSBEER
Perhaps a nice knitted helmet cover?
joshua_segal
Mar. 14, 2020 - Sat.
At around 6:30 PM, the announcement that all Vail Resorts were closing for 8-days came out. Our Patrol spent the rest of the evening stripping the hill of ropes, fences, signage and bamboo. We also cleared out the top shack and the storage building. So no matter what happens at Vail resorts in 8-days, CM is done for this season. Very sad.
Chuckstah
Joshua, or anyone in the know, is hiking allowed during the closure? I still need at least one day per week for the forseable future.
joshua_segal
Chuckstah;c-40969 wroteJoshua, or anyone in the know, is hiking allowed during the closure? I still need at least one day per week for the forseable future.
I've hiked and skied Sunday and today. I didn't see any other skiers today (Monday), but there were a lot on Sunday.
Chuckstah
joshua_segal;c-40971 wroteChuckstah;c-40969 wroteJoshua, or anyone in the know, is hiking allowed during the closure? I still need at least one day per week for the forseable future.
I've hiked and skied Sunday and today. I didn't see any other skiers today (Monday), but there were a lot on Sunday.
Thanks Joshua I hope the snow last's for a long while. Uphill should be possible at Killington well into June, possibly early July at Killington if they don't touch the giant pile on SS.
