joshua_segal
Blaze;c-43943 wroteBoarding is hard enough and Bill could rip it with the best of them. A true gentleman, somebody who would remember your name the first time you met him, a true American with old fashioned values, respectful to others never wanting to hold up the pack.
In the spring when CM closed we bumped paths quite often, me skinning and him walking. Bill would say “I don’t want to hold you up “ but you’re not, Bill! and we would talk and laugh all the way to the top even my dogs liked him!
There are some new glades that have been recently cut this fall off super nova I think it’s appropriate to name them after you, “Bills glade”
Respectfully
Dan & Garrett
Good posting. For a while, Blastoff was referred to "Bill's Chute". Management is very picky about maintaining the "space theme" for all trails and all glades that are on the trail map, so I have reason to believe that won't happen.
NELSBEER
I don't remember Bill as much of a glade skier, there is a general recognition as you get older that your reflexes are slower and trees hurt more. It was always a pleasure to watch him on his board threading his way thru the bumps on Pluto's Plunge {Bill's Bumps?} at a conservative but consistent pace. At the base he had a ready smile and would comment, "I got to cut that stuff out when I grow up.".
We will miss you Bill..
Nelson
joshua_segal
NELSBEER;c-43953 wroteI don't remember Bill as much of a glade skier, there is a general recognition as you get older that your reflexes are slower and trees hurt more. It was always a pleasure to watch him on his board threading his way thru the bumps on Pluto's Plunge {Bill's Bumps?} at a conservative but consistent pace. At the base he had a ready smile and would comment, "I got to cut that stuff out when I grow up.".
We will miss you Bill..
Nelson
In the winter, Bill wasn't in the glades. In the summer, we hiked in the glades all the time.
joshua_segal
Oct. 25, 2020 - Sunday
I woke up unusual early and looked at the stars and saw Orion for the first time this season. A harbinger of winter!
joshua_segal
Oct. 30, 2020 - Friday
First tracks of the season on Crotched Mountain.
Photo shows my tracks from my first run on Solstice Glade. It was enjoyable enough that I took two runs. 3" of snow and I hit zero rocks and stumps. (I did hit a lot of leaves and dirt).
I wouldn't have taken any other runs on the hill. They are set up for machine made snow and it takes about a foot of machine made to cover the rocks and the non-rocky areas haven't been mowed yet.
(I did see another set of tracks on the westside of Magnitude.)
Quietman
I walked to the summit for the sunset tonight, but didn't bring my skis. Saw your tracks Joshua, looked nice!! Was a beautiful evening with the full moon out on the way down.
Felt and looked like winter, temps next week will bring us back to reality for the time being.
joshua_segal
Nov. 3, 2020 - Tues.
2" of fresh snow this AM which made for some great early season skiing. There was a little leftover base in some places from last week. The Glade looked about the same as the posted photo above, so I didn't snap a new one.
The mountain staff was busy running a lawn mower up and down the slopes.
thebigo
How are the ponds looking?
NELSBEER
They did put the batter boards in the dam over a week ago and pumped water from lower to upper pond. The lower pond has since refilled, but one gets the sense the water table is not up to snuff yet. In a regular season springs add 12" a day to the pond, not happening yet. No sign of gun/pump testing yet.
joshua_segal
Nov. 5, 2020 - Thurs.
Amazing how in 2-days we went from skiing a full run to bare ground everywhere.
A lot of activity on the hill: more mowing, new tower pads, not sue what else.
joshua_segal
Nov. 8, 2020 - Sunday
Carriage guns are deployed on the hill. It's almost show-time!
Quietman
Glad to hear about the mowing, things were looking a little shaggy. I did notice the new yellow pads on all the electrical posts. I'm also hearing that they're looking for lifties. Its a good way to ski cheaply!
NELSBEER
There are some essential differences in the way preparations for the season are being performed this year at Crotched, central control is fairly evident. They do have a pretty good grasp of what needs to be done, have resources available and appear to be on target for opening day.
This week there is a team (reportedly from Sunapee) doing the summer preventive maintenance on at least the 3 main PB-400 groomers (2 Parks & the Winch cat). This was normally done by one person over the summer, but mechanic staff was cut.
The lifts appear to be ready to go mechanically with RFID equipment in place and new pads all over the place.
Lawn cutting is nearing completion, performed by a Vail supplied operator who cuts slowly but quite thoroughly. Areas not always hit like Solstice Glade and Final Frontier have been mowed.
I ran into an employee working on Polecat Sno-guns. Maintenance on the carriage guns was complete and he was working his way round the hill checking pole guns & identifying updates needed to complete deferred maintenance. Pump maintenance and pipe flushing are in the works as well.
A few of the experienced groomer operators are reportedly returning as well, so it looks like the basics at the Crotch will be covered for the coming season.
joshua_segal
Nov. 19, 2020 - Thurs.
Snowmaking blowing big-time.
Remski
Thanks Joshua for that update. Now if they could get the cam so we can all enjoy.
Quietman
Maybe some earned turns this weekend. Pic is from their facebook page.
joshua_segal
A friend of mine did yesterday (Fri. 11/20) on Meteor. I'll try it today.
joshua_segal
Nov. 21, 2020 - Sat.
There has been some melt-out between the whales, so I stayed on Lower Meteor and did a half-dozen runs. It's still skiing - and it's always good to be making turns.
Quietman
Did some snow/grass skiing this evening, got a later start than I had hoped. As Joshua stated, it was better down near the bottom. But I went to the top for the sunset so skied down on whatever surface I encountered.
joshua_segal
Nov. 24, 2020 - Tues.
A lot more meltout since Quietman took the above photo.
I took a T2B on Meteor today, but there was a good bit of turfing. There is about 175' of continuous vertical at the bottom of Meteor, but if you try it, stay west (skier's left) to avoid the huge waterbars.
