Past
logs for 2000
(9th calendar year of non-stop skiing)
Dec '00, Month 99:
Almost a 7 foot base at the Cottonwood
resorts as we end the year 2000. The really deep pow has so far eluded us this season. Still, I've had
some killer ski days this month. Mineral Basin finally opened last week.
Hard to believe, but night skiing closes in just 3 months.
I hope you are getting your fair share of skiing this season, wherever you are.
As early as next week I will go skiing for the 100th straight month--
the century mark for the "official" new century.
Can't think of a better way to celebrate the new century and the new millenium.
Nov 2000:
Month 98-
Utah's resorts had their earliest openings in years with unseasonably deep
powder for the enjoyment of those 'in the know'.
Snowbird was primo and opened with much more than last year.
By the time the masses heard how good it was, most of the great pow was
packed and waiting for the next storm. I get a little nervous
when it is this good this early. In my relatively limited experience,
it often means we won't see
really deep pow again until late December or early January.
No matter, there's snow and the chairs are running.
Life is good again.....
Oct 2000: 97th Month
It's about time! I thought this hot summer would never end.
Finished the 1999-2000 season last month at Timberline on Mt. Hood then
kicked-off the 2000-2001 season at Snowbird a few days ago on several
feet of new snow (over 6 feet in 3 days). Those lone tracks you may have
seen all the way down Peruvian were mine. All mine. Bwwwaahhaahaahaha.
I wonder what the odds are to break a ski pole and then later a
ski on the same run....Unbelievably, that's what I did.
And then I broke my elbow on a rock. Memo to self:
Take skis off next time navigating mountain creeks.
Sep '00:
Really fun day skiing Hood to "wrap up" this calendar season and my
96th straight month. The viz was horrible most of the day.
I actually ended up being the only skier on the mountain for the last
half-hour of skiing. Since it's the only skiing on the continent,
I guess that made me the only person skiing out of 25,000,000 skiers. 25 Million!
It even SNOWED on me on my last run! Yes, maybe I felt just a leeetle bit superior.....
Aug, 95th Month:
Met Johnny and Donna while skiing here at Timberline on Mt. Hood.
(That's what I call US Olympians Johnny Moseley and Donna Weinbrecht
now that I've met them--Yeah, Johnny, Donna, and me--we're like this.
)
Click here for pics and more
on the story. In all of the years I've been coming here for my Labor Day
Weekend ski tradition, this was one of the worst ones for weather.....
but, oh well, what this year lacked, the good ones more than make up for.
July 2000:
Just skied the Bird (4th of July).
Sunny, temperature in the high 50's and surprisingly
few hikers. Made new tracks on the remains of "Old Reliable".
Someone had skied "Pipeline Bowl" yesterday. I closed those
tracks to make stark white "eights" against the old snow
background. Today was a very enjoyable break from this summer heat.
Jun '00:
Skied what's left of "Bassackwards" at Snowbird
today. Beautiful Day--skied past a lot of hikers.
This year's melt is about a month ahead of normal.
Last year at this time the chairs were still running
and this run had plenty of coverage.
In fact, since
my streak began in '92, the only other year I've had
to hike this early was 1997, but that was due to a
lack of skiers. (see logs)
This is the earliest melt in a decade. Good
riddance to La Nina!
May 2000:
Fully expected another 4 or
5 weekends of chairs--guess it wasn't to be.
Snowbird changed their minds from their announced date and decided to close this
weekend! Only got a couple of chair-days this month.
I'll tell you, I am SO BUMMED! You'll have to excuse
me, I'm too upset to discuss it right now.....I'll
need a moment.....
Air fares are low. Maybe I'll go to Timberline
an extra couple of times this summer....Or maybe I
should save my money for therapy?
My dad passed away suddenly on his birthday earlier this month.
I can already tell it will be a life-altering experience. I miss you, dad.
Apr 2000:
Stellar days at the Bird. Lots of
sun or new snow, depending on the days I was able to
break away.
Finally made it to Alpine Meadows--the remaining
Tahoe resort I hadn't skied. Caught it just right.
A foot of new pow, and so few people that every run
was new and untracked. Horrible viz, so I was fortunate
to hook up with a local willing to guide me into all
the hidden powder stashes--Thanks Tom!
Mar 2000, 90th Month:
What an unbelievable month! I'd
have to say that this has been my most exciting
ski month. From heli-skiing the Chugach in Alaska
to exploring the three famous Canadian Banff gems.
The conditions could not have been more perfect
in Valdez. 12 feet of new snow a few days before
we arrived, topped with brand-new pow on the
very last day of our trip made for the best
experience of my ski life.
To get a little flavor for what was experienced,
you can click
here
for message board comments from some of those who
were there.
Feb 2000:
Just
returned from skiing 7 feet of new stuff at
Kirkwood, Heavenly, Squaw, Sugar Bowl, and
Boreal, with my friend Bob Dondoyano. We had to
hunt to find the lighter pow at each resort, but
were rewarded when we did.
I'll review these and dozens of other resorts
when those pages are completed.
Jan 2000:
How
does a ski resort get better than best? By adding
25% more amazing terrain, accessed by a high-speed
detachable quad. Snowbird now has every facing!
If the north-faces are too chilly in the early
morning, scoot on over to the sunny, south faces
of the new Mineral B.
I just spent vacation time there--what a surprise.
I've cat-skied it before, but the size and varied
terrain were quite unexpected. I'll be frolicking
there a lot this season.
It's official, Snowbird has more base depth than
it had last year at this time.
Just made reservations for Banff (Canada) and the
Chugach (Alaska) for later this season.
Monthly Logs from 1999
Newspaper/Magazine
articles regarding this SKI STREAK
My
ski notes from 100 resorts
-Coming 2006
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OTHER YEARS IN REVIEW:
See past logs link for pictures and comments on dozens of resorts-
including New Mexico at Taos, California's Big Bear, Snow Summit, Snow Valley, and epic skiing at Whistler/Blackcomb.
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