Gores Last Day of Season - Sun. 4/19/15

Cornhead, No-Poles, and I ventured to Gore for their last day of the ski season. Brilliant day, about 60 degrees, bright sun, and $30 lift tickets. Base coverage was mostly great, with some thin spots in places, but you could easily navigate around or through the thin sections. You could ski all the way down to the base via Twister or Showcase. Also a third way down, Foxlair to Sunway to Quicksilver and down to Jamboree. Ran into some Greek Peak skiers... PowderQueen and also Dave and his brother who live near Greek. Skied almost all day, I stopped at 3:30, pretty much exhausted and only put a few minor scratches and one tiny gouge in my ski bases. On the way home to Binghamton we ate at Brooks Barbeque in Oneonta - fantastic food.

Here are a few pics:
Hawkeye






Rumors:

A few more pics:

Gore Management:   Nice job with closing weekend.   Props to the groomers and patrol who made it possible.

Saturday: weather had everything but mostly sun/part sun.   Some dark clouds moved in and it dripped for about 3 minutes, however soon thereafter the sun came out for a perfect evening on the deck after a long day of skiing.    


Sunday:   The perfect spring skiing day in my view.   High around 50 with very slight breeze to keep one from overheating.   It got below freezing Sat night so the mountain got tight.   Two fast runs down twister to start the day, then Uncas was the groomed slope to be on.   The snow was perfect for 4 runs.   Skiing vibe at the bases, top and a few shared rides began to pulsate with the happy mixture of last day sadness and awesome conditions.   Straightbook chair was obviously the place to be after 10:15.  Many of  Lies bumps were perfectly round and lacked that deep drop pocket that begins the mound, usually found on steeper slopes or mushy conditions.    I found myself carving them while the snow stayed firm.  To keep the legs from failing too early, I traded runs between Lies and Hawkeye--which was amazing.  Small, well spaced bumps at the top proceeded by wonderful corn snow to the base.    Rumor held my attention from 11:30 to 12:30 where a mandatory break was required for Gatorade, food and yes..... 1/2 PBR fence post.  First mid-day  beer of the season, Tradition.

The day before I spied a waterfall on the way down Tannery.   I stopped to check it up close.   Turns out it is not a water fall, but more of a water slide over a smooth formation of granite.   My next summer hike. I skied by this location 100s of times over the years and never saw this.   I will need to see this in mid-winter, all frozen as well.    It is located about 1/2 between the Straightbrook chair and Uncas base.  

Lunch was a Cuban press from Izzy's.    Let's just say the sandwich was as good as the day.  The fact that it was waiting for me with my beer at the base....not enough words for thank-you.  

20 minutes later I was on the Gondi, another trip down Uncas to Straightbrook...a few final passes on Rumor which was skiing very well.  Then on to the dark side.  I felt obligated to trek Hula and Lower Darby.   The snow on these runs was very good, however near the flats, the snow path narrowed to 3 feet, then made a hairpin turn to the right with a 18" snow path, road gravel was found on either side.   Watched a guy moving too fast on the first part, who was not ready for the unseen hard right.   Ouch!  Skis and body were hurting.    This may sound odd, but the two rides up the chair were the most peaceful I have been in over a year.    Maybe this is why I love spring skiing so much.    Perhaps the only person on the chair, or at least that is how I felt.    

One last run down Lies, then ending the day with Rumor.  Foxy snow stayed good,  I had to stop 3 times to let the acid out.    Left it all on the mountain.    


Special shout out to the guys running the SB chair----your music selections remain perfect!   Keep it up and hope to see you next year.  

Also--the board walks are an improvement.    Still like to see some straw.  Bet the  lodge cleaning crew would appreciate it too.  

Props to the older gentleman patroller who hiked down the Topridge triple cleaning trash and dragging the tower pads.   Impressive.    


 
 

Beautiful photo.  I've looked down at Straight Brook from Tannery many many times but never hiked or skied down to it.  Cool spot.

Thanks for the reports guys.  I love closing day at Gore, the skiing is usually quit solid and it's a great social event.  Great to read this stuff and get a feeling for the day. Familiar faces in those shots from the base.  Really appreciate it.