The Story

"Trust me the line is Paranoid Flats, just off - just off the second shoulder." After looking over in the general direction of the runs, I came back to Paul like a skeptical used car buyer would look at a used car salesman.  Especially since right below me were some sweet lines on Wipe Out and Drop Out.  He had to be out of his mind wanting to go over to Paranoid Flats.  Of course being his friend, I could only say, "I want something steep, what you are pointing out doesn't look smooth nor is it steep."  There was a long pause and an equally incredulous look.  "Are you kidding me?  The only run steeper is Phillipe's."

Listening to our back and forth banter sharing our chair, was a gentleman on a pair of racing slalom skis.  He pretended to not listen but I knew he was curious about Paul's statements.  When we got to the top of Chair 23, sure enough he bolted to lift riders right - just like we did - he was going to juke us out of first run bragging rights.
 

Background

For those who have never skied Mammoth or Chair 23, it is one of the highest points on the mountain and one of the most exposed.  To get from the chair lift to the run, one must make their way along the steep, icy, wind blown ridge-line for 1/4 a mile.  Prudence would suggest, taking it slow and to making your way cautiously around the obstacles. But if you do that, you will not have enough speed for the short climb to the Paranoids.  Since we had an interloper in the group, we weren't about to be passed on the climb the last 50' before jumping into the run.

Paul's long heli-powder skis are stable and fast.  They do not turn quickly around obstacles though. My all mountain Head Monsters are fast, stable and reasonably quick turning but the fog was thick and having just recovered from a broken hand my physical therapist wife's good-bye hug and kiss came to mind, "don't break anything please."  The guy on the race skis didn't have any reservations and went bombing by us!

Deflated but not defeated, Paul and I got our duck walk on and pursued like the peloton in the Tour de France.  We were gaining!  20' separation melted to 10'.  At 10' you could spit on a man but that wouldn't be very sporting would it?  Besides my full-face helmet made that impractical.

At the top, he had choice of the first line.  Sure enough - damn! - he took the first and closet line.  One moment he was there the next he was not.  Just as I was getting ready to pursue on line number 2 I hear from Paul - "wait Chris hold on a second...'
 

Pontification

I told you guys last week not to put your boards away that there was plenty of California Corn Snow left in the season.  I told you new Mammoth Mountain MVP holders that you could pick up your passes and ski/ride the tail end of this season.  In fact I stated you could get enough days in at the end of the season to justify the $600 you spent in April.  I was disappointed none of you took me up on it.

Saturday was Classic California Snow conditions at Mammoth Mountain.  Great Corn popping up off Rodger's Ridge near Chair 10 and surprisingly Sliver and Triangle off of the closed Chair 5.

The groomed runs were fast and soft.  Everyone was riding rails and looking all pro.  I whipped out my racing slalom Rosignol skis and zipped around Chair 2's Stump Alley for giggles and grins.  Wow the conditions were amazing!  Even better I bumped into SCOA members Hank as well as Ron and Kelly.

Despite the overcast and the top of the mountain being closed, it was much better to be on the mountain than at home with a cold one watching the game - Lakers who?  At 2PM, one hour before closing, in a move no one could have predicted, the fog lifted and the top of the mountain came into view.  I said to Paul, "that is where the Corn is best, is freshest is untracked."  No sooner had I finished my sentence than a quick glance over to Chair 23 revealed it was open!
 

Who won?

Once on the lift, Paul and I kept arguing over which line to take.  It was decided to take Paranoids but just before I dropped in I hear "Chris wait!  Let's checkout chute #3!"

If you have a dog you'll know what I am talking about.  Like a dog between you and the open gate they KNOW they aren't supposed to go out, still, they give you a split second look of "uh I cannot hear you, I am free and out the door."  Tips over the edge and seconds away from some amazing California Corn I had tuned out everything except for my landing.  However unlike a dog, I had some reservations, "I, followed him this far, what could he be talking about?"  Good thing I have a little bit of discipline.

"Lets go to the next shoulder.  It looks like the wind covered it in sugar snow." (Sugar snow is the snow that cuts your face when the wind blows across the snow.  The crystals are the top most snow from a packed powder day.)  At some point these blowing crystals have to come to rest.  Oftentimes where there is a wind shadow, you can find a secret stash of sugar snow.

There it was.  Paul had found the Mother Lode of sugar snow.  We both jumped in.  He was on the left and me on the right.  Paul made these amazing high speed arching turns. Since it was steep, I made these little "c" turns where you bend the ski so much, at the completiong of the turn it snaps back and pops you up out of the snow.  I didn't stop making those turns until I had made 35 of them and had descended some 900-1200 of Paranoid Flats.

Sunday started out completely different.  I called Paul at 7:15 to see if he was willing to start at the main lodge instead of Chair 2 and 15 minutes later than planned.  The didn't pick up.  All I got was an SMS message, a self portrait of him all bundled up in line for the chair and the words "lets see 19 degrees, it is snowing so hard I cannot see the parking lot.  I think I see you when I see you."  Doh - powder rules are a biyatch!

Indeed 10" of snow made for some epic conditions.  Who knew we would be sliding the Face of Three and getting face shots!?
 

More Skiing/Riding in May

Don't slip you all!  I just got a Mammoth Mountain Dump Alert.  You know we have a SCOA trip going back to Mammoth Memmorial Day weekend.  This fresh dump and warming trend on the way will brew some amazing Corn Snow!  Are you in?

