Michigan gets blower!!!!!

[volklgirl]

On Friday night, I loaded the skis and poles in the van for our trip to Crystal Mountain on Saturday. In Cadillac, we had had about 2" of snow fall on Friday, then about another inch overnight. So, on Saturday morning when I shoveled the driveway, I took the Auras out of the car and put the Karmas and Harts in thinking there wasn't enough snow to keep the Auras really happy.

We drove the 45 minutes up to Crystal and pulled into the parking lot. I looked up at Buck and said "Oh sh*t!". Turns out that the lake effect snow belt had gotten dumped on.....anywhere from 10-18" overnight. I literally kicked myself (fortunately yoga keeps me flexible that I can still do that ) for taking the Auras out of the car.

Buck and all the other groomed runs were under boot-top blower - fluffy, light, and wonderfully white, and it continued to snow all day! Ski patrol opened our 2 ungroomed bowls about 2 hours after opening, and we found pockets of WAIST DEEP pow in some spots!!!

While that may not be a big deal to you mountain girls, the ice coast skiers know just how rare and exciting this is! We haven't had that type of snow fall here in YEARS (if ever)!

Myself and race teammate Marv standing on the ridge of Back Bowl

Me attempting to float on 87mm skis in waist deep pow in Back Bowl

Me going face first into the fluff

My favorite pic of the day after hiking out of back bowl, post "flop and roll"

Too bad SnowHot had to be downstate for some meetings! :duck:

 

[SnowHot]

You suck!
While you were "facing" those conditions, I was sitting in Risk Management meetings for the Motocross track!!!! ARGH!

 

[RachelV]

Wow, looks like an amazing day!

 

[ski diva]

Can you send some of that snow east to Vermont???

Looks like a great day!

 

[ski now work later]

Woo hoo! Have a blast in the mitten!

 

[skidaup]

Nice, had a similar experience in Marquette. Headed out Sat AM to coach the little kids race team, pretty snowy out but not a big deal, maybe 4 inches fell Fri night. Blizzard warnings on the radio on the way there. Got there to find out practice was cancelled due to what was coming, thought everyone had lost their minds. Then is started to fall like buckets, probably an inch on the chair every trip up. Sunday was bluebird but groomed, we have been getting pounded, best early season ever for Marquette Mountain. What joy!!!

 

[skidaup]

PS - probably another 4" fell today....

 

[Jenny]

I've never seen it like that at Crystal! It was raining for awhile down here in GR today - hope it was colder in Cadillac.

 

[skihub]

Awesome - thanks for sharing the photos!! We were at Caberfae Sunday. They had lots of snow but it was groomed. A guy I met on the lift said there was some powder there on Saturday, but it didn't sound like what you found at Crystal. And the snow continues to fall here in Michigan........

I am in mid-Michigan just above the cutoff where the rain turns to snow in the latest winter storm. We have about a foot that fell in the last 24 hours.

 

[Sheena]

Looks like a great day! Hopefully we will be getting something similar in Utah this weekend!

 

[SnowHot]

It hasn't stopped snowing here for three days!!!

 

[floridakeysskibum]

volklgirl-- I hope all that fresh snow is still there when I arrive next week dec 16! going to caberfae, hopefully ski thurs, fri, sat and sun, need to fly back to florida mon am! I bought the tierras on line and need a quick mounting, my brother is calling a friend at sun and snow ski shop in cadi, hopeing to get a hook-up on a quick in/out service, if not, gotta drive to ft. lauderdale(a 2 1/2hour drive one way) today (as soon as fedex gets here with my new skis) to get mounted in time for my flight out tues pm. totally jealous of you girls living up there, but I have to live here to survive financially

 

[SnowHot]

Don't sweat it if Sun and Snow can't get your bindings mounted.
Volklgirl can set you up. Right?

I'd be happy to help you with a mount, if you can wait until Wed or Thurs for a mount. I'll be flying home from Vermont on the 16th. Would love to meet up to ski a few runs with you!

 

[floridakeysskibum]

thanks snow hot! actually sun and snow said no problem, we'll see when I get there on wednesday. Where do you fly in to GR? I'm flying into dtw, parents and sis live close by so sleeping there over night, then driving to cadi wed afternoon (gotta get to sun and snow before 6pm) not sure what the weekend will bring, but would love to catch up with you. I of course would love to be out there all day fri sat and sun we'll see.

 

[volklgirl]

skibum, I would think that Joe could do a quickie like that for you.

 

[SnowHot]

Glad Sun and Snow can take care of it for you, I figured they would, but its good to know there is back up if needed.
I'm flying into Traverse City.
Would be great if you could meet up with VG and Me.
But then, when winter hits, I barely meet up with VG. :(

 

[LilaBear]

Those are amazing photos. I am truly jealous of that powder I've never seen it so deep. It's great that you take photos too, they do make great memories out of the day. I must make more effort with photos, but I did learn something from you about keeping it on the lanyard around my neck, it made the camera easily accessible.

 

[volklgirl]

Yesterday was yet another day of light, fluffy stuff - deep enough that it had myself, Mr VG, SnowHot, and Mr SH all switching from our mid-fats to the fatties after just a couple of runs. Wow.

 

[SnowHot]

I was going to start another thread but thought, May as well add to the Michigan gets Blower thread.

Mr SH was skiing on his Hart Fulie Boss' 195 in the trees!!!
A-freakin'- mazing!
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x473a1UsE6o"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x473a1UsE6o[/ame]

 

[Robyn]

Great video! Looks like DH was having a great time.