Don’t Panic…Breath deeply and everything is going to be all right.
Crazy about skiing? Don’t Panic!!! TGT (Tuckerman Group Therapy) is here to help.
This long weekend wasn’t for the people that we’re afraid of crowds.
Canada Day in Ottawa with Will and Kate show joining the celebrations. It’s generally crazy on this day without the young Royalty. I left Ottawa as I was hearing talk of 500,000 people near Parliament Hill.
Let’s go skiing!!!
I found an amazing picture of the crowd on the hill, but I didn’t get the permission to use it. So you’ll have to imagine a bunch of people elbow to elbow in red and white clothes.
From CBC News
An estimated 300,000 people, many of whom began gathering on the Hill in Ottawa hours before the ceremonies’ post-noon start, were in the downtown core of the city as well as on Parliament Hill as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continued the second day of their nine-day tour of Canada.
So off I went driving toward the border with two pairs of skis. Before leaving I was examining my ski edges. Found the skis I had last month a bit long, especially if I need to make tight turns. The old B1s were the right length, but there were all beaten up. I settled for my old slalom Atomic SL11 race skis as a second pair. I was somewhat concern as I still have good edges on them and didn’t want to risk hurting them on this day. Arrived at the Snowway’s Home Office at 10pm without any hasssle by US Customs. A couple of fireworks popping in the night keep me from having a great sleep.
Riverc0il wanted to get at trailhead earlier than last month, but also didn’t to set an alarm. It resulted in only a 15 minutes head start over last month, however this time we ended in the auxiliary parking lot. Snowcrazy from T4T showed up about one minute later. Never meet him, but who else would ski in July right? We know that ChickWhoRips and her friend Ron were also probably heading of us for July turns. As we started up the trail, there was a large group of skiers/boarders geared up for 4th of July celebration turns. Oh my, it’s going that snowpatch is going crowded like Parliament Hill. Don’t Panic!!!
MadPat walking toward the main lot and trailhead. Did I forget something? I forgot my gloves, windbreaker and camera in Ottawa. I want to thank The Snowway of the used of the pictures.
As the crowd of hikers and skiers headed up the Tuckerman Ravne Trail. At one point, there was a traffic jam on the trail. A Moose was right next to us. Eventually it moved away and we continued up. This was my 4th time up for July turns, it was by far the busiest…and not only the hottest. Water supplies was starting to be a concern. Forecast was calling for 80F in the Valley. The good news was that there was no bugs.
The gang of skiers/boarders cold off and took a dive at the 2nd bridge. We continued on. Many people were at Hojo, we took a small break and continued on. Some of the group arrived at the same time as us. ChickwhoRips and Ron decided to leave before the circus rolled onto Lunch Rocks. They managed 3 runs before the crowds showed up. Snowcrazy was attacking small patches like a snow crazy guy would do. Going after the small leftover under Chute then the Headwall. Three turns max on Headwall.
MadPat and July Snow leftovers
Ron was making turns before people started arriving en masse, but it didn’t stop the unlookers from taking pictures or video (found this Youtube by Conniedoe):
Decided to hike the Tuckerman’s Ravine trail to the top of Mt Washington on July 2, 2011. While hiking up I passed a woman with skis on her back and asked her which event she was training for – she laughed at me, saying how she was just a crazy ski-person, wanting to ski in July. I told her I was jealous and continued on my hike, surprised there was anything left to afford a ski-run. Later, while hiking up along the bowl I saw both her and her man-friend (Husband? Boyfriend? Buddy?) climbing to the top of the short run. A couple minutes later they came down in front of a crowd of cheering hikers. Every year, the things I find while hiking this mountain continue to surprise me. I can’t wait for more!
Yep, that reflect the thoughts that people were having.
The Tuckerman Ravine Trail towards the summit was open and many hikers were amazed to find snow, let alone people willing to ski it. Skiing the longest and steepest snow left in US east of Colorado.
Riverc0il and I booted up on top of the snow. It was tricking crossing over the stream and rocks in ski boots. Riverc0il forgot his helmet and hasn’t skied without a helmet in numerous years…Don’t Panic!!! I, on the hand, had a helmet today. We had to hike up onto the snow. Few skiers were there at one time. The snow got whiter with every runs. Although there were only 2-3 skiers/boarders making, waiting or hiking for turns – there were enough of us to keep the tourists happy. I feel like I was in a zoo or in a circus with all these people taking pictures of us. Many of the group took turns just enjoying this beautiful day and cooking some food. A real 4th of July BBQ with flags and red, white and blue.
River and I continued are turns. Runs were approximately 138 vertical feet or about 40 at 40 degree in metric with less place for error. I had finally chosen my slalom skis for this day. They were heavy and I couldn’t tie them to across my backpack due to their width and thickness, so I had to carry them in an A frame. At 157cm length, it wasn’t a problem, however they were heavier than most of my longer skis.
One traverse and turn at the top of the patch and you could already crank them. YEAH!!!!! We repeated this a few times. As the hours passed, we didn’t want to give up. Some shirt started coming off and girls were going down in bikini tops. A snowboarder chick noticed that small moguls were forming with all the runs and awesome carving we were going. Some from that party crossed under the snowpatch and traversed next to the waterfall (I would have Panic…you don’t know when this is going to crash down), throwing snow balls. I tried climbing the trail in ski boots like most people, but it was way easier to bootpack on the snow even if it was frozen solid at some places. It funny, at one point someone asked if it was okay to take a picture of me. After my run, I realized that the person looked familiar. Back at the top I asked him where he was from? He responded Ottawa. Turns out this person raced Masters with us a few years ago. Everything is somewhat connected and it’s coming together. But I still looking for an answer.
Traversing the top and ready to drop
After my 4th run, I was about to stop. The hell with it, this is too much fun. One last run until…next times in August? 😉 Another great run, what a wonderful day. An extra last turn on the edge of the snow 10 feet above a drop to the rocks which made THAT run exactly “42” vertical meters.
42 meters…that was ‘it’ all the time. It was right there. 42 meters of snow. RELAX, there was no need to Panic. That was the answer after all…
The Ultimate Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything is … 42!!!
Last run baby!!! FORTY-TWO METERS
Calling a day, calling it a month
Thanks for reading…until next time
Thanks again to Riverc0il from The Snowway for his hospitality and pictures.
Read his TR: Tuckerman Ravine: Because It’s Still There
Snowcrazy’s TR on Time for Tuckerman: Tux wrapup! 7/2/11
“Where is snowmonster?”
Unfortunately, I had to be dragged down to the beach kicking and screaming! I’d rather be with you guys earning turns — and chatting up snowboarders in bikinis.=) Thanks for the TR, Pat. Looking forward to your August turns!
snowmonster