EVENT - 27-May-2011

Memorial Day Weekend - "Corn" Skiing/Riding

Come join SCOA as we partake in California's best gift to it's skiers/riders - Corn Snow. You know what a snow cone is - imagine cruising around on your planks at warp speed where your turns are in perfect form, the sun is out and you are having the time of your life.

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Mid-Week Events

We are super proud to announce a very special screening of "The Birth of Big Air" brought to you by ESPN Films and my buddy a Jack Hammer.  The screening is tomorrow and you should get there early to ensure your spot.  I have met Matt Hoffman and deem him a pretty cool guy.  But don't take my word for it - go to the screening!

EVENT - 27 July 2010

The Birth of Big Air Film Screening

Back in the day, I had the opportunity to do a lot of video camera work at the X-Games as an independent shooter. While, the X-Games are part of my past for my buddy Jimmy they are his present. He hooked SCOA up with access to a film screening "The Birth of Big Air". Google Matt Hoffman for background. Note: You will need to be logged in to view and RSVP the event.

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More updates tomorrow!  Do not forget to vote in the venice Beach House Poll!

It wasn't like we did anything different today.  Like normal, I had breakfast first thing.  Like normal, I double checked my gear to make sure it was good for the ride.  The ride from the house to the 'trail head' was nice and easy a middle chain-ring affair.  'Great', I was thinking, 'I am feeling string.'

That quickly went away, once we turned on to Chaney Trail.  It wasn't like it was any steeper but I melted into my granny gear and pedelled my little heart out until the 'Echo Mountain' cut-off some 70 minutes later.  It was a slow climb but Matt wasn't in too much of a hurry.  When I rounded the corner at Cape of Good Hope, he was off his bike investigating the landscape. . .

What can you do - eh?

The ride across the transition trail was fast and easy.  It can be a little intimidating.  Off to the right is a 50-60' vertical fall into some rocks.  It wouldn't be an issue except the trail gets narrow and the left side of the mountain often justs out.  If you miss calculate that, it will throw you to the right and over the side :-)

Tripper still is remembering that the trail was once a railway right of way.  Not that long ago, one could drive a vehicle to the Echo Mountain monument.  Trail and forest service budget erosion allowed the trail to deterioriate into what it is - single track heaven.

Sam Merrill always has a bunch of hikers.  We took the conservative lines, always wished everyone a good morning and had a blast making our way down the sinuous stuff.  While the climb was slow, I am pleased to say I nailed every corner except the right hand, stair steppy, gotta go big mountain side followed by a quick rebound to the left.  It is doable, Matt did it just fine. Maybe next time for me.  All in all a fantastic morning.

Thursday, we have decided to do either mid-Merrills or Idlehour.  If you have a flexible morning come on out and join us!

If you haven't seen the ride profile click here.  Chantry Flats Wednesday and Adventure Screenings and BBQ that night too.

Ah the Briskness of it all - time to ski/ride folks

Just got back from an amazing weekend at Mammoth. Friday was the most productive - no lines, new snow mean yo-yoing Char 5, 3, 2 and 12. Oh my what a day. My highlight though, was the opening of 23.  We scored the 26rd chair - but who was counting - after the top of the mountain had been closed al week. Wipe Out was calling my name. Those of you who are unfamiliar, skier/rider's left side has a sweet, albeit breathtakingly steep entrance. What's nice is that very few people hit. What's not so nice is that if you get it wrong you will lose your street "cred" from the folks on the lift and the slide to the bottom is LONG.

I opted for the off camber short right turn followed by a deep left turn back to the line. Sweet ginger brown it was amazing! Too many turns to count but it was butter top to St. Anton where I stopped.

What did you do this weekend? We wanna hear about it! Create a blog and share with the online community SCOA Adventure Blogs!.

MTB - Mt. Pinos Delivers the Goods!

In case you missed it, we had a fantastic time at Mt. Pinos last weekend. First the weather was perfect. It wasn't too cool but it wasn't hot either. Second, it wasn't crowded at all. Not only are people not wearing white after Labor Day, apparently they aren't coming out to play either. Finally, the people that came out were awesome. Marcela came down from Santa Barbara and Scott 'n' Sara drove up from San Diego. Of course the 3F Crew was in effect!

If you have never been to Mt. Pinos - you are missing out. There is something for everyone, really. Mt. Pinos doubles as a X-Country skiing place so there are miles and miles of hiking trails - separate from the mountain biking trails.

The mountain biking course is 7 miles long with about 2500 feet of elevation change. The McGill trail is unique that no matter what level of rider you are - you'll get something unique out of it. Those that can flow down the hill without touching their brakes, the rocks, logs, berms and tree branches provide the perfect playground for some sick Free - Riding and Downhill. For the rest of us, there is just enough for a challenge but not too much to overwhelm. Essentially, the faster you go the more challenging it gets. Are you super slow? It is possible to pick your way through a beginner's paradise!

Marcela, Paul, Dominik and Chris G caught the first load up and got 6 rides in for the day. 7 miles times 6 rides - 42 miles of amazing single-track bliss. While not everyone had the energy for 6 runs everyone got their fill.

Camping at Chula Vista was a little like a box of chocolates - you never know what you are going to get. In the future, if the Mt. Pinos or McGill campgrounds are open that is where we will stay.

Sunday was more of the same MTBing heaven. We had some added spice - guests. Scott and Sara drove up from San Diego to taste the good at Mt Pinos. While the morning was full of people by 10:30 AM the riff raff were at home with a cold one watching the game. Perfect - it gave me time to put on the helmet, cleat in and barrel down the hill. I cannot wait to go back. . .

Speaking of which - SAVE the DATE - 3/4 October.

Here are the pictures from the day!