Real Life in Jackson, Wyoming

All This and $ Too.

Around 2:15 this afternoon I noticed the summit chair had stopped, then I noticed the head lift technician looking down the liftline with a pair of binoculars and thought "Oh shit."  A couple minutes later lift maintenance came on the radio and said they couldn't get the lift to move because the emergency brake wouldn't release.  Fifteen minutes later they asked us to do a chair evacuation.  So, what was a sleepy Tuesday turned into some excitement.  We had one chair at the top to evac, and another four near the middle and one at the bottom so thankfully not a full line.  Just as we got our chair done and the rope removed, the maintenance guys were able to jerry-rig the lift and the remaining folks off.  Yay.  Now I need to dry off; sweaty betty.

It's BAC at the King.

BAC means "butt ass cold" as in minus 5 this morning at the Kaiser.  Hardly anyone on the hill today with the colder weather.  The skiing is greatand the groomers are way fast.  Good times on the disco sticks.

2011 Torchlight Photos.

Here are some photos from this past Saturday's Torchlight Parade.  Only went from midway down and pretty darn cold with a lot of wind and high humidity.  Friggin freezing.

Folks coming up the lift.

Killing time waiting.

Sleepytime Hut decorated for the season.

Kevin Johnson backlit by a fireworks.

Post fireworks patrol party.

What happens when feeble minded children/patrollers are left unattended with a clean dry erase board, markers, and booze.

Hope everyone had a good New Year's Day and have a good week.

Snow Finally.

It has started to snow lightly today (finally) with up to an inch forecast today, and up to four by tomorrow.  It looks like the snow is going to continue through Thursday.  We sure could use it so I hope it continues.  We were open yesterday and there were a lot of people out skiing, and it is fairly busy today too.  Xmas vacation and all.

Full Day of Work.

If you haven't heard already, in an effort to stay lean and mean and cut costs, Snow King is not open at all on Mondays this season.  Except tomorrow, and a week after that for a race; and three weeks after that for another race.  Anyway, the powers that be deemed opening on December 26 to be a good idea so we get to work for a full day.  Yay!

Almost forgot:  Merry Christmas.  Overindulge in turkey, stuffing, and egg nog.  You know you want to.

Goddamn Brrr!

Keerhrist it was cold today (daytime high of 16 with the thermometer in the sun and dropped to 4 degrees once the thermometer was back in the shade), and tonight's low is expected around minus 15.  Wonderful.  Opening the hill tomorrow for the racers to train so guess I should be ready to freeze my balls off.

BBBrrrrr!!

The weatherman wasn't lying when he said the temps were going to drop Saturday night and Sunday.  Holy crap my bedroom was cold this morning; almost cold to fully close my window (I think I will close it anyway).  Daily boo temps:  40.1 inside, 6.3 outside (bedroom thermometer); 47.5 inside,  2.1 outside (kitchen thermometer).  No idea why there is such a discrepancy in the outside numbers, although the bedroom sensor is hanging on the trunk of a tree so perhaps it is picking up some residual warmth from the tree.  Whatever, it is butt ass cold.  Put on your heavy weight jammies.

We had our OEC class final (written and practical) yesterday and it was pretty cold.  Luckly I had an inside station so I was warm and toasty.  Loads of folks hiking and skiing the King yesterday, so many in fact that I don't think we will have to ski cut Upper Elk and Grizzly at all and the lower mountain was hammered.  Thanks to all the hikers for doing our job.

Couple photos from yesterday:

The upper extremity injury station.

Backboard station.

Making snow and hikers/skiers going crazy.

More Snow.

We got another three inches last night so only seven to go before the big 200.  I think we're gonna do it.  Even if we don't hit that mark by the time we close, post season snowfall should easily surpass that mark.

Hillbillies are starting to show up and get their shitshow lined up.  Let the mayhem begin.

Go Figure.

Wouldn't you know it?  When is the best time to have a serious thaw?  After the ski season or during our ski race with the highest speeds?  You guessed it.  We are in the midst of a thaw and the town downhill is this weekend.  The race crew had watered Grizzly ski run to harden it up but I don't think it has been cold enough since then to firm it up enough plus we are in this thaw.  Just dandy.  Lots of carnage over the weekend.  Sheite.

Holy Huckfest!

This past Sunday night the snowcats were working all night building a jump for a huckfest supreme contest being put on by our local Rotary club as part of a winter festival.  Great.  Use up half of our skiable terrain at the base for some knuckleheads to break bones on.  I can't wait for the end of the season.

Sunrise this am.