Reports from The Land Of NAZ, 18/19

now you are just being mean..

Cunningstunts wrote

<div class='embed-container'><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6gLl819vU8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br>
<br>
Pretty sure this should go here...
<br>
<br>
Even if you hate bikes and/or are in full ski mode, you should watch this if not for the stunning scenery alone.  If you appreciate riding, you'll appreciate the sickness with which these guys ride this trail - there's been a lot of vids on the tube of this one, and this is among the best I've seen.
<br>
<br>
WTBS, I'm fucking skiing tomorrow come hell or high water.  Hope y'all do the same!

I finally got to watch this vid cunning, pretty sweet! That steep line right around 10:30 is my most favorite line in Sedona. I first rode that with Chewie (it’s called the chewie line) around 2004. It was originally part of his Sick Rock trail. That first time my front brake caliper broke and I tumbled down everything after the first initial roll in! I’ll put together a few pics later.

I  rode Made in the Shade and Slim Shady ..Damn that was fun..Until I ran out of water..Then not so much fun..

Right coasters often misjudge the amount of water you need to stay hydrated around here. :D

raisingarizona wrote

Right coasters often misjudge the amount of water you need to stay hydrated around here. :D

It happens in the Daks as well. I can’t tell you how many times I have filled water bottles for thirsty hikers

raisingarizona wrote

I finally got to watch this vid cunning, pretty sweet! That steep line right around 10:30 is my most favorite line in Sedona. I first rode that with Chewie (it’s called the chewie line) around 2004. It was originally part of his Sick Rock trail. That first time my front brake caliper broke and I tumbled down everything after the first initial roll in! I’ll put together a few pics later.

Nice - I'll look forward to that.  I saw those guys hucking some of those rolls to flats and was going to bust your ball about it.

NAZ certainly looks rad.  I think I'm with TD though - I'd miss lakes.  Would be a great place to visit seasonally though.  Certainly would beat FL for retirement, that is if you can still do stuff.  Certainly a lot prettier IMO.

All of the lines in that vid where they were dropping there’s some good transitions. It’s not 1999 anymore! You can believe me, I’ve ridden everything in that vid. I started riding that trail long before it became official right after it was finished being built in 2007.

I think I may have posted this image on here before. This is the Chewy Line, photo by Steve from Chasing Epic. He used it in s pink bike article on Sedona. It’s also the main photo used for hangover on mtb project.

Dude I wouldn't care... like I said, it would just be busting... I can't really judge anything from pics or vids.  I always assume it's way worse in real life.

Day 16, family Friday!

raisingarizona wrote

Day 16, family Friday!

Awesome shot!!

+1 nice smiles.

I love taking my daughter and her buds out skiing. They sure are cute. :D

Back on the bike for today. This is my buddy Joe on the Last Frontier Trail in Sedona.

It looks like I'll be skiing the ol' Ski Bowl the last Monday in February (if there's snow)!  Should I just rent/demo skis at the mountain,  or is it better to rent someplace in Flagstaff? I'm bringing my boots.  Any other tips for the mountain?  Restaurants in Flagstaff?

Thanks!

Cool!

There’s four ski rental places here. I’d call them to see who has what or close to what you are looking for. You could probably then reserve the gear.

Humphreys Summit, First Chair, ski Haus and there’s one other. I’ll look it up and come back with the name. I generally go to Humphreys Summit but I don’t know anything about rental fleets. Definitely do not rent skis from Snowbowl.

Do you like Mexican food? I don’t go out much so I’m unfamiliar with most places here these days but I have a couple of go-to restaurants. Inexpensive Mexican food is my favorite. Las Gorditas on North West Street is my favorite. Mrs. Santana’s verde enchilada sauce is over the top delicious as is her carnitas, tacos and her chili rellenos. It’s not fancy but the food is legit and affordable. Momma Burger has my favorite burgers and fratellis is our favorite pizza joint, the lunch slices are NY style and their wings are on point. Those last two places are on your drive up to the mountain. Las Gorditas isn’t far from 180. If you want to be downtown and check out the hipster joints I’m afraid I’m not much help. I do like the Monte Vista for a dark dive bar and I try to go there once or twice a year. We also love Taverna, it’s a Greek restaurant that has quality food reasonably priced.

I’m going to be in Page that weekend it if something changes and I can get out I’ll tour ya around the hill.

The mountain has a funky layout but plenty entertaining for a day. Since I’ve committed to this thing in Page I bet it snows. If you’re here for a pow day then be in line by 8ish for the six binger. Get a fast and fresh lower volcano lap in. The center and to the right has been being groomed regularly but they get it early or right before a storm and leave it fresh. It’s a guaranteed smooth pow run. Next I’d get on the Agassiz chair for the upper mountain if it’s open. Upper volcano, the obvious glades off the upper catwalk and White Lightning are all good runs. Casino is a favorite but it can develop steep icy bumps that aren’t always awesome on a pow day unless it really dumps and the wind gets em. Upper Bowl is cool but it’s rare that it’s open and in really good shape. Another favorite is Lower Gully (unmarked), it’s the glade just past volcano on the midway catwalk. We often ski a run or half a run and then traverse to the left to get more out of each lift ride. There’s a bunch of secret traverses. This gets ya more bang for your buck cuz once you’re on bowlside the run is basically over unless you’re a beginner. One is right at the dogleg of white lightning. Go left into those trees and stay high traversing through the trees. If you do this right you can get to upper volcano and everything below midway Catwalk.

 We have drastic changes in temperatures, intense solar and crazy winds so conditions are unreliable. We also can get heavy storms that dump large amounts of snow and sometimes we get incredible wind buff. It’s not a crazy feature filled hill but the upper mountain has good pitch for around 1500 vert so it’s good powder skiing. Hopefully it’s good when you’re here.

Thanks!  It looks like I'll be there on a Monday.  We're visiting my mother-in-law in Scottsdale, but I managed a 48 hour reprieve to head north and play.  We're hitting the GC on that Sunday.  If we were flying Southwest I would bring my skis, but other carriers charge an arm and a leg.  Good to know to grab them in Flagstaff instead of the Bowl, that will be easier in the long run.

I'll definitely use those Mexican recommendations, in the end the wife will make those decisions though.  

I just hope it's open and cold, if there's pow that will be a huge bonus.  Plus, with my Magic pass, I ski free.  Go figure.

That ^^ is cool!

A little more,

Park in lots 5 or 6. The far end of these is slope side ski in ski out parking. This is where most locals park.

The Agassiz lodge is where we hang out too. It’s right next to the Agassiz chair.  The lower lodge is for the Phoenicians. Monday should be quiet up there, the weekends have become a zoo. I think of Snowbowl as the Four Corners version of Hunter Mountain.

For a cruiser run lower ridge to Meadows to North Star or Southern Belle or the Agassiz run is pretty darn fun. If you ski an upper bowl, Flat Iron or full White Lightning another option for getting more out of your run is taking midway catwalk over to the Humphreys chair then back over to bowl side on Lodge Run.

Does Southwest let you check a ski bag for free in addition to regular baggage?

I fly Delta all the time with my ski bag and I’ve never paid....but it’s my only checked bad.  It’s a good size ski bag and I pack all of my clothes and avy gear around the skis, keep it under 50 lbs.

JTG4eva! wrote

Does Southwest let you check a ski bag for free in addition to regular baggage?.

Yes