Short Swings!
Sunday at Snowbasin was the last day of my season.
The end-of-season emergence of earth shedding its winter coat is bittersweet. The joy of Winter is being replaced by the joy of Spring. Every year on my last run, I say a prayer of thanks for having completed another season and a prayer of hope for the next. Having reached that certain age, who knows what awaits between now and the next time my skis touch snow? About midway down, there was a long stretch of perfect corn. I made slow arcs, dancing; snow and gravity my partners. The last run of this season; a hopeful memory of what waits for the next.
Tuckerman’s Ravine
Skiing the New Hampshire bowl on Mt Washington is a Spring ritual for Eastern college kids. Many of you have climbed the Fire Trail on Memorial Day weekend to camp, ski, and party. This video from April 1 shows two skiers falling down the Headwall. Apparently, they walked away.
Most Decorated Male Winter Olympic Athlete Retires at 44
Norwegian biathlete, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, 44, is retiring. He won 13 medals (eight gold, four silver, one bronze) over the course of six Winter Olympics.
Epic Water Filters
Epic Water Filters are essential gear for anyone seeking peace of mind about the water they drink. The company makes lightweight, portable products that are perfect for hiking, traveling, taking you places where the quality of water may be questionable. It also makes easy-to-install under-the-sink units. As a participant in the discount code program, Epic is providing SeniorsSkiing.com readers with a 25% discount off its already reasonable prices. For more information or to order, visit https://www.epicwaterfilters.com and enter promo code SKI25 at checkout.
Mountain Collective
The $409 pass gives you 2 days each at 16 major resorts. Twelve are in the US and Canadian West, one in Vermont, two in New Zealand, and one in Australia. Subsequent days are 50% off. Passes for kids 12 and under are $1. Visit https://mountaincollective.com.
Experticity is Now Expert Voice
For subscribers who registered to participate in the Experticity product discount program, the company has changed the name to Expert Voice. The program is not open to recent SeniorsSkiing.com subscribers.
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Mystery Glimpse: Choo-Choo!
Where Are We And What’s Happening?
Thanks to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum for providing this picture from ski history. The CS&SM is in the process of undergoing a $2.4 million renovation. The first of several exhibits, “Climb To Glory”, featuring the story of the 10th Mountain Division is now open. Other exhibits will be open at the end of April this year. The museum is located in Vail Village, CO.
Last Week
This is another ski history legend. Nic Fiore was an influential ski instructor and director of the ski school at Yosemite’s Badger Pass for 50 years. His friendly smile and charming French-Canadian accent attracted skiers who came to Badger Pass every year to learn from and ski with Nic.
He was an early member of the California Ski Instructors Association in the late 40s. At the time, he was concerned about the quality and consistency of ski instruction, becoming a voice for a national ski instruction organization. When the Professional Ski Instructors of America was founded in 1961, Nic remained committed to high standards for instructor certification.
Nic Fiore was an active skier well into his 80s. He continued to hit the slopes nearly every day and teach an occasional ski lesson into the 2003-04 season. Nic passed away at 88 in 2009.
Here’s Nic on the lift at Badger Pass. Note his enthusiasm and magnetic personality.
https://vimeo.com/3111117
Thanks again to the Museum of Sierra Ski History for sending Nic’s photo. The MSSH is located at the Gateway Museum at Lake Tahoe, CA.
Grand Targhee: Deep Powder and a Friendly Vibe
It had been snowing three days when I arrived at Grand Targhee. By morning the new snow total was 55″.
A guy from Denver suggested signing up for Early Tracks. For $89 members of the ski school guide you at 8AM, an hour head start on the public.
Next morning, I skied 1 1/2 hours on untracked terrain, guided by B-Rad, Wall Street derivatives trader turned ski instructor. The snow was mid-thigh. Grand Targhee is known for its deep, natural snow, and the day I was there, the resort lived up to its reputation.
Like many other skiers, my previous experience with the area was taking a day trip from Jackson Hole, the mega resort about 25 miles away. Grand Targhee’s 2,600 acres sit in the Teton mountain range, its 2270′ of vertical served by five chairs.
Parking lot at Grand Targhee
At 7851′, the base can present a breathing challenge to flatlanders. But it’s worth the short time to acclimate. On clear days, you can almost reach across the valley and touch Grand Teton Mountain in its 13,770′ glory.
Lodges, restaurants, retail, pool and hot tub cluster at the base; each a short walk from the other. The lot is an easy walk to the lifts and decent restrooms are located at the top of each chair.
From past visits, I know that super-steep is not part of Grand Targhee’s DNA. This time, two hours of early morning super-deep left me wiped out. The rest of my day was at the bottom.
There are three places to eat and a small general store. The first evening I ate at Branding Iron Grill, the resort’s fine dining option. A nice space, with good food, and a generous pour. Powder morning I chose something light and delicious at Snorkels, the breakfast and lunch eatery. That afternoon I sat in the very full Trap Bar and Grill, sipping a beer and enjoying friendly conversation against a background of live bluegrass.
Grand Targhee’s senior pass pricing starts at age 65 and is humane. Lodging at the resort also is reasonable: a slope-side room, midweek next February is less than $200 per night. Other options are available in nearby Alta, Wyoming and in Driggs and Victor, Idaho.
Grand Targhee is located high above Idaho potato country
The vibe is friendly, with friends and strangers of all ages in easy conversation. Older locals refer to themselves as Targeezers.
The mountain, reliable snow, and reasonable prices keep people returning season after season. One couple I met was visiting from Hawaii for the second time in a few months. The guy from Denver was on his second trip of the year. A couple from Australia had driven over from Jackson for the day. Next time they plan to spend to use Targhee as their base.
Leaving Grand Targhee, Teton Range in background
At one point the clouds lifted and Idaho’s flat potato fields came into view. Access to this area of Wyoming is through Idaho. B-Rad pointed out some of the distant ranges while I caught my breath. Then our attention focused on what was in our immediate future: a long expanse of light, untouched deep powder waiting quietly for us to leave our lines.
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