If your idea of fun is a raw back country experience with branches in the face, varied conditions, lots of uphill with short downhills, a fair amount of traversing between runs, and green circles to double diamonds, bring your tele gear, skins, helmet, enough food and water for 3-4 hours, a sense of adventure, and join me on Sat for lots of fun in the woods.

Departure time is flexible but I am thinking about a 10am departure from my house. Will be hitting a short blue squarish run off Pinnacle first, then heading to Coit for a double black (alternate route available, for the less adventurous), and if energy and time permit, a sweet blue square on the west side towards the high school, then the other side of Pinnacle on the way back.

Post up or email me if this sounds like fun (rockboy@team-pinnacle.org). I'm looking for company, the more the merrier. I get first tracks though! :twisted:

Ryan

Sounds like fun, but I have tons of exploring/adventure-skiing that I need to do near my house to figure out where the goods are. I'll be with you in spirit.

Have fun Jesse.

I would love to know if you are on the top of FireScrew and start heading down the open fields, if you went straight down the open field instead of turning skiers left to follow the trail, what that does for you. It definitely looks enticing.

According to the contour map it looks like you could drop nearly a 1000 vertical on a nice pitch (steeper than Dukes) if you head the way I mentioned into what looks like a bowl on the map, then T into Manning or worst case Holt for the traverse out. You probably end up with more of a traverse at the end but the top looks like it has some real potential.

Ryan

It was one of those days where temps are pushing 32 degrees by the time I reached the top of the Pinnacle and the Sun is shining. Making for great snow in the shadows but terrible snow in the sun.

First run, asside from a minor situation (see other post), was GREAT, snow was perfect. No need to put the skins on for the return as I have no wax skis and are able to ski up the gradual slope back to Eastside without them, then I headed on over to Salem's Lot.

I decide to see how far up Avery trail I could get before putting on the skins. It didn't take long to realize the sun had baked the snow today on this side of Coit, it was so sticky I didn't need my skins and skied all the way to the top without them, but NOT without a significant amount of effort as the snow was heavy & clumping up on the bottom of my skis.

Now onto the new double black trail. Snow was so light and fluffy over there it never firmed up and stuck to the side of the mountain allowing my skis to carve all the way to the dirt and rocks which as you can imagine is not ideal for your skis. I also quickly realized the "in my mind ideal trail" was a bit too narrow for my sketchy tele turns, but I manage to get down it with a smile on my face.

A long slight climb up Summer back to the Pinnacle and I decide to bag on another run toward the high school. Up and over Pinnacle and it is all downhill from there which is also a fun run.

Perhaps another 12 inches can solve some of the light coverage issues. Bring on the snow!

Ryan